SARS - Health & Safety Recommendations

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory illness of unknown cause that has been described in previously healthy adults in Asia, North America, Europe and Australia.  Based on currently available evidence, close contact with an infected person experiencing symptoms is needed for the infective agent to spread from one person to another.

This write-up outlines the steps that SNMP suggests our clients should take upon learning that there is a confirmed SARS in the workplace.

Response Kit Supplies

• Fact Sheet for Janitorial Staff Training – Use of N95 mask, donning and doffing of gloves and hand hygiene practices

• Fact Sheet for Close Contacts of a SARS Case in the Work Setting

• 4 N95 masks (1 for SARS case, 1 for escort of SARS case; 2 for Janitorial staff involved in cleanup)

• Box of non-sterile disposable gloves (impervious/latex)

• Low to intermediate level germicidal agent (i.e. Virkon, or diluted household bleach if not available – 1:100 dilution with water or 5.25% - 6%)

• Bucket, mops, rags and sponges

• Trash bags

• Tape for cordoning

Immediate Actions to be Taken

If the employee with SARS is in the workplace when he/she is informed about being a confirmed SARS case, it is recommended that the employee should cover his/her nose and mouth with a N95 mask, making sure there is a snug fit, and leave the building to seek medical care as soon as possible.  If someone is escorting the employee out of the building, it is recommended that the escort should also wear a N95 mask, making sure there is a snug fit,  and wash his/her hands with soap and water after returning to the building and removing and disposing the mask.

The immediate work area where the employee with confirmed SARS worked should be vacated.  If the employee worked in a 4-walled office environment, the immediate area is defined as the office itself and the area directly outside of this office.  If the employee worked in a cubicle, the immediate work area would be the cubicles adjacent to the SARS case’s cubicle within a twenty-foot radius.

If the employee with SARS in not in the workplace when the diagnosis is confirmed, on the day of the confirmed diagnosis, co-workers in the SARS case’s immediate work area should be asked to vacate the immediate work area (as described above) so that appropriate cleaning activities can be completed.

• With Security’s assistance, the work area should be cordoned off with tape and access into the cordoned off work area should be prevented.

• If the building is air conditioned, the fresh air intake for that particular work area should be increased for a  period of 12 hours.

• If the building is not air conditioned, the windows should be opened to allow for entry of fresh air into the work area for a period of 12 hours.

It's recommended for the client to review with the Janitorial Staff the cleaning protocol and the proper use of a N95 mask and non-sterile disposable gloves (impervious/latex) using the Fact Sheet for Janitorial Staff Training in the Response Kit.  Although not required, a N95 mask should be offered and non-sterile disposable gloves (impervious/latex) are required.  (It is important to note that in some countries qualitative fit testing is required.  The goal is to ensure a snug fit around the nose and mouth.) 

The Janitorial staff should then clean all the surfaces and fixtures in the lavatories, in addition to water drinking fountains in the immediate area, that could have been used by the confirmed SARS case.  All nearby trashcans should be emptied.  The cleaning agent should be a low to intermediate level germicidal agent.  The sponges, trash and rags can be bagged and sealed while the janitorial staff continue to wear their masks and gloves.  Once the bag is sealed, the masks and gloves can be bagged and sealed in another bag and thrown away in the regular trash.

Evaluating Close Contacts

HR and the Manager of the SARS case should evaluate where the SARS case has been in the workplace and who are potential close contacts.  Additional information may be obtained by having HR and the Manager confer with the SARS case’s co-workers.  HR and the Manager may also obtain information from the SARS case directly by discussing his/her activities over the telephone.  

All close contacts should be provided with information regarding symptoms that they should be on the alert for and the actions they need to take should they experience these symptoms by referring to the Fact Sheet for Close Contacts of a SARS Case in the Work Setting located in the Response Kit.