COVID-Secure Workplaces
Latest Data from HSE and Public Health England on COVID-Secure Workplaces
Keeping workplaces COVID-secure when working from home remains a significant challenge for organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The HSE received over 134,000 thousand COVID-19 related complaints in the last year, with 4,000 in January alone. This applies to all workplaces; however offices have been particularly badly affected. Public Health England data recently obtained by the BBC revealed there were more than 500 outbreaks, or suspected outbreaks, in offices in the second half of 2020 - more than in supermarkets, construction sites, warehouses, restaurants and cafes combined. More than 60 suspected COVID outbreaks in offices were recorded in the first two weeks of the current lockdown in England.
If it is not possible for workers to work from home, there are several things that businesses can do in order to remain COVID-Secure depending on their risk assessments. These include:
- Space employees out as much as possible and adhere to social distancing on site
- Use dividers such as desk screens to create a physical barrier between staff
- Issue hand gels to staff and position at the entrances to each room
- Regularly disinfect shared surfaces with disinfectant wipes and sprays
- Avoid hot desking or sharing equipment to protected against cross contamination
- Protect common touch points such as door handles and light switches with antimicrobial coverings
- Issue FFP masks and other PPE to staff and visitors on site and ensure it is worn at all times
- If you have a medical professional on site, conduct regular rapid testing
- Display signage or posters advising of all on site COVID-Secure protocols
- Keep a log of all staff and visitors on site to help contain any outbreaks
- Take and log temperatures everyday on entrance to premises using a non-contact thermometer
- In the event of a positive case onsite, sanitise rooms with room disinfectants before staff return to it
