Six ways U of T plans to keep students, faculty and staff safe on campus this fall

In busy areas where maintaining a two-metre distance from others isn’t possible, or is challenging, the university will assess and install protective measures such as Plexiglass barriers and sneeze guards (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Published: June 16, 2020

By Geoffrey Vendeville

The University of Toronto is implementing a number of changes on campus to ensure the U of T’s community’s safety in advance of the fall semester.

As the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, new and returning students will see signs promoting good hand hygiene and other safe practices across U of T’s three campuses, as well as new sanitizer dispensers. To encourage physical distancing, students, faculty, librarians and staff will also encounter re-arranged classrooms, shared offices, libraries, teaching labs and other spaces.

Behind the scenes, meanwhile, U of T will be taking additional steps to clean and disinfect public areas.

“We are working tirelessly to provide a safe environment for everyone who uses our campuses, so that they feel comfortable returning to learn, teach and work,” says Ron Saporta, U of T’s chief operating officer, property services and sustainability.

The health and safety measures are just one component of the university’s extensive planning for the fall semester, which is focused on three broad themes: promoting health and safety, advancing academic excellence and meeting the needs of the university community.

As it goes about preparing the campuses, Saporta says U of T is adhering to evidence-based guidelines released by the province of Ontario and the federal government. “As always, we will be keeping a close eye on public health guidelines to ensure our policies and practices are up-to-date,” he says.

Here are six ways U of T plans to keep the university community safe and healthy this fall:

Physical distancing

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Until a vaccine is developed, health experts say physical distancing is one of the most effective weapons in the fight against COVID-19. As a result, a number of initiatives will be implemented, including setting up classrooms so that students can sit at least two metres apart from one another and making changes in residences and co-curricular spaces to allow for physical distancing. There may also be dedicated entrances and exits to encourage a one-way flow of traffic and restrictions on the maximum number of people allowed in a particular space.

Signage

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Starting this fall, be on the lookout for signage across campus that encourages and instructs everyone to practise physical distancing and proper hand hygiene.

There will also be signs indicating maximum occupancy in meeting rooms and elevators, and signs that direct the flow of foot traffic – not unlike those used by retailers.

More frequent cleaning and disinfecting

Libraries and classrooms will be cleaned five times per week, while surfaces that people often come into contact with, including elevator buttons and doorknobs, will be disinfected twice a day in keeping with Public Health Ontario guidelines.

Caretaking staff are using a new, chlorine-based solution approved for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Sanitizing stations

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

The university plans to install thousands of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipe dispensers across the three campuses so that people can easily disinfect their hands and also high-touch surfaces. Each dispenser will be touchless and installed at an accessible height in visible locations.

“We’re trying to empower and enable users of spaces to be able to disinfect shared surfaces and spaces that they use, whether it’s a desk or door handle or armrest,” says Anna Kulikov, U of T’s senior manager, business improvement and strategic initiatives, facilities and services.

Protective measures

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) is conducting assessments across U of T’s three campuses to ensure that adequate physical distancing measures are in place.

In busy areas where maintaining a two-metre distance from others isn’t possible, or is challenging, the university will assess and install where appropriate protective measures such as Plexiglass barriers and sneeze guards. Gina Trubiani, U of T’s director of occupational health and safety-EHS, says the measures may be set up in high-traffic areas such as campus clinic settings, the TCard office and other places where many people could come into close contact.

Masks

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

As of July 7*, anyone in an indoor space at U of T that is normally publicly accessible will be required to wear masks or face coverings when measures such as physical barriers are not available. This includes hallways, lobbies, elevators and other common use facilities.

Exemptions are provided for people with underlying medical conditions that inhibit their ability to wear masks and individuals in areas that are not intended for public use. Masks may also be removed when taking part in athletic or fitness activities and in situations where wearing a mask impedes delivery and receiving of services.

U of T will provide about 250,000 non-medical, fabric face masks to students, staff, faculty and librarians (two per person). The university will also determine whether community members should be provided with the appropriate medical masks (N95 masks, surgical masks etc.) when working in specific environments like research labs or health-care settings. Employees conducting assigned work where an EHS assessment determines that personal protective equipment is required will be provided with the appropriate masks based on an assessment of risk.