Worksite Specific COVID-19 Prevention Plan- Fitness Facility County of Ventura, State of California

To communicate information about COVID-19 outbreaks among self/clients:

Ventura County Health Care Agency Coronavirus Hotline: 805-465-6650 COVID

Compliance: 805-202-1805; covidcompliance@ventura.org

Website: http://www.vchca.org/agency-divisions/public-health

OBJECTIVE: Perform a comprehensive risk assessment of all work areas and establish a worksite-specific COVID-19 prevention plan; Communicate with clients and client representatives about the plan; Regularly evaluate the workplace for compliance with the plan and document and correct deficiencies identified.

Preventive Action Plan:

For the Patron

(1) Email patrons a letter with resources and information on COVID-19, how to prevent it from spreading, and which underlying health conditions may make individuals more susceptible to contracting the virus prior to reopening. Include the following information:

(a) Encourage clients who are sick or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 to stay home. Highlight the importance of not coming to the facility if the patron has symptoms of COVID-19 as described by the CDC such as a frequent cough, fever, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, recent loss of taste or smell, or if they or someone they live with have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

(b) Require self-screening at home, including temperature and/or symptom checks using CDC guidelines prior to attending session.

(c) Advise that they seek medical attention if their symptoms become severe, including persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, or bluish lips or face. Updates and further details are available on CDC’s webpage.

(d) Emphasize the importance of frequent handwashing with soap and water, including scrubbing with soap for 20 seconds (or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol (preferred) or 70% isopropanol (if the product is inaccessible to unsupervised children) when employee/client cannot get to a sink or handwashing station, per CDC guidelines.

(e) Explain the proper use of face coverings, including:

• Face coverings do not protect the wearer and are not personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Face coverings can help protect people near the wearer, but do not replace the need for physical distancing and frequent handwashing.

• Face coverings must cover the nose and mouth.

• Patrons should wash or sanitize hands before and after using or adjusting face coverings.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Face covering should be washed or discarded after each session, unless disinfection is possible.

• Face coverings will be worn to the extent possible while in the facility, particularly when physical distancing is difficult. (2) Request that patrons to bring their own towels, mats and any small equipment and accessories (i.e. exercise bands, ropes, mats, foam rollers, etc.); or preferably, do their warm-up, rolling, and stretching at home prior to arrival at the facility.

For the Business:

(1) Employer will use all required protective equipment, including eye protection, face shields, masks, and gloves when necessary.

(2) Remind patrons in advance to bring a face covering.

(3) Face coverings will be used when physical distancing cannot be maintained on the job (i.e., personalt training and assisting with exercise).

(4) Provide temperature screening for client at the beginning of session when entering the facility.

(5) Employer will wash hands prior to the session, after the session, after touching their face covering, after using the restroom, anad before leaving work.

(6) Frequently disinfect commonly used surfaces, including exercise machines and equipment, countertops, doorknowbs, and hand washing facilities.

(7) Investigate any COVID-19 illness as soon as alerted and determine if any work-related factors could have contributed to risk of infection. Update plan as needed to prevent further cases.

(8) Identify close contacts (within six feet for 15 minutes or more) of an infected employee/client and take steps to isolate COVID-19 positive employees/clients and close contacts by genrating a list of each involved person and notifying them, in addition to the Coronavirus Hotline.

Strategies:

(1) Modify operating hours to provide adequate time for regular, thorough cleaning and disinfecting throughout the day.

(a) Limit number of patrons in the facility daily.

(b) Stagger appointments i.e., morning and afternoon sessions.

(c) Use one-way foot traffic patterns throughout the facility with visual cues and signs.

(d) Adjust personal training so that the exercise instructor maintains a minimum of twelve feet of physical distance inside and six feet of physical distance outside.

(e) Modify group training classes to limit the class size to ensure a minimum of twelve feet of physical distance inside and six feet of physical distance outside between patrons.

(f) Move the classes outdoors or to larger spaces like full-sized basketball courts, if possible.

(2) Implement measures to ensure physical distancing of at least six feet of distance outside and twelve feet of distance inside using visual cues (e.g., floor markings, colored tape, or signs).

(3) Space equipment at least six feet apart outside and twelve feet apart inside.

(4) Utilize a reservation system to contact patrons with reservations 24 hours before their scheduled arrival to confirm their reservation and ask if they or someone in their household is exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms. If the patron answers in the affirmative the patron should be reminded that they should not come in until they do not pose a health risk.

(5) Post signage at all entrances and in strategic and highly-visible locations, as a reminder to all to practice physical distancing and that the use of face coverings is highly recommended.

(6) Place signage throughout the fitness facility emphasizing basic infection prevention measures, including the importance of wearing face covering and frequent hand-washing.

(7) Avoid shaking hands, bumping fists or elbows, and other physical contact.

(8) Avoid sharing tools, phones, electronics.

(9) Implement virtual, touchless check-in and payment tools, if possible.

(10) Have the Worksite Specific COVID-19 Prevention Plan accessible for reference.

Worksite Plan for Work Areas:
Reception:

(1) Remove unnecessary amenities, including magazines, books, self-serve water statins (unless touchless), and other items for patrons, from reception areas and elsewhere in the fitness facility.

(2) Patron should:

(a) Text when they arrive and wait for message to come in.

(b) Leave all personal belongings except car keys in their vehicle.

(c) Remove shoes in the front reception area before entering interior office.

(d) Sanitize hands. Automatic dispensing hand sanitizer will be available upon entry.

(e) It is recommended that the patron use the restroom prior to arrival, otherwise the restroom is available.

(f) Washing hands is required after each use of the restroom.

(g) Arrive in laundered clothing, showered. If that is not possible, patron must bring a fresh change of clothes preserved in uncontaminated sealed packaging, so that they may change in the designated, private area.

Restroom:

(1) Perform thorough disinfecting with EPA-registered disinfectants after each client including commonly used hightouch surfaces such as faucet, handles, toilet, doorknobs, and light switch frequently.

(2) Provide information on how to wash hands properly, including hanging signs in restrooms.

(3) Ensure that the restroom is stocked with soap, paper towels, and hand sanitizer.

(4) Install hands-free devices, if possible, including motion sensor sink faucets, soap dispensers, sanitizer dispensers, and paper towel dispensers.

Reformer Room:

(1) Perform thorough disinfecting with EPA-registered disinfectants, and soap and water for apparatus, after each client including commonly used surfaces such as the carriage, headrest, footbar, handles, loops, and bars for the Pilates Reformer.

Other Equipment:

(1) Perform thorough disinfecting with EPA-registered disinfectants after each client including commonly used hightouch surfaces of equipment such as BOSU balls.

Strategies:

(1) Use a portable, high-efficiency air cleaner to increase the quantity of outside air and ventilation in office and other spaces.

(2) After each session, perform thorough disinfecting with EPA-registered disinfectants of high traffic areas, such as shoe removal and changing stations.

(3) Perform thorough disinfecting with EPA-registered disinfectants after each client including disinfecting commonly used surfaces such as handles, doorknobs, and seat in changing room.

(4) Create a cleaning schedule and checklist to keep track of how often cleaning is conducted.

(5) Use products approved for use against COVID-19 on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved list and follow product instructions.

• Use disinfectants labeled to be effective against emerging viral pathogens, diluted household bleach solutions (5 tablespoons per gallon of water), or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol that are appropriate for the surface.

• Read manufacturer’s directions and Cal/OSHA requirements for safe use.

• Wear gloves and other protective equipment as required by the product when using cleaners or disinfectants should. Follow the asthma-safer cleaning methods recommended by the California Department of Health. (6) Have an adequate supply of all-purpose cleaners and disinfectants, when needed.

(7) Follow the complete CDC guidelines for safe use and required personal protective equipment for cleaning products.

(8) Equip entrances and exits, exercise machines, fitness rooms, changing rooms, and other areas with proper sanitation products, including hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, and provide personal hand sanitizers to self who regularly engages with patrons.

(9) Use “ready to clean” tags to place on equipment after use, to ensure equipment is disinfected before the next use.

(10) Ensure that lined, non-touch trash receptacles are available throughout the fitness facility to dispose of used wipes.

(11) For any towels, cloth wipes, or other laundered items that are used at the facility, follow CDC guidelines for those items.

(12) Provide a closed container for used towels or other items. Ensure those items cannot be used again until properly laundered either by a commercial laundering service or a laundering process which includes immersion in water or at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 25 minutes. Store all clean linens in a clean, covered place. Ensure workers who handle dirty linens or laundry wear gloves.

(13) Ensure enough ventilation (air flow) in areas where disinfecting is being done. If cleaning in a bathroom or other small space, make sure the door and windows are propped open.

(14) Stock first aid supplies, including bandages or other items to cover any cuts, scratches, or open wounds on skin and have sufficient supply to change the bandages often.

(15) Procure options for third-party cleaning companies to assist with the increased cleaning demand, as needed.