Since Bell Canada must ensure essential phone services, the Bell employees could be asked to work at sites where SARS is suspected (i.e. servicing phones, phone lines or systems in health care centers or hospitals).

In prevision for these situations, the following procedures must be followed:

1)  The Manager receives a call from a Technician who expresses a personal concern about entering a location due to SARS. (i.e. hospital, doctor’s clinic, etc...),

2)  The Manager will contact the responsible authority for this location and ascertain if the need to enter the location is essential.

3) The Manager will request the responsible authority to detail the risk level by specifying the following:
    a) Known conditions,
    b) Quarantined users,
    c) Precautionary access measures,
    d) Restrictions,
    e) All other important information.

4) The Manager will request the responsible authority to detail the protocol for the safe access to this site, including;
    a) Screening questionnaire,
    b) Personal Protective Equipment (e.g.; must wear mask, etc...)
    c) Proper Personal Hygiene Procedures to be followed by all employees accessing the site
    d) All procedures must include;
        i) Maintaining a safe distance (1 m) between the Bell employee and any person met at the suspected site, and
        ii) Washing hands regularly.

5) The Manager will meet with the Technician and;
    a) Will review the risk documentation contained on the Toronto Board of Health web site:    http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/health/pneumonia_report.htm
    b) Review the details of the Managers discussion with the locations responsible authority as detailed above,
    c) Inform the Technician of the protocol's in existence at the location for the safe access of the site.

6) The Manager will ask the Technician if their concerns have been answered and will assist the Technician in returning to the location to complete the service call following the prescribed protocol recommended by the responsible authority.

7) If the Technician continues to express concern and will not enter a particular location. The Manager will handle on a case by case basis which could include joint representatives of the LHSC and/or Provincial representatives. If concerns are still not answered, the Manager will attempt to reassign the work to another employee that is willing to do the work after clearly being informed of the potential risks. If there are no volunteers the situation should be escalated as a work refusal.

If a situation is escalated as a Work Refusal, contact your Health and Safety Representative immediately.