May 12, 2020
COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for MERCI TATTOO 

MERCI TATTOO IS OPERATING FOR ONLINE RETAIL AND TATTOO SERVICES BY APPOINTMENT

MERCI TATTOO is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our workers and customers. To ensure that, we have developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Managers and workers are all responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our workplaces and communities, and that requires full cooperation among our workers, management and customers. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of our workplaces.

Management and workers are responsible for implementing and complying with all aspects of this COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. MERCI TATTOO'S workers and supervisors have our full support in enforcing the provisions of this policy.

Our workers are our most important assets. We are serious about safety and health and keeping our workers working at MERCI TATTOO. Worker involvement is essential in developing and implementing a successful COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. We have involved our workers in this process by HOLDING MEETINGS TO IDENTIFY CONCERNS AND CREATING A PLAN TO PUT THOSE PLANS INTO ACTION. THOSE ACTIONS ARE REFLECTED IN THE GUIDELINES SET OUT BELOW. Our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines, federal OSHA standards related to COVID-19 and Executive Order 20-48, and addresses:

-hygiene and respiratory etiquette;
-engineering and administrative controls for social distancing;
-customer controls and protections for drop-off, pick-up and delivery;
-housekeeping, including cleaning, disinfection and decontamination;
-prompt identification and isolation of sick persons;
-communications and training that will be provided to managers and workers; and
-management and supervision necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plan.

Screening and policies for employees exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19
Workers have been informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess workers’ health status prior to entering the workplace and for workers to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms.
BEFORE REPORTING TO WORK EACH DAY, WORKERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THEIR TEMPERATURE AT HOME, AND IF EXHIBITING A TEMPERATURE OVER 98.9 THE WORKER WILL STAY HOME AND THEIR ABSENCE AND SYMPTOMS WILL BE DOCUMENTED IN THE HEALTH LOG. ADDITIONALLY, ON THE DAY A WORKER IS TO REPORT TO WORK, THEY WILL ASSES WHETHER THEY ARE EXPERIENCING COUGHING OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH. IF EITHER SYMPTOM IS PRESENT, THE WORKER WILL STAY HOME AND IT WILL BE NOTED ALONG WITH THEIR ABSENCE IN THE HEALTH LOG. WE HAVE PROVIDED A LOG FOR EACH WORKER TO MARK DOWN THEIR DAY’S TEMPERATURE AND PRESENCE OF SYMPTOMS WHEN THEY REPORT TO WORK. IF A WORKER DEVELOPS ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS OR ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 THE WORKER IS SENT HOME AND A REPORT IS WRITTEN. AT ANY TIME, IF A WORKER EXPERIENCE COVID-LIKE SYMPTOMS, A PLAN WILL BE DRAWN UP INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR TESTING AND 2 WEEK QUARANTINE.

MERCI TATTOO has implemented leave policies that promote workers staying at home when they are sick, when household members are sick, or when required by a health care provider to isolate or quarantine themselves or a member of their household. AS ALL WORKERS AT MERCI TATTOO ARE SELF EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS, THERE IS NO COMPENSATION FOR LOST WORK DUE TO ILLNESS, HOWEVER, THE MANAGEMENT OF MERCI TATTOO IS COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF ITS WORKERS AND IF ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED IN MEETING ENDS MEET, THE MANAGEMENT WILL ASSESS HOW IT CAN MITIGATE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY.

Accommodations for workers with underlying medical conditions or who have household members with underlying health conditions have been implemented. IF A WORKER HAS ADDITIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT EXPOSURE, THEY MAY CHOOSE TO REMAIN OUT OF THE WORKPLACE AT THEIR DISCRETION.

MERCI TATTOO has also implemented a policy for informing workers if they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 at their workplace and requiring them to quarantine for the required amount of time. WHEN A PERSON WHO HAS CONTACTED ANY MEMBER OF THE MERCI TATTOO IS FOUND TO HAVE COVID-19 A FULL REPORT WILL BE WRITTEN UP INCLUDING DOCUMENTATION OF CONTACT TRACING AND SUBMITTED TO ALL PERSONS WHO MAY HAVE HAD INCIDENTAL CONTACT WITH THE INFECTED PERSON.

In addition, a policy has been implemented to protect the privacy of workers’ health status and health information. ALL NAMES AND PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION WILL BE REDACTED IN REPORTS THAT ARE CIRCULATED TO STAFF OR IN ANY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS RELATED TO AN INFECTION.

Handwashing
Basic infection prevention measures are being implemented at our workplaces at all times. Workers are instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day, but especially at the beginning and end of their shift, prior to any mealtimes and after using the toilet. All visitors to the facility will be required to wash their hands prior to or immediately upon entering the facility. Some workplaces may have hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) that can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water, as long as hands are not visibly soiled.

TWO HAND-WASHING SINKS ARE AVAILABLE IN MERCI TATTOO AND WORKERS WILL WASH THEIR HANDS FOR THE 20+ SECONDS BEFORE HANDLING CURBSIDE ITEMS, AND AFTER USING THE RESTROOM, EATING, TOUCHING THEIR FACE, TOUCHING ANY DOOR KNOBS OR OTHER HIGH TOUCH SURFACES THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING. ADDITIONALLY, WHERE POSSIBLE, THE WORKERS WILL UTILIZE SINGLE USE NITRILE or LATEX GLOVES. HAND WASHING IS DONE BEFORE THE GLOVES ARE PUT ON AND AFTER REMOVAL.

Respiratory etiquette: Cover your cough or sneeze
Workers and visitors are being instructed to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to avoid touching their face, in particular their mouth, nose and eyes, with their hands. They should dispose of tissues in the trash and wash or sanitize their hands immediately afterward. Respiratory etiquette will be supported by making tissues and trash receptacles available to all workers and visitors. ADDITIONALLY, ALL clients and WORKERS WILL WEAR KN95 masks TO MINIMIZE LARGE RESPIRATORY DROPLETS FROM BECOMING AIRBORNE.

Social distancing
Social distancing is being implemented in the workplace through the following engineering and administrative controls: INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAINTAINING DISTANCE IN THE SHOP HAS BEEN SENT TO EACH PERSON WHO IS SCHEDULED FOR A TATTOO. APPOINTMENTS ARE STAGGERED TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO CROWDING. No guests are allowed with clients. IF MULTIPLE CLIENTS ARRIVE AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ARE ENCOURAGED BY SIGNAGE and staff TO MAINTAIN 6FT APART.

Workers, visitors and customers are prohibited from gathering in groups. Workers and visitors are prohibited from gathering in confined areas, including elevators, and from using other workers’ personal protective equipment, phones, computer equipment, desks, cubicles, workstations, offices or other personal work tools and equipment.

Housekeeping
Regular housekeeping practices are being implemented, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of work surfaces, equipment, tools and machinery, delivery vehicles and areas in the work environment, including restrooms, break rooms, lunch rooms, meeting rooms, and drop-off and pick-up locations. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted in high-touch areas, such as phones, keyboards, touch screens, controls, door handles, elevator panels, railings, copy machines, credit card readers, delivery equipment, etc.

ALL SURFACES AND HIGH TOUCH SURFACES ARE STERILIZED WITH CAVICIDE TWICE DAILY AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE WORK DAY. FLOORS ARE SWEPT AND MOPPED WEEKLY. GARBAGES ARE EMPTIED AT THE END OF EACH DAY, doorknobs and pens are cleaned frequently.

Communications and training

This Preparedness Plan was communicated BY EMAIL to all workers ON MAY 12, 2020 and necessary training was provided. Additional communication and training will be ongoing AS THE GOVERNOR RELEASES MORE INFORMATION ALLOWING TATTOO SHOPS TO REOPEN FOR MORE THAN RETAIL.

Instructions will be communicated to customers about how drop-off, pick-up and delivery will be conducted to ensure social distancing between the customer, the worker and other customers, and about the recommendation that customers use face masks when dropping off, picking up or accepting delivery. Managers and supervisors are to monitor how effective the program has been implemented by REVIEWING LOGS AND MONITORING CUSTOMER GUIDELINE ADHERENCE DURING PICK-UP TIMES.

Management and workers are to work through this new program together and update the training as necessary. This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan has been certified by EMILIE ROBINSON and posted throughout the workplace AT THE ALDRICH TATTOO PARLOUR. It will be updated as necessary.

Certified by:

EMILIE ROBINSON 5/12/2020
MANAGING MEMNER OF MERCI TATTOO LLC
​
Appendix A – Guidance for developing a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan
General
CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19) – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV
MDH Coronavirus – www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus
State of Minnesota COVID-19 response – https://mn.gov/covid19/
Businesses
CDC Resources for businesses and employers – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html
CDC General business frequently asked questions – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/general-business-faq.html
MDH Businesses and employers: COVID-19 – www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/businesses.html
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) COVID-19 information and resources – https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/
DLI Updates related to COVID-19 – www.dli.mn.gov/updates
Federal OSHA – www.osha.gov
Handwashing
www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
www.cdc.gov/handwashing
https://youtu.be/d914EnpU4Fo
Respiratory etiquette: Cover your cough or sneeze
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/prevention.html
www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/etiquette/coughing_sneezing.html
Social distancing
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/businesses.html
Housekeeping
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html
www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinfection.html
Employees exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html
www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/basics.html
www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/facilityhlthscreen.pdf
Training
www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/about.pdf
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-small-business.html
www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf