Will Cattrall, Business Development Manager at Taxi Butler and Driver Bubble
With the new road map set for the UK, businesses, educational institutions, co-working spaces & offices have slowly started opening again following the easing of coronavirus restrictions. Employers at the workplace will undoubtedly maintain measures similar to those used to protect against the flu. Some companies are making conscious efforts to provide a safe and sustainable workspace solution to minimise the risk of infection to protect professionals at the workplace and ensure that they stay connected and present.
Apart from the simple hygiene measures, are businesses and staff prepared to return to work and follow additional precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19? Companies permitted to operate by the government will have to follow robust safety measures like mentioned below to be Covid-secure.
Have a COVID action plan: To slow the spread of COVID19, all businesses in the UK must have a detailed COVID action plan that ensures compliance and legal obligations following the protocol set by the UK Government. The action plan must include recommendations and instructions of mandatory safety and health standards on preventing the spread and responding to situations where an employee is confirmed or suspected of being COVID positive. This COVID safe plan must be reviewed and updated regularly.
Promote health & hygiene: Provide specific personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the workforce like environment-friendly face masks, hand sanitisers, and gloves.
Businesses must provide and promote hand sanitisers in areas including building entrances. The offices must regularly clean high-touch surfaces like desks, doors and door handles, consoles and lifts, including lift switches and handrails where potential contamination may increase the risk of COVID-19 with disinfectant. Offices must ensure the free flow of fresh air by opening windows regularly and adjusting air conditioning to enhance airflow. Food handlers and canteen staff must follow high hygiene exercises.
Continue to maintain physical distancing.Employers must provide flexible work arrangements to support their employees during off-peak travel, commuting into the office or working from home, where possible. As per the Health & Safety regulations by the government, social distancing should be part of the business’s risk assessment needed to make the workplace COVID-secure. Other measures could include:● Implementing staggered shifts.● Implementing a no-visitor policy.● Revisiting and revising seating arrangements.● Introducing desk guards to create a higher physical distance between employees while staying connected and reducing the spread of infectious droplets due to a sneeze or cough.
The office desk guards are gaining popularity among working professionals. Apart from minimising the risk of infection by effectively protecting professionals at the workplace, it also ensures that they stay connected. These desk guards enable professionals to work wherever they go. It is simple, lightweight, optically transparent, and portable, making it the perfect choice for working professionals, co-working spaces, and offices. It is a sustainable workspace solution for all customers and partners.
Not all businesses can work remotely. Service industries are making few workplace processes and design changes to help provide the social distance needed to stay safe for those who remain on-site. Some of the measures companies could put in place are applying paints or masking tapes to mark work areas and implementing signages to caution people to keep a 2 m distance.
Provide provision for temperature screening or rapid antigen tests.While it may not be feasible for businesses to take the temperature of each and everyone entering a venue or workplace, employers should take additional measures like keeping a thermometer or/and rapid antigen test kits handy where and when required. Suppose a situation arises where an employee experiences a temperature rise while working on the premises. In that case, there should be a transparent process to manage people who have a fever and seek medical help if needed.
The COVID-19 rapid antigen test is easy to use, and kinder to the nose since you only have to insert the swab a little distance into your nasal cavity, increasing the likelihood of people testing more regularly.
Employees have a right to feel safe from any harm while working, but they also have to work responsibly to ensure the hygiene of their workplace. Today, following simple hygiene practices is essential for public safety and health but imperative to mitigate risks in the future.
Ensuring the safety of our community is paramount. While employers are continuously extending efforts to provide safety solutions for all employees, each individual must also play an essential role in slowing down the spread of the virus. When we work together and play our part by following the guidelines and hygiene practices, we will inevitably come out of this challenging time more robust than ever and finally truly connect with each other!
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Source: http://hrnews.co.uk/uk-lockdown-roadmap-is-your-workplace-prepared/
