This document provides guidance on implementing an Engineered Distance Control System (EDCS) to maintain social distancing in the workplace and minimize the spread of COVID-19. It outlines categorizing all areas by expected occupancy from 1-8 people, with higher numbers posing greater risk. Rules are developed like limiting travel between categories, mandatory PPE use for close contact, and physical barriers. Areas are evaluated and monitored to improve distancing over time during the pandemic. The goal is keeping people as separated as possible through engineered controls to reduce COVID-19 transmission in the workplace.

1. COVID 19 PANDEMIC
SOCIAL DISTANCING IN WORKPLACE
HOW
TO
KEEP
EACHOTHER
SAFE
?????????

2. USING ENGINEERED DISTANCE CONTROL
SYSTEM (EDCS) TO ESTABILISH PROPER
SOCIAL DISTANCE TO MINIMIZE SPREAD OF
COVID 19 VIRUS IN YOUR WORKPLACE
By:
Arsham Javaherdashti, Biotechnologist
Arian Javaherdashti, Medical Lab Technologist
22 March 2020

3. NOTE:
THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
INTRODUCED HERE ARE ONLY FOR
AREAS WITH NO EVIDENCE OF
COVID 19 CASES.
PERSON WITH SYMPTOMS MUST
FOLLOW FULL ISOLATION
GUIDELINE IMMIDIATELY

4. WHAT IS EDCS?
 Engineered Control is a tool to assess,
monitor and navigate activities within a
system.
 Engineered Distance Control System is used
to develop a proper response plan on how to
control and maintain social distance at all
times when in high risk environments.
 The goal is to maintain a minimum of 2
meters social distance through strict rules
and based on risk of exposure in order to
avoid unprotected close contacts at all times
to keep yourself and others safe.

5. ENGINEERED CONTROL SYSTEM MODEL
 Identify worst possible scenario
 Prepare the key preventive elements
 Create an Engineered Control Map
 Develop rules
 Evaluate Your Control Map
 Implement
 Monitor

6. IDENTIFY WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO
 The worst possible scenario is the spread
of COVID 19 virus among staff, patients or
visitors.
 Use PPE in the priority order shown in
below when access to the equipment is
limited
Mask > Goggles > Gloves > Gown

7. PREPARE THE KEY PREVENTIVE ELEMENTS
 Establish a clear line of communication
 Provide guidance routinely
 “Business is not as usual”
Inform staff members that new
precautionary tasks have been added to
each person’s duties
 Identify the categories for each location
within the area under your supervision
using EDCS model
 Manage your PPE supplies inventory on a
daily basis

8. CREATE AN ENGINEERED CONTROL MAP
 Areas within a building are divided into 8 categories
 The number 1 to 8 indicates the number of people who
must be entering in a specific area per each working
shift.
 Examples:
 Category 1 is an area that a person works alone and
does not have any close contact with anyone else
during a working shift
 Category 8 is an area that up to 8 different people
must be entering during a shift. This includes
workers, visitors and patients.
 Category zero: Clean rooms inside a building which
have never been used during lock down and are
reserved for emergency situations
 Categories 9 and above: These are the areas with high
foot traffic which maintaining social distance might
be challenging. These are High Risk Zones

9. ENGINEERED CONTROL SYSTEM MODEL
CATEGORY
ZERO
CATEGORY
8
CATEGORY
7
CATEGORY
6
CATEGORY
5
CATEGORY
4
CATEGORY
3
CATEGORY
2
CATEGORY
1

10. DEVELOP RULES
 Categorize staff and locations within a building into 8 groups. The
number 1 to 8 indicates the number of people who enter into that specific
area or the number of location a person has to visit during each working
shift. For example a porter would fall into above 9 category whereas an
office worker who works alone is going to be in category 1.
 Develop routine disinfection procedure for each categories. Categories 9
and above areas need more frequent cleaning.
 Select separate entry and exit paths for: a) outpatients/visitors,
b) staff in category 1 to 8 and c) staff in category 9 and above
 Allow inter-department walk for employees without mask or face shield
when maintaining at least 2 meters social distance is possible at all times.
 Limit intra-department walks to one designated persons only. For
example a worker in category 8 zone in lab is only allowed to enter in an
area in categories 1 to 7 using clean PPE or vice versa.
 Make it clear to staff that using PPE or any type of physical barriers is
mandatory when maintaining social distance is not possible. This includes
when working together, providing service to patients/visitors or in lounge
room while taking your breaks.
 Use physical barriers such as doors or glass shields as well as colored
warning tapes and signs to separate areas and direct foot traffic flow.
 Encourage staff to use phone or email to communicate

11. EVALUATE YOUR CONTROL MAP
 Use Appendix A checklist to evaluate your
control map for inter and intra-
department traffic flow
 The goal is to keep people as divided as
possible by creating areas with lowest
possible category number (i.e. ten category
1 area is better that one category 8)
 Use physical barriers or visible signs to
indicate point of entries to each area.
See appendix B templates

12. IMPLEMENT
 Choose a day and time when the lowest
number of people are around to
implement the system. This is to avoid
any close contact and maintain social
distance as much as possible.
 Set up cameras or keep record of people-
other than scheduled workers- entering
into category 9 and above areas if
possible.

13. MONITOR
 Engineered Control System is not a stand-
alone measure. It needs continued
monitoring in order to be maintained and
improved during a pandemic advisory
order
 Identify where rules are hard to be
maintained and find alternative solution
if possible

14. IF WE ALWAYS DO WHAT WE CAN DO,
WE WILL NEVER REGRET A DAY IN
OUR LIFE.
STAY SAFE

15. APPENDIX A: EDCS CHECKLIST
❑ Initiate communication
❑ Make PPE supplies available
❑ Identify risk category for each area
❑ Lower the risk category for each area if possible
❑ Use physical barriers and signs at point of entries
❑ Make clear rules
❑ Monitor your plan

16. APPENDIX B: CATEGORY 9
HIGH RISK EXPOSURE ZONE
Use proper PPE when
entering into this area

17. APPENDIX B: CATEGORY 8
MEDIUM RISK EXPOSURE ZONE
Inform staff prior to entering
Keep 2 meters social distance

18. REFERENCES
1. Kang, J., O'Donnell, J. M., Colaianne, B., Bircher, N., Ren, D., & Smith, K. J. (2017). Use of personal protective equipment among health
care personnel: Results of clinical observations and simulations. American Journal of Infection Control, 45(1), 17-23.
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2016.08.011