There are several practical steps employers can take to manage the risk of exposure to COVID-19 at the workplace. You must take action, it’s the law. No matter what type of work your business carries out, these steps will help to identify all you can reasonably do to protect the health and safety of workers and others at your workplace.
1. Consult with Employees
It’s necessary to inform and talk with employees about the COVID-19 situations and your safety protocols. There’s a lot of information about the pandemic going on which can get confused. You must talk to the workers about the measures you are planning to take to minimize the risk of exposure at the workplace.
2. Take Precautions
There’s no need for the employer to do it all alone. One can easily divide the load of work by nominating a person or team to dedicate their time to infection control. Try starting with work environment analysis, potential areas of risk, and plan how to address and overcome them. For example –
- > How can you keep high-touch surfaces clean and how you will put in additional hygiene measures such
- > Can people work from home if necessary and do they have a safe environment to do so?
- > Have you briefed your workers about the symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do if they are unwell?
- > How to review existing policies and practices and make others follow them?
3. Train your workers
Every workplace must follow the basics of hygiene maintenance and comply with them. Office authorities can take initiatives to make employees know how to keep COVID-19 viral infections out of the workplace. Such as –
- > Washing hands thoroughly
- > Cover your coughs and sneezes
- > Maintain social distancing.
- > Clean and disinfect desks regularly
- > Staying at home when sick.
4. Review control measures
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many things that we can’t ignore but most importantly we have to be vigilant with health and safety. What to do with reviewing control measures is followed by –
- > Keep a close eye on compliance
- > Keep reviewing the situation
- > Must report any concerns
- > Check if your plan is working
- Thus, anyone will be able to implement further controls and make improvements.
5. Future Plans
Be proactive with your plans for the pandemic situation. If anything goes wrong shortly you must be prepared as the pandemic situation is rapidly evolving. Start to plan for what you will do if you need to close the doors for a while and enable WFH. We don’t know if we are going to face these difficulties or not be being prepared is risk management.
- > Have a plan to ensure continuity
- > Know what to do if staff members get COVID-19 symptoms
- > If so, think of how to disinfect affected workspaces
Things do vary for every workplace but eliminating or minimizing risks to health and safety should be the first concern now. Be prepared in advance so you can address and fix breakdowns beforehand.
