Practically, what does returning to work mean for your company?

In addition to the extensive requirements set out in Regulations and Directives. The Directives also provide a number of practical requirements that employers must comply with. We have collated these requirements and summarise them below.

Summary of employer requirements

Hand sanitizer

Every employer must, free of charge, ensure that:

  • 1. There are sufficient quantities of hand sanitizer (at least 70% alcohol content) based on the number of workers or other persons who access the workplace at the entrance of, and in, the workplace which the workers or other persons are required to use;
  • 2. Every employee who works away from the workplace, other than at home, are provided with an adequate supply of hand sanitizer; and
  • 3. Workers who interact with the public are provided with sufficient supplies of hand-sanitizer at that worker’s workstation for both the worker and the person with whom the worker is interacting.
Sanitation

Every employer must ensure that:

  • 1. There are adequate facilities for the washing of hands with soap and clean water;
  • 2. Only paper towels are provided to dry hands after washing – the use of fabric towelling is prohibited;
  • 3. The workers are required to wash their hands and sanitize their hands regularly while at work;
  • 4. The workers interacting with the public are instructed to sanitize their hands between each interaction with public;
  • 5. Surfaces that workers and members of the public come into contact with are routinely cleaned and disinfected.
COVID screening and positive employees

Every employer must:

  • 1. Screen employees each time they report to work
  • 2. Record symptoms of their employees
  • 3. Arrange for employees with symptoms to self isolate and/or be tested
  • 4. Notify the relevant Government departments and assist with contact tracing of persons the employee may have been in contact with.
Transport

If applicable, the employer must provide safe transport for employees, taking into consideration:

  • 1. Personal hygiene;
  • 2. Social distancing;
  • 3. Arrangements to minimise exposure associated with commuting;
  • 4. Cloth masks (if commuter);
  • 5. PPE (for the driver/conductor of employer-provided transport).
General cleanliness and hygiene
Every employer must take measures to ensure that:
  • 1. All work surfaces and equipment are disinfected before work begins, regularly during the working period and after work ends;
  • 2. All areas such as toilets, common areas, door handles, shared electronic equipment are regularly cleaned and disinfected;
  • 3. Disable biometric systems or make them COVID-19-proof.
Masks

Every employer must:

  • 1. Provide each of its employees, free of charge, with a minimum of two cloth masks, which comply with the requirement set out in the Guidelines issued by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, for the employee to wear while at work and while commuting to and from work; and
  • 2. Require any other worker to wear masks in the workplace;
  • 3. Determine the number and reuse of cloth masks that must be provided to an employee or required of other workers in accordance with any sectoral guideline and in the light of the employee or worker’s conditions of work, in particular, where these may result in the mask becoming wet or soiled;
  • 4. Ensure that workers are informed, instructed, trained and instructed as to the correct use of cloth masks;
  • 5. Make appropriate arrangements for the washing, drying and ironing of cloth masks in accordance with the guidelines.
Infrastructure

Every employer must:

  • 1. Keep the workplace well ventilated by natural or mechanical means to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load;
  • 2. Where reasonably practicable, have an effective local extraction ventilation system with high-efficiency particulate air HEPA filters, which is regularly cleaned and maintained, and its vents do not feed back in through open windows;
  • 3. Ensure that filters are cleaned and replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions by a competent person.
Miscellaneous/Other

Depending on what is reasonably practicable given the nature of the workplace, every employer must:

  • 1. Arrange the workplace to ensure that there is a distance at least one and a half metres between workers and members of the public or between members of the public; or
  • 2. Put in place physical barriers or provide workers with face shields or visors;
  • 3. If appropriate, undertake symptom screening measures of persons other than the employees entering the workplace with due regard to available technology and any guidelines issued by the Department of Health;
  • 4. If appropriate, display notices advising persons other than employees entering the workplace of the precautions they are required to observe while in the workplace;
  • 5. Require members of the public, including suppliers, to wear masks when inside their premises.