COVID-19 Return to work, are you scared?

Posted by on

Positive as it may sound, most employers and employees may have legitimate concerns for their health and well-being as we await the eminent announcement of the termination of the lock-down period and the green light to return to work.

 Employers may ask, “How are we going to manage the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak at our workplace, what controls should be implemented, how will we be able to control the spread of the virus and safeguard the health of our staff, clients and the general public?”  At the same time, employees may be reluctant to sacrifice the safety of their homes in order to return to the workplace where they may be exposed to a risk that they themselves do not completely understand.

 The above fears are legitimate, but we at AirCHECK can help you to address many of the concerns and reduce the inherent risk considerably. AirCHECK is an Approved Inspection Authority with 35 years of experience, we are well trained and experienced in the management of Hazardous Biological Agents in the workplace and have the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge in the application of the relevant legislation.

 The legislation governing workplaces in relation to COVID-19 is the Occupational Health and Safety Act (85 of 1993), read with the Hazardous Biological Agents Regulations. Furthermore, Section 8 (1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (85 of 1993), requires that the employer shall provide and maintain, as far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risks to the health of employees.

 In terms of the above legislation, the Department of Employment and Labour requires that individual businesses or workplaces must have COVID-19 risk assessments and plans in place, and must conduct worker education on COVID-19 and relevant protection measures.
In this crisis, we at AirCHECK  have an obligation to make our resources available to our clients in order to assist them to manage the risk and to assist in the safe return of employees to work. 

 Here is how we will help you to manage the COVID-19 risk at your business.
  • We offer a complete COVID-19 Risk Assessment with a Management Plan, which not only complies with the requirement of the Department of Employment and Labour, but will also assist you to continue your business,  whilst reducing the risk of a workplace outbreak. 
  • We provide an advisory service on the best options for implementing engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment controls, including the selection of sanitizers, decontaminating agents and the correct respirator for a given occupational category. 
  • We offer on-site training  for your management and employees on COVID-19 control measures, as required in terms of Regulation 4 of the Regulations for Hazardous Biological Agents, OHSAct (85 of 1993), albeit only small groups under controlled conditions.
  • We offer training material and brochures that can assist you to comply with the requirements of Regulation 4 of the Regulations for Hazardous Biological Agents, OHSAct (85 of 1993), should you wish to present the material in-house.
Until we get the green light to return to work, please stay safe! And when we get the green light, please give us a call to discuss how we may assist you in the management of the COVID-19 risk at your workplace. 

 For more information, please visit http://www.aircheck-aia.co.za/services/covid-19-health-risk-assessment.html.

Comments

Post a Comment