FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
As all industries from trade to office workers begin to return to their normal working environments, it is key to make employees feel safe in the knowledge that they are protected at all times in their working environment; this is where considerations such as implementing PPE equipment and ensuring social distancing can be incredibly useful. Here we will discuss some tips for managing employees safe return to work.
Ensure PPE is always used and worn
PPE equipment from Reece Safety includes essentials for those working in both outdoor and indoor environments, with a selection of face masks and face protection shields to limit the spread of infection; these masks are made to the BFE 98% filtration protection level recommended by WHO as a minimum protection from Coronavirus.
Such PPE is essential to greatly reduce the transmission rate and can help shield others from exhaled moisture droplets in the air from talking or coughing. Hand sanitiser is also now essential PPE that will help keep employees and objects that are touched such as doors, keyboards, or tools as sterile as possible.
Ensure that the work environment is not crowded
Following on from this, it is essential to manage the rate your employees return to work. Whether an office or construction site, implanting a staggered return to work will help avoid overcrowding, whilst ensuring social distancing. For those working in office environments, social distancing screens as well as safety signs will ensure that employees and visitors are reminded about remaining two metres apart when in an enclosed environment. It is essential that each worker has a two-metre perimeter around their desk or work area, so a larger or separate working space may be needed to ensure that all workers have a place to work from. Reece can help with a range of screens, floor signage and floor tape to set this up effectively.
Educate your staff
There is constantly developing news surrounding Coronavirus, including how to protect yourself and others. It is important that companies are setting guidelines for office work as well as implementing health and safety measures for employees to adhere to. This can include frequent hand washing and surface cleaning, as well as staggered arrival and departure times to reduce crowding around the workplace.
Conduct a risk assessment
Employers have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to their health and safety. This means businesses need to think about the risks they face and do everything possible to minimise them. You must make sure that the risk assessment for your business addresses the risks of COVID-19, using this guidance to inform your decisions and control measures (1). Introduced measures may include pop up handwashing facilities, Covid-19 safety signs and providing more waste bins and more frequents rubbish collections.
Overall, it is vital to do everything possible as a business to ensure the safety of staff throughout the reintroduction of communal working environments, which may mean fulfilling more detailed safety procedures.
For more information visit www.reecesafety.co.uk, email sales@reecesafety.co.uk or call 01422 2930860.
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