The government is currently discussing measures on how lockdown easing in the UK will be achieved. They’ll be announcing what this means. For those organisations that have adapted to employees working from home, there will be guidance on how to return to work after Covid-19.
But what does that mean for employers? Employers need to be ready to implement the government’s guidance to make the work environment safe for their employees to return. With broad guidance on Covid-19 and the situation always updating, it can be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to introducing new measures.
SHP (Safety & Health Practitioner) has published an interesting article ‘what’s expected in Health and safety criminal law and how you can avoid prosecution.’ The article outlines employers’ responsibilities in creating a safe work environment that ensures they are meeting mandatory requirements of legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
To help you prepare for this next step we have put together a free guide. This guide provides expert advice and guidance to help with the safe return to workplace premises and help keep employers safe.
Access our COVID-19 support hub with tools, documents, advice and guidance on managing the risks from coronavirus, including an in-depth COVID-19 return to work guide and templates for COVID-19 risk assessments for offices and retail businesses.
What does our return to work guide cover?
Our extensive guide answers concerns employers may have about making their organisation as Covid-secure as possible. It covers areas such as:
Business return to work plan
Our guide recommends that managers and the leadership of your organisation produce a plan that sets out what areas need to be addressed. In your organisation’s return to work plan, you could focus on areas such as:
- Preparing your estate for occupancy.
- Measures to achieve distancing.
- Employees who work on client sites.
- Statutory checks.
- Cleaning.
- Protective equipment.
- First aid.
- Vulnerable employees.
- Employees with children/care givers.
- Business continuity plan.
- Mental wellbeing.
- Communication arrangements.
Preparing your estate for occupancy
Inactive premises may mean that systems may need to be updated and maintained such as lift and fire safety systems. Some areas may not be able to introduce social distancing measures, and whether workplaces are stocked with appropriate sanitary and cleaning supplies.
Measures to achieve distancing
The 2m distance rule is a way social distancing may be safely introduced into your organisation following an appropriate risk assessment. Other measures such as a phased return to work, staggered leaving times and greater distances between workstations are possible ways a safe and phased return to work can be achieved.
Cleaning and waste
With Covid-19, organisations need to have frequent cleaning measures in place so that the risk of infection and spread is minimised. Ensure adequate stock in sanitary supplies such as cleaning products and hand sanitise. Our guide includes advice for checking COSHH assessments and ensuring their validity.
Protective equipment
Having PPE on your organisation’s premise is important. Our guide details what type of PPE equipment – such as disposable gloves, surgical masks, and surgical aprons – should be readily available.
Face masks are not classed as PPE. However, having a supply of face masks available for employees may help prevent the spread of Covid.
Vulnerable employees
To protect your employees against Covid, a risk assessment should determine if any employees are clinically vulnerable, as these employees may need additional protective measures. Risk assessments may be necessary to determine whether clinically vulnerable employees can return to work.
Business continuity planning
An organisation should have a continuity plan in place in case of another Covid variant emerging or another lockdown. Points to consider in your organisation’s continuity plan could be areas such as supply chains, employee contact details, and operational capacity.
Employees with symptoms
Employee should be made aware of the steps to take if they test positive for Covid-19. It is up to an organisation’s procedures as to whether evidence of a positive test will be required.
Improving employee awareness of the symptoms of Covid-19 may help minimise the risk of Covid-19 spreading should someone within your organisation test positive.
General advice for employees
Our guide includes general advice regarding the use of face masks and what physical contact to avoid with colleagues, such as handshakes.
Our Covid-19 guidance pre and post-occupation guide cover these sections plus additional areas in extensive detail.
How we created our return to work after Covid guide
Our return to work guide was created based on guidance available and what is considered best practice at the time. The guide has taken into consideration advice from organisations such as:
- Public Health England
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- ACAS
- UK Government
- National Fire Chiefs Council
- legislation.gov.uk
Access our COVID-19 support hub with tools, documents, advice and guidance on managing the risks from coronavirus, including an in-depth COVID-19 return to work guide and templates for COVID-19 risk assessments for offices and retail businesses. We halve also developed our own course on COVID-19 return to work awareness.
