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As the first cases of COVID-19 began to appear in Canada, we worked quickly to develop and revise safe work procedures. Kent Blackmon, our Organizational Safety Services Manager, was guided by two main goals – keep the public safe and keep our employees safe.
“We had to be nimble and really focus our efforts to get thing done in a short about of time,” said Blackmon, adding one of the biggest struggles has been keeping up with the evolving information about COVID-19.
As with any safety concern, Blackmon said the focus initially was on avoiding the hazard. In the context of COVID-19, that meant getting people spread out to avoid close contact and modifying how tasks were being done.
“We want the best for our employees and need to make sure they can return safely home at the end of the day,” he said. “We follow the guidance of the province and the Public Health Officer and build on that.”
Ensuring work is safe
Several procedures had to be rewritten with COVID-19 risks in mind, including conducting front counter face-to-face interaction with the public, handling mail, and training employees on proper face mask usage. This was in addition to stocking additional cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, and necessary personal protective equipment.
Creating more inclusive and accommodating environments is a priority for the City of Winnipeg, which took an important step in this commitment by updating the signage on the individual use washrooms in the City Council building to be recognized as gender inclusive spaces.
“We are replacing washroom signage in the Council Building to ensure an enhanced representation of the full spectrum of gender diversity,” said Brad Erickson, Manager of Municipal Accommodations for the City of Winnipeg.
“We want all users know that these spaces are available to them”
The City has made these spaces more inclusive by installing new signage that focuses on the functionality of the washroom, as opposed to the previous signage that displayed the genders it is available to.
The Canadian Human Rights Act was updated in June 2017 to clarify the right of all people to use a washroom or change room that corresponds to their gender identity. Since that time, there has been a growing discussion in Canada on the availability and accessibility of washroom spaces and how they can be adapted to be more inclusive.
Access to a universal and gender inclusive individual use washroom is essential for many users, including persons with disabilities, transgender or transitioning individuals, and those who may require assistance from someone of a different gender, whether that includes children or the elderly.
The City has included universal and gender inclusive washrooms in all its newer facilities. That includes the recently opened Transcona Library, as well as in the expansions of St. John’s Library and Seven Oaks Pool. Existing civic facilities, such as the Council Building, are currently retrofitting to provide universal and gender inclusive individual use washrooms.