Because of the ongoing global pandemic that has still been sweeping the lands, we will be providing PPE at all of our workshops for the foreseeable future. Some communities are more vulnerable, and therefore, more cautious when it comes to public health measures. We fully understand, and intend to assist in any way that we can in providing a safe and effective training experience for our clients. We plan on providing the standard safety equipment, including hand-sanitizer, surface disinfectant spray, and 3-Ply facemasks for all workshops. Any additional equipment or precautionary actions will be discussed on an individual basis, and at the request of the Hosting Organization, we will develop a Custom Safety Plan for each event. Below you will find a list of some optional safety strategies, and we are open to hearing about any other ideas, as well.
Optional Strategies for COVID-19
Vaccinated-Only Training Events. This was rapidly becoming the industry standard, which we also recommended at the time, as it was the most logical way to getting back to holding in-person training events. However, most places have now moved away from this approach. But we will be happy to work with any communities who may still have concerns about holding in-person events and develop a Custom Safety Plan for them.
COVID-19 Prescreening Questions. Asking basic questions at the beginning of every workshop is a critical step in helping to identify anyone who might be contagious before they even enter the classroom area.
Daily Temperature Checks. The consensus is that temperature checks should be more productive with a faster incubating variant (like the current Delta Variant) however, they can only be partially effective, as asymptomatic infections would still go undetected.
Fully Masked Classes. Masks have been proven to slow the spread of airborne illnesses. This improves with higher quality fabrics and better fitting masks, but they can also become ineffective with improper fit, the wrong fabric, and undisciplined wearing habits.
Smaller Training "Pods". Basically, a larger class would be split into smaller groups, with individuals from each group limiting their personal interactions to only be with other members of their own group. Since many of the workshop activities are team oriented, this is the only real social distancing that we can do.
Socially Optimized Groups. The smaller groups, or "pods" as some are calling them, can be "optimized" for safety... by grouping people together based on their degree of social connection. In other words, the individuals chosen for each pod would be prioritized by their potential for outside interaction with any of the other attendees... for example: family, close-friend, co-worker, neighbor, etc.
Catered Lunches. The Hosting Organization has the option of providing lunches for the entire class. This would prevent students from visiting the local restaurants and reduce the chance of contributing to any communal spread from local interactions at lunchtime.
Traffic Control. Two ways to control foot traffic within the classroom are to designate different doors to be either an "In-Door" or an "Out-Door", and to direct aisle traffic to go in one direction only.
Sub-Divided Classrooms. The training room can be physically sub-divided into two or more sections. Physical barriers, such as tables, chairs, ropes or chains, can be used to control the movements of people within the larger room. Separate doors can be utilized for different sides of the room, and different work areas can be separated apart from each other. This all depends, of course, on the specific limitations of the room.
Air Filtration and Supplemental Ventilation. We can make arrangements to provide both auxiliary air filtration and ventilation equipment to augment the indoor air quality of a particular venue. Increasing the air-change rate is critical for some locations.
Outdoor Workshops. We have always been flexible with where we hold a workshop, and have held events in churches, schools, pole-barns, warehouses, and even an auditorium once. We have no problems doing a tented outdoor event, however, there would be several more expenses incurred, and these would have to be discussed on an individual basis.
COVID-19 Testing. We have done a lot of our work in more vulnerable communities, and if the Hosting Organization would like to purchase and conduct COVID-19 tests prior to the workshop, then that is fine with us. Safety is always a priority.
Training During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The continuing pandemic has turned the education world upside down. Even now as we are able to conduct full in-person classes with vaccinated people, several new variants have been popping up around the world... and bringing with them new uncertainties. However, we know now that the vaccines are working! As professional educators, we have learned a lot over the last couple of years, and we are confident that in-person training can be done successfully. Training For Tomorrow is committed to producing a safe atmosphere for all events being held in 2022 and beyond. Because the individual needs and restrictions for each community can vary to such a great degree, we will be offering to create a Custom Safety Plan for any organization who requests one. With options like smaller groups, sub-divided classrooms, accessory ventilation, air-filtration, and even holding classes outdoors... there should be a way for us to provide for the safety of the students, as well as the public health needs of the community, and deliver a fully functioning training event to anyone who's interested in hosting one. If you would like to contact our office to discuss hosting a workshop, then please click the button below.