COVID-19

March 21, 2020 Published by CCI National - By Elia Associates

COVID-19 Bulletin No. 10: Regular Repair & Maintenance

During the current state of managing the COVID-19 virus, it is essential that while the Corporation must continue to operate, a Corporation should, as always, do so in a safe manner. This includes minimizing the transmission of the virus to the community and avoiding panic.

During the current state of managing the COVID-19 virus, it is essential that while the Corporation must continue to operate, a Corporation should, as always, do so in a safe manner. This includes minimizing the transmission of the virus to the community and avoiding panic.

Accordingly, we are recommending that Boards, together with the Property Manager:

1. Look at the number of trades that need to come through the site on a daily and weekly basis and to try and minimize those in attendance. As well, inquiries with all trades as to their staff COVID-19 protocols to ensure the same are implemented safely is confirmed.
2. With respect to trades or suppliers attending on the site, please ensure that management has engaged with each supplier of the service to ensure that they have adequately trained their own employees on COVID-19 protocols. It is best to have a clear line of timely communication with suppliers on these benchmarks to understand what the expectations are being set by the suppliers. The contractual obligation to address these concerns is at the outset, is the supplier, as the employer.
3. We understand that certain essential repair and maintenance services, such as garbage removal and cleaning of the building, will remain essential.  Essential services such as cleaning should be prioritized and focused on maintaining high traffic areas.
4. The Corporation must also be thoughtful about being the occupier for liability purposes and accordingly, should be proactive and reasonable in updating its knowledge of supplier protocols. Where suppliers do not put in place appropriate COVID-19 protocols, they should be asked to do so immediately and not be permitted to have any engagement with the community until such time as the same has occurred.
5. With respect to daily repair and maintenance such as cleaning, more specifically, high-traffic areas must be done on a regular basis with an effective method of reducing viruses. Certain types of contractors are going to be under more pressure to evolve and step up.  For example, suppliers of cleaning services are going to have to ensure that they have adequate protocols in place for cleaning, together with the correct products.  To the extent that the products are not being supplied by the Corporation and must be supplied by the supplier, we recommend that you check back in with your cleaning companies to ensure that all of their COVID-19 cleaning protocols are being adhered to.
6. We would recommend that COVID 19 Bulletin No. 3: Immediate Protocols to be Implemented by Condominiums, be reviewed and circulated to unit owners.  
7. Unit Owners should be kept apprised of the work being or not being undertaken and how the Corporation will manage community expectations with respect to safety. Communication is key.