COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Contractor & Visitor Induction

Instructions
Welcome to MIC COVID-19 contractor / visitor induction
programme
Please work your way through the presentation at your own pace
Contents
The latest public health advice on COVID-19 for contractors and
visitors, including what it is, how it spreads, and the common
symptoms
Simple precautions contractors and visitors can take to protect
yourself and others from COVID-19 while working at MIC
What you should do if you develop symptoms of COVID-19
The measures the college has put in place to keep contractors and
visitors safe from COVID-19
Points of contact for further information
What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19 is a new disease that can
affect your lungs and airways

This disease is caused by a virus, called ‘Severe acute respiratory

syndrome coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2), or more simply
‘Coronavirus’
What is COVID-19?
The virus is spread in sneeze or cough droplets Current evidence
suggests that the virus can spread as easily as the flu virus that
circulates every winter.

Viruses can be easily spread to other people and you are normally
infectious until all your symptoms have gone.

It may survive on surfaces if someone who has it coughs or

sneezes onto it. Simple household disinfectants can kill the virus
on surfaces.
What is COVID-19?
Evidence so far suggests that:

80% 14% 6%

of cases of cases of cases

People experience People experience People experience
mild illness and make more severe illness, critical illness, and
a full recovery within and may have to go will require intensive
a few weeks to hospital for treatment at hospital
treatment
What are the symptoms?
It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear

The most common symptoms are:

Cough Fever Shortness of Breathing

This can be any kind High temperature Breath Difficulties
of cough, usually dry over 38 degrees
but not always Celsius

You may display one, some, or all of these symptoms.

More information about these and less common systems are available on this HSE website.
At-Risk Groups
COVID-19 can make anyone seriously ill. But for some people, the
risk is higher.
There are 2 levels of so called ‘at risk groups’:
very high risk (also called extremely vulnerable)
high risk
There is different advice to protect people in each group. If you are
a contractor or visitor to MIC, please consider HSE advice before
attending the MIC campus.
At-Risk Groups
The HSE website outlines who is in these groups, and the latest
health advice for them.
Before you come on site, please consult the HSE website and follow
any guidance that might be relevant to your situation.
If you do think you belong to an ‘at risk group’, please let your
company line manager know privately before attending MIC.
Simple Protective Measures
Contractors and visitors should wash your hands regularly and avoid
touching your face with your hands. Hand gels with at least 70% alcohol
content can be used if soap and water are not available.

When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with your bent
elbow or use tissue. Put used tissues into the nearest bin and wash your
hands.

Our cleaning staff clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and
surfaces. All contractors when working at Mary Immaculate College
please clean your own work area frequently.
Simple Protective Measures
Simple Protective Measures
Do not shake hands or make unnecessary contact. Avoid sharing items
such as cups, bottles, cutlery, pens etc.

Physical distancing (also known as social distancing) aims to decrease or

interrupt the spread of COVID-19. It does this by minimising contact
between potentially infected individuals and healthy individuals. The
current recommended distance to be maintained between people is
2 meters.

If your work activity is going to require close contact within 2 meters,

STOP and ask your line manager/supervisor for advice. This will require a
risk assessment for contractors resulting in additional protection
measures agreed by your company and communicated to MIC.
Physical Distancing
Further recommendations for contractors and visitors for physical
distancing at MIC include:
Avoiding any crowded places
Avoid gathering in groups and follow physical distancing.
Organising teams/crews to consistently work and take breaks
together. The teams should be as small as is reasonably
practicable in the context of the work to be done.
Organising breaks to facilitate maintenance of physical
distancing.
Physical Distancing
Further recommendations for contractors and visitors for physical
distancing at MIC include:
Conducting meetings using online remote means as much as
possible.
Where face to face meetings are necessary, the length of the
meeting and the numbers attending should be kept to a minimum.
Implementing physical distancing during outdoor work activity.
Physical Distancing
When using welfare facilities such as canteens, toilets and drying
rooms, allow appropriate time and space to facilitate the correct
levels of hygiene and physical distancing. Be respectful of these
boundaries.

When using toilets, you must respect the space available to ensure
physical distancing. This may require a longer wait.

In canteen areas, break times are staggered to reduce congestion

and contact. Cleaning materials will be provided – please clean
area when you have finished your break and dispose of rubbish
appropriately.
What to do if you develop symptoms at
home
If you notice any COVID-19 symptoms when at home:
Don’t come into Mary Immaculate College – contact your contact
person at MIC and your own company line manager
Contact your GP for further medical advice
It is likely you will be required to self-isolate at home for 10 days
from the first day you noticed symptoms
Contractors and visitors should only make arrangements to visit
MIC when they get the all clear from their GP and are symptom
free
Procedure for dealing with a suspected case of
COVID-19 at MIC
The College has a procedure for suspected cases and has assigned a Line Manager and put in
place an isolation team to manage suspected cases of COVID-19, and provided them with
information on how to do this safely.
Mary Immaculate College has also identified the following isolation room locations

Limerick Campus:
1. Medical Centre, Third Floor, Tara Building
2. Foundation Building, Room G06A;
3. John Henry Newman Campus: Ground Floor, The Orangery
4. Courtbrack Accommodation, Room D27

Thurles Campus:
4. Room G-02.
These locations will be used to isolate the affected person from the rest of the college community
and procedures to be followed to enable them to safely leave the campus.
Procedure for dealing with a suspected case of
COVID-19 at MIC
If you notice any COVID-19 symptoms when on campus:
Notify your company line manager and MIC contact point
immediately, and put on a mask or face covering
You will be escorted to the nearest COVID-19 isolation room
Continue to practice all preventative measures like avoiding touching
your face or surfaces, and maintaining social distancing
It is likely you will be asked to return home. Ask for help with
transport arrangements if you don’t have a private vehicle, or do not
feel well enough to drive
Contact your GP for further medical advice
How to wear face covering correctly
Cleaning Arrangements
Mary Immaculate College has put in place an effective cleaning and
disinfection system as regular cleaning and disinfection will help
reduce the spread of the virus.
Buildings and Estates has arranged for frequently touched surfaces,
such as door handles, light switches, kitchen appliances etc. to be
cleaned twice daily.
Welfare facilities and communal areas will also be cleaned twice
daily.
If disinfection of contaminated surfaces is needed, this will be done
in addition to cleaning.
Cleaning staff will be given information and instruction in relation to
the new procedures.
In order to keep everyone safe from COVID-19, contractors have a legal duty
to ensure that you co-operate with Mary Immaculate College and:
Ensure all contractors have completed Employer COVID-19 pre-return to
work form at least 3 days in advance of attending MIC Campus
Inform your employer if there are any other circumstances relating to
COVID-19, which may need to be disclosed to allow your safe return to work
and to visit the MIC campus.
Follow all COVID-19 safety procedures in the College, including hand
washing, good respiratory hygiene and physical distancing guidelines
Report any COVID-19 symptoms and refrain from attending MIC if
suffering from any of them.
Points of Contact
If you have any questions about the topics covered in this induction, please contact
your staff contacts for COVID-19

Ms Caroline Duffy, Health and Safety Manager, caroline.duffy@mic.ul.ie

Useful links
• More official information, advice and guidance is available online at:

www.gov.ie/covid19

www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/

www.hsa.ie/eng/topics/covid-19/