Arizona Law "New Safe Return" Plan: 8.0 PHYSICAL PLANT

Office Spaces

The most important prevention methods in office spaces are to maintain physical distance, wear a face

Supervisors in office settings should:

• Use the UArizona COVID-19 Workplace Prevention Checklist to plan your office’s safe return.
• Work with employees to create work from home strategies, staggered schedules, and other ways to minimize the density of people physically present at work to maintain physical distancing.
• Encourage and support all employees to stay home if they are sick, have been in close contact (within 6 ft for 15 minutes or longer) with a COVID-19 positive case, or if they have tested positive themselves.
• Ensure all employees have face coverings and are aware of CDC guidance and UArizona’s Administrative Directive on the use of face coverings.
• Ensure disinfectants are made available to all employees; including hand sanitizer, hand soap, disinfectant solution for common surfaces, etc.
• Check in with employees to determine if they have questions, concerns, and are informed about all available resources (such as mental health and well-being, campus pantry, etc.).

Employees in office settings should:

• Maintain at least 2 face coverings and wear them in accordance with UArizona guidance and CDC best practices.
• Stay home, seek healthcare, and inform your supervisor if you begin exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, have a confirmed positive COVID-19 test, or have been in close contact with a confirmed positive COVID-19 case.
• Clean and disinfect workspaces and equipment daily or more frequently
• Cover coughs and sneezes as much as possible. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds after coughing, sneezing, or touching common surfaces, and before preparing food or eating. 
• Follow all instructions and signage regarding COVID-19 prevention measures.

Public & Common Areas

Public and common areas are the places where COVID-19 is most likely to spread. Physical distancing is the most important means of controlling the spread of COVID-19 in these locations.

Supervisors should ensure:

• Cleaning and disinfection of all public and common surfaces should be performed before and after each use or at least daily using an EPA-approved disinfectant.
• Physical distancing and elevated hygiene measures (proper hand hygiene) is being practiced and encouraged.
• Remove and alter these spaces to minimize common touchpoints. Changes to the workplace itself can only be done by Facilities Management. Do NOT attempt to alter any location yourself; contact at (520) 621-3000.

Common Areas

• All employees should review and adhere to the best practices below for common public settings

Bathrooms

• Face coverings should always be worn in bathrooms.
• Maintain physical distance when waiting to use the bathroom; wait outside of the bathroom if possible.
• Stand as far away from the toilet as possible when flushing and use your foot to flush if and when possible/feasible. If a toilet seat cover/lid is available, close the lid prior to flushing.
• Use a paper towel to open the door and minimize contact with common surfaces.

Break Rooms and Kitchens

• Face coverings should always be worn in breakrooms and kitchens.
• All surfaces should be wiped down before and after each use, with an EPA-approved disinfectant.
• Avoid sharing any common items (e.g. coffee makers, coffee mugs, plates, utensils) and snacks. Employee should bring their own and keep at their desk to prevent possible transmission.
• Remove chairs and tables to discourage congregation in break areas and kitchens.

Doors and Door Handles

• Remove non-essential doors, only with the help of Facilities Management and approval of Risk Management Services (it may be a fire door or other important item that cannot be altered).
• Use a paper towel to open the door and minimize contact with common surfaces.
• Install foot pulls as an additional handle option where feasible, only with the help of Facilities Management.

Shared Equipment (chairs, keyboards, printers, copiers, office supplies)

• Try to reduce the amount of sharing that must occur, by providing individual office supplies, keyboards, etc.
• Leave equipment and light switches “on” all day to reduce common touchpoints.
• Supervisors and employees should remove unnecessary fabric upholstered chairs, and replace with easy to disinfect, non-porous material chairs, when practicable.
• Supervisors should place disinfecting supplies directly next to all shared equipment and encourage employees to clean before and after each use.
• Supervisors should secure supplies storage and designate specific personnel to manage stock and distribute items.

Elevators & Stairs

Elevators

The best way to use an elevator is alone; elevators should always be used with as few people as possible.

• Face coverings should always be worn in elevators.
• Take the stairs if you are able and reserve the elevators for those who cannot.
• Appropriate physical distancing of at least 6 ft should be maintained; if you cannot keep that distance, try to wait for the next elevator or take the stairs.
• Use a tissue, glove, or other disposable item to push buttons when possible. Wash hands as soon as possible after exiting the elevator.

Stairs

Stairwells and narrow staircases should move in a single direction. In the main building, we have designated sets of stairs as either “Up” or “Down” only.

• Face coverings should always be worn in stairwells.
• Look before you enter the stairwell and follow building signage.
• Avoid touching stair rails unless necessary.
• If the stairs go both ways, try to stay as close to one side as possible and do not linger in the stairwell.

Practice Good Hygiene

After using an elevator or the stairs, all employees should avoid touching hands to face, eyes, and mouth and practice proper hand hygiene by either washing their hands thoroughly (soap and water for 20 seconds) or using hand sanitizer.

To assess the best mitigation strategies across the multiple buildings of Arizona Law, the Arizona Law campus was divided into seven different physical/functional zones and each examined separately. The table below outlines all the mitigation measures required by this Plan and treats Arizona Law as one unit (excepting the library, which is discussed in section 10 below). More detailed implementation plans for each zone are available upon request.

Some of the practices listed below will be performed by the College of Law’s building management team and some by UArizona’s facilities management (FM) team. These two groups already work in close coordination and the collaboration will continue under this new plan.

MILESTONES: Enhanced sanitization methods are underway; furniture changes and office modifications will be made and signage posted by August 1, 2020; controlled access and reduced touchpoints will be in place by August 10, 2020.