UPDATED 03/31/22
KTCS is no longer requiring masks at this time. If you have questions about this policy, please do not hesitate to ask a member of our team. Thank you for your cooperation
UPDATE 02/28/2022
As the CDC moves to county based masking recommendations, KTCS will continue to require that everyone wear a mask regardless of current county levels. The Testers at this site come from counties all over the country. Thank you for your cooperation.
If you have questions about this policy, please do not hesitate to ask a member of our team. Thank you for your cooperation
UPDATE 12/20/2021
Due to the increase in cases, the number of people we see each day, and the upcoming Holidays, we are requiring that everyone be masked at this time, regardless of vaccination status. The Staff at Knowledge Transfer is fully vaccinted. Thank you for your cooperation.
If you have any questions about this policy, please do not hesitate to ask a member of our team.
UPDATE 05/21/2021
Starting 06/01/21 KTCS will require face masks for only those that are NOT vaccinated. Our staff will be fully vaccinated by that time. We will have 2 testing rooms; one that will continue to maintain social distancing and mask wearing and one that will have less distance and will be available to masked or unmasked individuals. We will allow you to choose your room as long as space is available.
UPDATE 05/17/2021
As of today, KTCS will continue to require facemasks to be worn at all times while in our facility, however we are in the process of re-evaluating our face mask and social distancing guidelines so check this space often. The KTCS Staff has been fully vaccinated and for your safety we continue to provide station cleaning between each tester.
UPDATE 12/09/2020
Pursuant to The 42 Code of Federal Regulations parts 70/71 regarding the CDC's Definitions of symptoms for Reportable Illness, Knowledge Transfer will not admit any tester who has a fever of 100.4 or higher.
UPDATE 11/21/2020
Today we recieved a message from a tester who tested positive for COVID-19. The tester had an appointment from 4:30-6:30 on Friday 11/20. As a result, Knowledge Transfer will be closed for testing until Monday, 11/30 so that all of our employees can pass two COVID tests before we reopen.
Please watch this space for additional updates.
UPDATE 9/2/2020
In response to a recent study from Duke University on the effectiveness of differnt types of facemasks, we are making some changes to our own mask policy.
Effective immediately, bandanas, neck gaiters, and any mask with a valve will not be permitted at Knowledge Transfer. These masks offer very little in the way of protection for the wearer and other testers on site, and as such are unacceptable.
Anyone who brings one of the above listed masks will be offered a disposable mask at no change as a replacement. Clients who neglect to bring a mask all together will still be asked to purchase as mask for $1.
UPDATE 6/15/2020
Reminder that our Testing Center is open. Per MN State mandate all testers are required to wear a mask when inside our testing center.
PLEASE NOTE: We are managing the traffic flow and ask that all testers enter into our building at the main entrance and come to our suite - 121. You will exit out of the testing center through our private entrance.
Please respect the social distancing and follow the directions provided by your proctor at the time of check-in. We are committed to ensure the safest environment for our staff and testers. All test stations are 6-8 ft apart and we are wiping down the test station before each tester sits their exam.
UPDATE 5/15/2020:
Reopening Plan
Knowledge Transfer (KTCS) is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees and customers. To ensure we have a safe and healthy workplace, we have developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All employees are responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our workplaces and communities, and that requires full cooperation among our employees, management and customers. Only through this cooperative effort, can we establish and maintain the safety and health of our employees and workplaces.
Management and employees are responsible for implementing and complying with all aspects of this COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.
Our employees are our most important assets. We are serious about safety, health, and keeping our employees working at Knowledge Transfer. Employee involvement is essential in developing and implementing a successful COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. We have involved our employees in this process by having all-staff meetings and writing our plan to address concerns and safety together as a team. Our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines, federal OSHA standards related to COVID-19 and Executive Order 20-48, and addresses:
- hygiene and respiratory etiquette;
- engineering and administrative controls for social distancing;
- cleaning, disinfecting, decontamination and ventilation;
- prompt identification and isolation of sick persons;
- communications and training that will be provided to managers and employees; and
- Management and supervision necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plan.
Testers Safety
- Protection and controls for checking in and out for a test;
- Protections and controls for testing;
- Protections and controls for follow up if testers develop symptoms or are diagnosed with COVID-19 within 14 days of testing
- Communications and instructions for Testers.
Screening and policies for employees exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19
Employees have been informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess employees’ health status prior to entering the workplace and for employees to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms.
- Employees that can work from home will continue to do so, unless coverage is required at the office
- Any employees that are feeling sick or have exposure concerns will report it to management immediately and be sent home if working in the office.
- Knowledge Transfer has a touchless thermometer that can be used by staff to take their temperature if they are feeling symptomatic at work
Knowledge Transfer has implemented leave policies that promote employees staying at home when they are sick, when household members are sick, or when required by a health care provider to isolate or quarantine themselves or a member of their household.
- At risk employees will be allowed to work from home as much as scheduling affords. If they are required to come into the office location, KTCS will assist with offering them as minimal customer contact as we are able.
- Any employees that are not able to work due to COVID-19 symptoms or positive test will be allowed to access PTO time available to them
Knowledge Transfer has also implemented a policy for informing employees if they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 at their workplace and requiring them to quarantine for the required amount of time. If any employee or tester reports a positive COVID-19 test or exposure, the office will shut down for 14 days. In addition, a policy has been implemented to protect the privacy of employees’ health status and health information. If employee does not want him/her to be identified to the office as the exposed employee, Knowledge Transfer will not reveal the employees name.
Screening and policies for Testers or Customers exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19
Knowledge Transfer requires every customer/Tester to read, follow and submit your verbal acknowledgement during the admission process:
I agree that it is my responsibility to self-isolate myself and reschedule my test if I have:
- Been diagnosed with COVID-19
- Been in close personal contact with someone who has a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis
- Have flu like symptoms, such as fever or chills and a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.
- By appearing to test, I certify that I do not meet any of the above criteria.
- If any of the above apply to you please do not enter the center today
Handwashing
Basic infection prevention measures are being implemented at our workplaces at all times. Employees are instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day, but especially at the beginning and end of their shift, prior to any mealtimes and after using the toilet. All customers and visitors to the workplace will be required to wash or sanitize their hands prior to or immediately upon entering the facility. Hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) are at entrances and locations in the workplace so they can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water, as long as hands are not visibly soiled.
If Hand sanitizer becomes unavailable to Knowledge Transfer due to shortage of supply, we will instruct all testers to wash their hands in the bathroom prior to testing.
Respiratory etiquette: Cover your cough or sneeze
Employees, customers and visitors are being instructed to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to avoid touching their face, in particular their mouth, nose and eyes, with their hands. They should dispose of tissues in provided trash receptacles and wash or sanitize their hands immediately afterward. Respiratory etiquette will be demonstrated on posters and supported by making tissues and trash receptacles available to all employees, customers and visitors.
Social distancing
Social distancing of six feet will be implemented and maintained between employees, customers and visitors in the workplace through the following engineering and administrative controls:
- Knowledge Transfer will allow employees to telework when office coverage is not required. One test proctor will work from 7:30-4 PM in the office and the other will offer relief shift from 4-7 pm.
- Employees that are working from the office, will be offered their own space to work that will be social distant from any other employees workspace.
- Knowledge Transfer will require all employees to wear masks (or any face covering that does not have any logo or advertising) when not in their personal space, if they cannot provide their own, management will provide one for them
- Knowledge Transfer will provide employees with their own personal equipment needed to carry out their work activities so as not to have to share. Each employee will have his or her own pens, phone, computer, desk etc that will not be shared. Any common shared equipment or space will be cleaned/disinfected by the employee last using that equipment or space when finished.
- Knowledge Transfer will provide signage and markings with instructions for visitors and customers about social distancing.
- The Tester check-in desk will be outfitted with a protective shield in order to offer a barrier between the tester and proctor during check in.
- Marks on the floors will show testers how to maintain proper distancing.
- All testing desks will be placed at least 6 feet apart.
- All doors to interior rooms will be left open to minimize touching of door handles
- One door will be designated the “in door” and one will be the “out door” to help to keep individuals separated.
- Office Common areas will be barricade from testers.
- Testers will be asked or required to wear mask according to the testing company policy
- We are posting all policies and procedures online and within the facility
Cleaning, disinfection, and ventilation
KTCS will complete routine cleaning and disinfecting of work surfaces, writing tools door handles and common areas in the work environment break rooms, lunch rooms, meeting rooms, checkin/out stations. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted in high-touch areas, such as phones, keyboards, touch screens, controls, door handles and copy machines. Hand sanitizer will be available in the waiting area and prior to entering the testing room
- We will clean and disinfect each testing station between testers
- Tissues will be available to candidates upon arrival at the test center
- We will Permit candidates to wear disposable gloves if they choose
- We will require or suggest that candidate wears mask depending on testing company policy
- Will allow testers to take keys and ID into testing room and place under desk in order to minimize locker use
- Remind candidates to wash their hands or utilize hand sanitizer upon arrival at the test center
- Enforce social distancing
- Markers, pens and white boards will be separated into clean and dirty piles
KTCS is attempting to keep stock of appropriate and effective cleaning and disinfectant supplies, such has hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, as they are available. All supplies will be used in accordance with product labels, safety data sheets and manufacturer specifications and are being used with required personal protective equipment for the product. Doors will be left open in an attempt to minimize touching.
This information is subject to change as the situation evolves, but Knowledge Transfer will make every effort to keep our clients up to date and informed as we continue to do business.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.
Phone: (651) 905-3729
Email: info@ktcs.biz
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UPDATE 5/14/2020:
Knowledge Transfer will be open for Pearson Vue, PSI, Kryterion, and Scantron Testing. We will be effectively operating at 50% capacity, per Minnesota state guidelines, and will be enforcing strict social distancing and sanitation measures which will be outlined in a separate document. Link coming soon.
Click here to view the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update Archive