COVID-19 Symptoms & Exposure Protocols

Updated 09/07/2021

It is vital for Global Environmental Network, Inc. to work collaboratively in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our training environment while maintaining quality instruction. Instructors, employees and students must remain at home if they, someone in their immediate household, or someone they have been exposed to, has symptoms of COVID-19 or is being tested for COVID-19. It is important that our students’ and staff’s health and confidentiality is the main priority during this global pandemic.

This list of protocols outlines the steps, pertaining to our students, that GENI is taking to ensure that our Instructors, employee and students are as healthy as possible. 

As changes are necessary during this time, this list of protocols will be prone to change with adjustments to Local, County and Federal Regulations and Guidelines.

Section 1. Symptoms of COVID-19

• Fever or chills
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting

Section 2. Screening Procedures

For Students

• Students should self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to arriving to GENI Facilities
• Students should observe for symptoms outlined above to ensure they are illness free
• Students should record results from symptom observations and complete acknowledgement form
• Students should stay home if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or have had close contact with a person diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19
• Students will give prior notice to GENI if they exhibit symptoms or the potential of COVID-19 related illness and not come into a GENI facility or classroom.
• GENI will ask COVID-19 screening questions before admitting students into the facilities. 
• Students, Instructors, and Staff who are not fully COVID-19 vaccinated must wear a mask per CDPH 
  • Note: Certain counties require masks for all persons, both fully COVID-19 vaccinated and non-vaccinated. At this time the following branches are reside withing these counties and all persons in a GENI facility must wear a mask: Oakland Branch, Sacramento Branch 

Section 3. Face Coverings

The California Department of Public Health has required face coverings for persons not fully COVID-19 vaccinated (https://covid19.ca.gov/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ca-covid19response-august2020&utm_term=ca%20coronavirus%20cases&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgdWM2vft8gIVVCGtBh1gLAZsEAAYASAAEgIM-_D_BwE) .

A cloth face covering or face shield may be removed for meals or snacks but must be replaced immediately following.

Certain counties have mandates that all persons wear face coverings. Global Environmental Network, Inc. adheres to those standards at our branches, as well as when teaching off-site at client locations. Student are required to check with their local agency requirements and comply. Currently, GENI’s Sacramento and Oakland branch require masks for all persons indoors, per local mandates. 

Instructors, employees, visitors and students who are not fully vaccinated and not complying with the CDPH or local agency mandate will be excluded from the facility if they refuse to wear a face covering. Alternative educational opportunities will be offered for students that are excluded from the facility, if available. 

Section 4. If a Student Becomes Sick

If student becomes sick while off work or training, please take the following steps.

Please have the individual stay home and notify the manager. Contact GENI to reschedule training at training@GENIintl.com. With the exception of an emergency, notification must be given prior to course start time. Students failing to reschedule prior to start time may result in non-credit. 

In order to return to GENI Facility, you must be fever free for 48 hours and/or meet the COVID-19 return guidelines per the COVID-19 playbook by the CDPH.

If you become sick while at GENI or in a GENI class, please take the following steps:

Students: Immediately report any illness symptoms to an instructor or a Branch Manager. Leave classroom; Isolate from the rest of the class to assure the reduction of potential spread; and Communicate with student’s direct manager/employer (if applicable). 

If a student is symptomatic while entering GENI or during the day of instruction, the Instructor and/or Manager should:

• Ensure they have put on the appropriate PPE and then separate the employee, student or volunteer from others right away, preferably isolated in an area through which others do not enter or pass; Follow-up by requesting employee, student, or volunteer to go home, call doctor, and self-quarantine until he/she receives further instruction from their doctor.
• If more than one employee, student or volunteer student is in an isolation area, ensure physical distancing; Take and record temperature; Follow-up by requesting employees, students, or volunteers to go home, call doctor, and self-quarantine until he/she receives further instruction from their doctor.
• Require employees, students, and volunteers exhibiting symptoms to immediately wear a face covering until they can be transported home, to a healthcare facility; or if able to drive, request them to go home immediately.
• Clean and disinfect the area once the instructor, employee or student has left following proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
• Remove and clean or throw away soiled PPE.
• Follow CDC COVID-19 disinfection protocol as well as training provided by GENI.

Section 5. Notification Process

Responsible Parties

Instructor/Employee: This group is responsible for notifying the Branch Manager & Human Resources;

Manager: If an employee calls in sick or appears ill, the manager can inquire as to whether they believe the illness to be COVID-19 related and/or whether they are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19. If the answer is yes to either of these questions the employee should be referred to Human Resources for further support.

Branch Manager and Management acts as the COVID-19 Coordinators: This group is responsible for investigating the potential exposure, informing co-workers, notifying the proper employees to commence Exposure Cleaning Protocols. This role will work with Human Resources or the COVID-19 Coordinators(i.e. Managers) to determine what rooms/buildings need to be closed and for what period of time using the Exposure Cleaning Protocols. The local health department may also help the team to assess factors such as the likelihood of exposure to employees and students in the building, the number of cases in the community, and other factors that will determine room, building or closure.

Upper Management: This group is responsible for notifying the County Health Department and other agencies as required.

Section 6. Cleaning Procedures

Cleaning & Disinfecting

Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by cleaning and disinfection is an important part of reopening facilities and also keeping them open. This section describes both routine cleaning that happens daily, weekly, monthly and the cleaning of an area that has been affected by COVID-19.

Regular Cleaning

Cleaning of all rooms on the facility are conducted regularly:

• They are cleaned daily and the high touch surfaces are disinfected per checklist;
• Items that should be disinfected regularly:
  • Doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, handrails, drinking fountains, supplies, instructional materials, equipment, toilets, faucets, microwave, bathrooms, coffeepot, sinks, desks, tables, chairs, keyboards, phones, headsets, copy machines, etc.
• We ensure trash is removed daily;
• When possible during cleaning we air out the space before students arrive and plan to do the thorough cleaning when students are not present.
• Employees are responsible for disinfecting their workstations daily.

Exposure Cleaning

• Close off any area used by any sick person and do not use it before it has been cleaned and disinfected;
• If an area has been closed for 7 days or longer then only routine cleaning is needed. The virus does not live longer than 7 days on objects per CDC;
• To reduce risk of exposure, wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If it is not possible to wait 24 hours, wait as long as possible;
• Ensure that ventilation systems and fans operate properly and increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors. Do not open windows and doors if doing so poses a safety or health risk to students using the facility;
• Perform the Regular Cleaning procedures as listed above.

Section 7. Preventative Measures

All employees, instructors and students are strongly encouraged to implement the following behavioral practices, as reasonable, to help reduce the likelihood the virus would be spread at the facility:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• If hand washing is not available, sanitize with hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol;
• Employees should wear face coverings while interacting with students and in public spaces (mask or face shield).
• Practice social distancing, avoid close contact with others especially if they are sick;
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth;
• Stay home when sick;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects or surfaces;
• Wipe down public surfaces before and after you touch them;
• Leave doors open to prevent frequent touching;
• Open windows or increase air conditioning circulation;
• Refrain from shaking hands with others;
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
• Food should not be shared
• Lunch should be had in small groups, outside or in the classrooms. Limited capacity in the employee lounge.

Section 8. Resources

Resources we rely on for updated information that guides our plan:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Consulting Doctors
• Local County Health Department
• State of California
• State of California Department of Health
• CDPH COVID-19 Player's Handbook

Section 9. Traveling from Outside of CA

Students, Employees or Instructors traveling from outside CA, but within the United States, are allowed to enter a GENI training facility if:

Non-COVID-19 Vaccinated Persons:

• 1) The student, employee and/or instructor submits proof of a COVID-19 negative test from an authorized CLIA lab (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act) within 72 hours of arrival to a GENI facility. Results must be emailed to training@GENIintl.com. An approval email from Global Environmental Network, Inc. must be issued prior to entering. A hardcopy of the results must be provided the day of arrival prior to entering the facility, in addition to the emailed version.

OR

COVID-19 Vaccinated Persons:

• 1) The student, employee and/or instructor has been fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated is defined as receiving all necessary vaccinations and it being at least 2 weeks since the last required vaccination. Note: Most vaccinations require 2 doses. Second dose must be no less than 2 weeks prior to entering a GENI facility.

AND

• 2) If student, employee and / or instructor has had the COVID-19 vaccination and is fully vaccinated, per the definition of fully vaccinated: proof of vaccination card must be provided within 72 hours of entering a GENI facility. Vaccination card must be emailed to training@safetygeni.com . An approval email from Global Environmental Network, Inc. must be issued prior to entering. A hardcopy of the results must be provided the day of arrival prior to entering the facility, in addition to the emailed version.

IMPORTANT NOTE: GENI IS CLOSED ON WEEKENDS. PERSONS ARRIVING TO GENI ON A MONDAY MUST HAVE THEIR DOCUMENTS EMAILED NO LATER THAN FRIDAY AT NOON.