Update on DriverCheck's Temporary Health and Safety Measures

January 7, 2022

Dear Valued Client,

This is to advise and update you on DriverCheck’s ongoing temporary health and safety measures to mitigate risk of COVID-19 infections and transmissions and to ensure the continued safety of our staff, our clients, and our operations.

COVID-19 remains a serious and significant health threat, and the situation continues to evolve daily. DriverCheck (DC) continues to monitor the risk to our staff, clients, and business operations and will advise and provide updated information to assist with you managing your alcohol & drug, and occupational health testing programs, and your workers. 

Since March 2020, DriverCheck’s clinics have remained open with public health preventative measures in place. Our clinics have always followed strict infection control standards and will continue to follow established guidelines set by provincial public health units to ensure the protection of your employees and our staff. Our commitment to your employees’ health and safety remains the same.

Given the emergence and rapid spread of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant and the undetermined impact this will have, interim public health recommendations for PPE have changed and are based on the latest scientific evidence on SARS-CoV-2 virus variants of concern, increased understanding of the impacts of vaccination and immunity in the population, and new data available on mask types and their effectiveness.

We will continue with our current preventative practices recommended by public health but will also be making other necessary changes to ensure the safety of your employees who attend for medical assessments and testing, and our DC staff. These include:

• All DriverCheck employees engaged in direct interactions with individuals will continue to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) with heightened use of N95 respirators (or equivalent) throughout the encounter due to the increased threat of transmission of the Omicron variant.

• Appointments will continue to be booked as they normally have been through our Booking department, however, on arrival at a DC clinic:

  Individuals scheduled for an appointment at a DriverCheck clinic will continue to be screened with an electronic COVID-19 symptom screening questionnaire.

• Employees will complete the questionnaire on their phone or mobile device by scanning a QR Code at the door. Those who do not have a capable device may notify the clinic staff to receive assistance with their screening.

• Individuals who do not pass the screening questionnaire due to the presence of symptoms will not be able to proceed with any alcohol & drug or occupational health testing and will be directed to isolate in accordance with public health directives. If individuals are at the clinic for COVID testing, they will be redirected to an alternate testing area to have this testing completed. Employers are encouraged to have all employees attending a DriverCheck clinic perform a self-assessment prior to attending the clinic in person.

• Individuals attending DC clinics MUST WEAR THEIR OWN MASK/FACE COVERING UPON ENTRY but will be provided with a medical grade mask that they MUST change into and wear for their entire scheduled appointment and may only remove if the assessment or testing requires this. The medical grade mask must immediately be re-worn once the assessment/test has been completed. 
  
  Failure to wear a medical grade mask for the entire duration of their appointment or comply with any other safety measures or instructions from DC staff will result in immediate cessation of assessment and testing, and the individual will be asked to leave the premises if they remain non-compliant.

Rest assured, these procedures are designed to create the safest environment for our patients and staff.

In addition to the above changes at all DC clinics, when individuals are directed to other third-party collection sites, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 remains high. Individuals are reminded to stay safe by following current public health guidelines on physical distancing and the wearing of appropriate masks when entering indoor facilities where occupational health assessments and alcohol & drug testing are being conducted.

Thank you for your patience and understanding in keeping our employees and our workplaces safe during the pandemic.

Sincerely,

Jonathan W. Davids, MD

Occupational Medicine Physician

Corporate Medical Director, 

DriverCheck Inc.