During this challenging time in our industry, Dale remains committed and focused on protecting and supporting our employees, clients and operations.  By sharing knowledge and information, we can help reduce the potential of spreading the Coronavirus by developing protocols to follow while performing our work. These Protocols are based on the recommended best practices guidelines produced by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PaDOH).

Everyone should regularly review these websites to evaluate and determine the appropriate procedures for specific tasks as it relates to the spread and/or transmission of COVID-19. Every supervisor and employee should incorporate COVID-19 transmission and prevention measures into their daily review and planning for all aspects of their work. Always social distancing, regular hand washing, and limited in-person meetings are the minimum requirements.

These Protocols will be updated as we learn more about how to prevent the spread or transmission of COVID-19 and should be reviewed daily for any updates. These Protocols are subject to change without notice.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID 19, is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus which is a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms which often appear from 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. The primary presenting symptoms are high fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing, and others similar to the seasonal flu. Symptoms typically include high fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Although authorities are still learning about the severity of illness caused by the virus and how it spreads, COVID-19 often does not require hospitalization or medical treatment however it is considered highly contagious and spreads easily.

COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact, from person-to-person and seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community. This person-to-person spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 is believed to be through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Spread is more likely when people are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period of time (commonly thought to be 10 minutes or more).

Asymptomatic people, those without presenting symptoms, are believed to able to spread the virus. It also may be possible that a person can be infected by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This surface transfer method is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads however more information is being learned each day about this new virus.

Isolation separates sick people from others who are not sick.

Quarantine separates people who were exposed to contagious disease to see if they become sick.

Containment is a plan to stop the rapid spread of a disease

Mitigation is a strategy to lessen the impact when containment is no longer effective

Community spread is being infected though person-to-person contact in an specific area or community.

Contact tracing is the identification and notification of potentially exposed persons

How to Protect Yourself and Others

The best prevention is through avoidance, therefore the three primary ways of protecting ourselves are: (1) social distancing, (2) good personal hygiene, and (3) regular cleaning of touched surfaces. These all have one primary purpose and that is to keep the virus away from our mouths, nose and eyes.

Most important is for everyone to practice good personal hygiene.  Wash hands regularly with soap and water.  If no water is available, a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol or approved equivalent should be used. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available).  Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes.

Additional guidelines for personal responsibilities include:

• Employees need to take steps to protect themselves. Refer to CDC guidelines on:
  • How to Protect Yourself;
  • If You are Sick;
  • COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions;
  • Cough and sneeze etiquette; and
  • Hand hygiene.
• It is critical that individuals NOT report to work while they are experiencing illness symptoms such as fever of 100.4 or higher (or the requirements of their local jurisdiction), cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, dry cough, body aches, chills, or fatigue, or loss of sense of smell and/or taste. Refer to CDC guidelines on What To Do If You Are Sick.
  • Employees should NOT return to work until at least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery, which is defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms; and,
  • At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
• Individuals should seek medical attention if they develop these symptoms. Refer to CDC guidelines on What To Do If You Are Sick.
• Any employee who experiences these symptoms and seeks medical attention should report their illness to their supervisor and may be eligible for paid sick time in accordance with Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
• Individuals who seek medical attention are required to produce a doctor’s note or a negative COVID-19 test result in order to return to work after experiencing any of these symptoms.
• If you are well but someone in your immediate household is diagnosed with COVID-19, you should notify your supervisor. Refer to CDC guidance for How To Conduct a Risk
• If you are confirmed to have COVID-19, in good fellowship inform your supervisor and fellow employees of possible exposure to coworkers who you worked in close proximity with (3- to 6- feet) of a coworker.
• If you feel sick, uncomfortable, or unsafe, please stay home and notify your supervisor or the payroll department.
• Any person coming to work showing these symptoms will be asked to leave and return home.

Social Distancing

• Work in occupied areas should be limited to only those tasks that are strictly necessary.
• Limit physical contact with others. Increase and maintain personal space of at least 6 feet, where possible.
• Limit in-person meetings to the greatest extent possible, including general gatherings or socializing. Where possible, conduct meetings over the phone or online.
• Lunch and breaks should be taken in shifts to reduce the size of any group while maintaining 6 feet distance between individuals.
• Necessary in-person meetings should be done in smaller groups or with the ability of maintaining the 6 feet distance.
• Discourage hand-shaking and other contact greetings.

Contact Tracing

Contact tracing will be necessary if a positive or presumptive case of COVID-19 is discovered in our community. To adequately prepare for any needed contact tracing, each person is expected to keep track of all people with whom they have close contact in case contact tracing is required after the discovery of a possible exposure. For purposes of contact tracing and likely exposure, close contact is defined as:

1. being within 6 feet of a person without facial protection for a prolonged period of time (generally 10 minutes or greater), OR
2. having direct contact with secretions (e.g., being coughed on).

Personal Hygiene

Hand Washing

• Frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. Refer to CDC guideline for When and How to Wash Your Hands.
• Wash hands before eating, smoking, or drinking,
• Wash hands after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, if soap and water are not available.
• Wash hands after you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may have been touched by others, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, etc.
• DO NOT touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands because that is how the germs enter our bodies.

Coughing and Sneezing

• Refer to CDC guidelines for Coughing and Sneezing
• If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Cleaning and Disinfection

Everyone is responsible to assist in the cleaning and disinfection of their personal areas, as well as the common areas that use or touch. For example, spray the provided disinfectant spray on the handles and faucets after use of the restroom. Some general guidelines for cleaning and disinfection are as follows:

• Refer to CDC guidelines for Clean & Disinfect.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
• Disinfectant spray is provided throughout the offices.
• Disinfectant wipes may be used when the spray is unavailable or impractical.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them prior to disinfection.

Face coverings

Under various levels of the protocols, cloth face coverings or masks are required to always been worn when in common areas, in others personal areas, or when appropriate social distancing is difficult to maintain. Please see the Protocol Level Requirements for additional information as to when face coverings are required

Health Screening

Each day before being permitted to enter the buildings or report to work, everyone may be required to answer questions related to personal health conditions either in-person or through an online screening process. Additionally, if necessary, personnel may be temperature scanned prior to accessing the buildings.

Whether online or in-person, the questions will be similar. Any affirmative answer to any of the questions prohibits the employee from coming to work or entering the buildings. The personal health questions asked will be as follows:

1. Have you been in close contact with a person who was diagnosed with COVID-19, or was instructed to quarantine with symptoms of COVID-19, in the past 14 days?
2. Have you, or anyone in your household, been instructed to quarantine or self-isolate due to COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
3. Are you having difficulty breathing or have you been experiencing any flu like symptoms within the past 72 hours including: fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, body aches, chills, loss of taste/smell, or fatigue?

Online Self-Screening

An online self-screening system is available at daleaff.com/self-screen and based on the Protocol Level in effect, must be completed by every employee before reporting to work or entering the buildings.

Temperature Scanning

If required by the Protocol Level in effect, employees may be required to have their temperature taken upon arrival at the office and prior to beginning regular work activities. In such cases, each building will have a self-check contactless thermometer station for use and the online self-screening questionnaire will be modified for recording of such temperature. Anytime on-site temperature scanning is necessary, it is recommended that each employee still self-check their temperature before leaving home.

For entry into the building, a temperature reading must be lower than 100.4°F (38°C).

Return to Work

Anyone asked to leave or does not report to work based on self-screening, should NOT return to work until at least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery, which is defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); AND, at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

Office protocol levels have been developed to correspond with PA Governor Wolf’s reopening phases (Red, Yellow and Green), along with the various CDC recommendations and guidance published. The five levels represent operations from Level 0 representing pre-COVID normal office conditions, through Level 4 representing complete lock down as was the case in the days following the initial stay-at-home order. The Dale Office Protocols Levels and corresponding PA reopening phase are:

Each protocol level has been developed to help mitigate the corresponding risk of community exposure as identified by the various governing authorities and as understood by the company and its designated pandemic officers. Please refer to the latest employee communications and building signage for the appropriate level in effect. If you have any questions, please as your supervisor or one of the pandemic officers.

Level 0 – Standard – Normal Office Conditions

• Legal maximum occupancy of the buildings must not be exceeded.
• Access to the building is restricted to normal working hours and those with authorization only during other times.
• Each person is responsible for the cleaning of their personal areas.
• Anyone who is sick and possibly contagious with any illness should limit contact with other as much as possible, including reporting to their supervisor and staying home, as necessary.

Level 1 – Guarded – Office Open with Limitations

Social Distancing and Building Space Requirements

• Recommend staggered in-person scheduling by department, area or building, as much as possible, to increase social distancing while maintaining appropriate level of operations.
• Limit frequency of and number of attendees for in-person meetings as much as reasonably possible.
• Recommend employees limit exposure to common areas or other buildings as much as reasonably possible.
• Goal to limit maximum occupancy inside of office buildings to approximately 250 SF per person in the aggregate. Please refer to the occupancy levels on the Main Office Protocol Matrix for more information.

Visitors, Non-Employees, General Public

• Visitors are limited to with appointment or prior approval.
• All visitors must compete health screening and be accompanied by an authorized person.

Cleaning and Disinfection

• Sanitation measures consistent with CDC recommendations.
• Clean and disinfect common areas regularly throughout the day.
• Each person is responsible for the cleaning of their personal areas.
• A designated responsible person must be designated each day for each building/department/area to ensure regular spraying and disinfecting of common, high-touch areas daily.

Meals, Drinks, Snacks

• Maintain distancing while eating.
• No community shared items/buffets.
• Individual meals recommended.
• Wash hands before and after eating.

Face Coverings

• Required when appropriate social distancing is difficult to maintain.

Health Screening

• Online self-screening questionnaire must be completed every day before reporting to work.
• Failure to complete questionnaire could be grounds for restricted access to the office buildings and work.
• On site temperature screening may be necessary.
• Stay home if sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19.

Level 2 – Elevated – Limited Office

Social Distancing and Building Space Requirements

• Maximum occupancy inside of office buildings to approximately 450 SF per person in the aggregate or 50% of legal maximum occupancy. Please refer to the occupancy levels on the Main Office Protocol Matrix for more information.
• Required staggered in-person scheduling by department, area or building, as much as possible, to increase social distancing while maintaining appropriate level of operations.
• Limit in-person meetings/gatherings to no more than 10 people or 50% of the space available in any room while maintaining 6 feet of social distancing.
• In-person meeting taking place outside are limited to 25 people while maintaining appropriate social distancing.
• Employees restricted from entering any building or area unless it is necessary to perform their work duties.
• Limit exposure to common areas or other buildings as much as reasonably possible.

Visitors, Non-Employees, General Public

• Non-essential visitors are prohibited from entering the buildings.
• All approved visitors must compete and pass the health screening questionnaire and be accompanied by an authorized person while in the buildings.

Cleaning and Disinfection

• Sanitation measures consistent with CDC recommendations.
• Clean and disinfect common areas regularly throughout the day.
• Each person is responsible for the cleaning of their personal areas.
• A designated responsible person must be designated each day for each building/department/area to ensure regular spraying and disinfecting of common, high-touch areas regularly throughout the day.

Meals, Drinks, Snacks

• Maintain distancing while eating.
• No community shared items/buffets.
• Individual meals recommended.
• Wash hands before and after eating.

Face Coverings

• Required when around others or in common areas. May be removed while in controlled personal office/space.

Health Screening

• Online self-screening questionnaire must be completed every day before reporting to work.
• Failure to complete questionnaire could be grounds for restricted access to the office buildings and work.
• On site temperature screening may be necessary.
• Stay home if sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19.

Level 3 – Restricted – Office Closed

Social Distancing and Building Space Requirements

• Recommending working from home unless necessary to enter the building for completion of required duties.
• Only essential in-person personnel and activities permitted at the main office.
• Maximum occupancy inside of office buildings to approximately 900 SF per person in the aggregate or 25% of legal maximum occupancy. Please refer to the occupancy levels on the Main Office Protocol Matrix for more information.
• Individuals should remain in offices/rooms as much as possible with very limited personal exposure to others.
• In-person meeting taking place outside are limited to 10 people while maintaining appropriate social distancing and wearing face coverings.
• Employees restricted from entering any building or area unless it is necessary to perform their work duties.
• Limit exposure to common areas or other buildings as much as reasonably possible.

Visitors, Non-Employees, General Public

• Non-essential visitors are prohibited from entering the buildings.
• All approved visitors must compete and pass the health screening questionnaire and be accompanied by an authorized person while in the buildings.

Cleaning and Disinfection

• Sanitation measures consistent with CDC recommendations.
• Each person is responsible for the cleaning and disinfection of their personal areas.
• Each person should limit the areas entered and touched.
• Each person must clean and disinfect any common surface touched before leaving the area using the disinfectant provided.
• Every person present in the office is required to clean and disinfect throughout the day.

Meals, Drinks, Snacks

• Maintain distancing while eating.
• No community shared items/buffets.
• Individual meals recommended.
• Wash hands before and after eating.

Face Coverings

• Required when around others or in common areas. May be removed while in controlled personal office/space.

Health Screening

• Online self-screening questionnaire must be completed every day before reporting to work.
• Failure to complete questionnaire could be grounds for restricted access to the office buildings and work.
• On site temperature screening may be necessary.
• Stay home if sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19.

Level 4 – Closed – Complete Lock Down

Social Distancing and Building Space Requirements

• Everyone should work from home.
• Only when absolutely necessary for the continuation of the business is entry to the office allowed.
• Individuals should remain in offices/rooms as much as possible with very limited personal exposure to others.
• Limit exposure to common areas or other buildings as much as possible.

Visitors, Non-Employees, General Public

• Strictly prohibited except in emergency situations.

Cleaning and Disinfection

• Sanitation measures consistent with CDC recommendations.
• Each person is responsible for the cleaning and disinfection of their personal areas.
• Each person should limit the areas entered and touched.
• Each person must clean and disinfect any common surface touched before leaving the area using the disinfectant provided.
• Every person is expected to “clean as you go” while in the buildings.

Meals, Drinks, Snacks

• Maintain distancing while eating.
• Only individual meals allowed.
• Wash hands before and after eating.

Face Coverings

• Required when around others or in common areas. May be removed while in controlled personal office/space.

Health Screening

• Online self-screening questionnaire must be completed every day before reporting to work.
• Failure to complete questionnaire could be grounds for restricted access to the office buildings and work.
• On site temperature screening may be necessary.
• Stay home if sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19.

According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Safety Procedures for Businesses, for each work location (building or worksite), a Pandemic Safety Officer must be identified to respond to employee questions regarding the Commonwealth’s requirements as well as the protocols set forth in this document. Dale and Affiliates’ Chief Pandemic Safety Officer is:

Andrew J. Scutti

Director of Health, Safety & Environment

AndyS@daleco.net

215-416-4796 mobile

It is expected that other Pandemic Safety Officers will be designated for each building, worksite or other location. Each designated Pandemic Safety Officer must complete the certificate training partially found at https://dale1959.com/dspo-training.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, businesses conducting in-person operations are required to make employees and customers aware of the guidance provided by the Commonwealth to keep people at their establishment safe. In addition, businesses are required to publicly acknowledge their responsibility to conduct their operations to ensure the health. As such the required “COVID-19 Safety Procedures for Businesses” flyer has been printed and posted according to the requirements of the Commonwealth.

The flyer is located on the Resources for COVID-19 webpage. Businesses must post the signed flyer in employee common space and, if the business serves the public, the business must also post the flyer near the business’s public entrance(s) in prominent location(s).

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• PA Department of Health (Pa DOH)
• PA Resources for COVID-19 webpage
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Dale and Affiliate COVID-19 Awareness Program
• Dale and Affiliates Self-Screening Questionnaire
• Dale and Affiliates COVID-19 Updates
• Dale Field Training and Resource Links