COVID-19 STATUS

POLARIS TRANSPORTATION GROUP – STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

October 14, 2020

COVID – 19 Screening Tool for Workplaces Update

Polaris Transportation Group is in accordance with the Province Health Screening Obligations for Workplaces - Version 1, dated September 25, 2020.

In response to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Ontario, The Ministry of Health has imposed health screening obligations on employers. On September 25, 2020, the Province’s government filed Regulation 530/20, which was made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. Effective September 26, 2020, Regulation 530/20 amended Regulation 364/20: Rules for areas in Stage 3, as follows:

The person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall operate the business or organization in compliance with the advice, recommendations and instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health on screening individuals.

On September 25, 2020, the Ministry of Health issued Recommendations for screening (Version 1) (Recommendations). The Recommendations were made available in a News Release the government distributed on the same date. Although a “recommendation” is generally advisory only, the Recommendations are mandatory given the use of the word “shall” in Regulation 530/20. The Recommendations indicate that the screening must be implemented for the following individuals entering the work environment:

• Any workers (i.e., staff, including students, contractors or volunteers that conduct business or related activities) upon entry to the workplace at the beginning of their day or shift; or
• Essential visitors (i.e., individuals providing a service in the establishment who are not employees or patrons, e.g., delivery, maintenance, contract workers) upon arrival.

The Recommendations include three adaptable, required COVID-19 screening questions that must be asked before individuals are permitted to enter the workplace. If an individual answers NO to all three questions, they will pass the screening and be permitted to enter. If they answer YES to any of the three questions, they will not pass the screening and will be advised that they cannot enter (including an outdoor workplace). Individuals who do not pass will be instructed to immediately self-isolate and contact their health care provider, or Telehealth Ontario to determine if they require a COVID-19 test.

Polaris has immediately put the following mandatory pre-entry screening requirements in place:

• Communication to our staff, partners, and essential visitors about the requirement. This includes details in the way the screening is implemented in the workplace;
• Request that employees and essential visitors self-screen at home by answering the three required COVID-19 screening questions that appear in the Recommendations, and that they refrain from coming to the workplace if they answer yes to one of the questions and therefore do not pass the screening;
• Digital screen units with temperature thermometers and screening questions described in the Recommendations to all workers and essential visitors to determine if they should be permitted to enter our workplaces.
• Key entry points have been identified where all employees & essential visitors will comply with mandatory screening.
• Visible signage notifying employees and essential visitors of the location where mandatory screening will occur;
• Trained Polaris staff members to explain the screening process to individuals who will be conducting screening and ensure that they follow the process; and
• Secure and confidential record keeping.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Pandemic Control Committee pandemic@polaristransport.com

Thank you and stay safe,

Dave Cox
President - Polaris Transportation Group

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To Our Valued Customers and Partners:

In response to the evolving situation pertaining to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we at Polaris Transportation Group of Companies, have implemented the best practices as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Health Canada to protect our employees, customers and service providers. We have also strengthened our business continuity plan and are fully prepared to handle any scenario pertaining to containment and business continuity.

The measures taken include:

Ensured Business Continuity Plan Is in Place:

• Enabled remote work connectivity for all of our employees.
• Ensured proper communication channels are in place for internal and external messaging. This includes, emails, social media outlets, Polaris Website, SMS, cell phones and landlines.
• Ensured that essential business functions will be maintained.
• Identified organizational responsibilities are properly aligned and transferred to alternates as applicable by establishing a list of designates who can fill in for critical employees.
• Advised our critical supply chain partners and contractors on the pandemic preparedness.
• Deployed and shared a master contact list with all employees’ emails and phone numbers that are critical to business operations. Will make available to customers and partners.
• Reaching out to our critical partners to align with their own business continuity plans that are in place or need to be put in place.

Containment Best Practices – Hygiene:

Initiated communications to employees to follow hygiene protocols, including:

• Face masks and gloves to be worn by all our drivers when delivering or picking-up freight.
• All non-Polaris drivers must wear face masks and gloves when delivering or picking-up freight at our locations.
• Face masks and gloves to be worn by warehousing, dock and office staff at all points of interaction and/or close working quarters.
• Protective eye wear, masks, sanitizer and gloves are available for all employees.
• Warehouse equipment to be sanitized after each use.
• Interior touch points in trucks/all sites to be sanitized after each use.
• Avoiding physical contact with employees. Minimum 6' or 2 meters social distancing at all times.
• Sanitizer and soap are present in visible locations and refilled regularly. Also providing tissues, disinfectant wipes and no-touch garbage disposals.
• Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Covering coughs or sneezes with tissue or elbow (not hand)
• Surfaces like desks, door handles and objects like phones, keyboards and photocopiers are cleaned with disinfectant frequently throughout the day.
• Provide employees with disposable wipes to clean their own workstations.

Social Distancing Measures:

• We have instructed staff to not come to work and self isolate if they’re not feeling well.
• Employees who have finished self isolation will need to pass screening by a COVID-19 nurse before returning to work.
• We have implemented a no-touch policy for our staff (No shaking hands or physical contact with customers or other staff members) including 6' social distancing.
• We have instructed staff that have travelled to stay home for 14 days and work remotely. This would include exposure to other family members who have travelled.
• No group meetings, events or customer visits.
• Following proper isolation protocols as recommended by WHO, CDC and Health Canada.

Our locations across North America remain fully operational, and our current conditions stand as normal. We have strategies in place to ensure service continues without interruption. Polaris is committed to ensure that safety, compliance and service levels are maintained at the most optimal levels, as always.

We will continue to post our status updates on our website and to our customers and partners.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Pandemic Control Committee pandemic@polaristransport.com

For information and additional updates you can visit:

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Centre for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/

Health Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html