Proactive Steps to Address COVID-19
Our main goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals who receive services or who visit our facilities. Due to the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and increasing concerns in our community, this letter is to inform you of the steps that Life’sWork of Western PA is taking to reduce the risk of infection.
We remain open at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and will inform you if that changes. Based on recommendations from Centers for Disease Control and discussions with senior leadership at Life’sWork, the following actions are now in place:
1. Ongoing disinfection of our facilities – We will continue to clean and disinfect our facility on a daily basis, which includes but not limited to bathrooms, tables and chairs in our production area, tables and chairs in our cafeteria, floors, doorknobs, railings in stairwells, and elevator buttons.
2. Staff Recommendations – All staff have been given guidelines to follow to practice good hygiene, which includes washing their hands upon arrival to work (mandated), stop handshaking, avoid touching their faces, and covering coughs and sneezes with the crux of the elbow. In addition, if meetings are needed they will occur in open, well-ventilated spaces. Staff will be sent home if they have signs of an illness.
3. Client Recommendations – All clients are encouraged to wash their hands upon arrival to work, before breaks, and before lunch. Staff will supervise to ensure proper cleaning techniques. Also, clients must not share food with each other. Again, staff will monitor this and politely remind them to not share. In addition, individuals will be encouraged to stop handshaking/fist bumping/etc., avoid touching their faces, and cover their coughs and sneezes with the crux of their elbow. Client caregivers will be contacted to make arrangements if the individual shows any signs of illness.
4. Visitor Requirements – Any visitor who enters our facilities must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer, which will be available at the front desk upon entering the building.
We understand that this is a stressful and uncertain time in our lives. We believe that the efforts listed above provide common sense solutions given the information we have today. We strive to provide our services in a safe and healthy environment and look forward to continue to work with you and all our participants to help them reach their personal goals. Please contact Chris Phelps at (412) 471-2600 x.330 or cphelps@lifesworkwpa.org with any questions or concerns.
