COVID-19: MOM establishes the requirements that companies must meet to resume operations in the workplace

“As local transmission numbers decrease, we can gradually relax our restrictions and selectively resume economic activities. This will help support our businesses and protect livelihoods, “MOM said in a press release.

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“To prevent community cases from reoccurring, our workplaces should begin to establish safe management measures in advance.”

The requirements were jointly developed by the tripartite partners: MOM, the National Congress of Trade Unions (NTUC) and the National Federation of Singapore Employers (SNEF).

Some workplaces may open from May 12.

Under a new system of safe management measures, safe management officers must be appointed. They will assist in the implementation, coordination and monitoring of the workplace measurement system, MOM said.

Its functions include identifying relevant risks, recommending and helping to implement measures to mitigate risks, and communicating the measures to all personnel working in the workplace. Officers must also conduct inspections and controls to ensure compliance at all times.

“Any noncompliance found during inspections must be reported and documented,” said MOM.

To reduce interaction and ensure safe distance, all employees who can telecommute should do so.

READ: Singapore reports 753 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the country’s total to 22,460

MOM also gave specific instructions on how the work arrangements should be detailed. Meetings should be held practically as far as possible, and if it is in person, the number of people should be limited.

Among those who work on-site, work hours should be staggered by at least three one-hour blocks, and break hours should be staggered, with no more than half of employees reporting to work within each one-hour block. .

“If hours of work and rest cannot be staggered due to operational reasons, other systems should be implemented to reduce the congregation of employees in common spaces,” according to a checklist provided by the authority.

Deployment or cross-interaction between employees on different shifts, teams or workplaces, and even outside of work, is not permitted. Vulnerable employees, such as older workers, should be able to work from home. This could mean reassigning them to another role within the company that is suitable for working from home.

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If physical interactions are required in the workplace, precautions should be taken to ensure a clear physical space of at least 1m between people.

“Employers must demarcate safe physical distances (at least 1m apart) in workplace facilities with visual indicators or by physical means,” MOM explained. This would include common spaces such as entrances, exits, elevators, and pantries.

CONTACT TRACKING, POTENTIAL CASE MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19

Companies should encourage all employees in the workplace to download and activate the TraceTogether app, the authority said. Access to the workplace should be limited to essential employees and authorized visitors only.

Workplaces must use the SafeEntry visitor management system to record the entry of all personnel entering the workplace.

Everyone in the workplace, including visitors, should wear masks and “other necessary personal protective equipment at all times,” except during meals, for example. Items must be provided to ensure that employees can be kept clean, such as hand soap and toilet paper, and disinfecting agents such as hand sanitizers must be provided.

Particularly in areas with high human contact, employers must ensure regular cleaning. This would include common spaces such as desks where customers are served, rooms where visitors are accommodated, as well as areas of general public access, such as elevators, pantries, bathrooms, and garbage areas.

Periodic temperature assessment and respiratory symptom detection for all on-site employees must be conducted at least twice a day, and statements on travel history and notification of home stay must be submitted when appropriate.

The checklist also requires that each workplace employee visit only one clinic for check-ups.

“Otherwise, employees should report all recent doctor visits in the last 14 days to the clinic for any symptoms that may be related to COVID-19,” according to the checklist.

Employees also have to submit diagnostic records for the COVID-19 related symptom, and whether they were tested for the disease and what the results were.

They should also establish an evacuation plan for suspected cases, as well as for all other personnel on site.

There should also be a follow-up plan in case of a confirmed case. The immediate section of the workplace facility where it was confirmed that the person had worked with COVID-19 would need to be vacated and cordoned off immediately.

“If these safe management measures are not well implemented, stricter measures that affect our economy and livelihoods would have to be reintroduced. MOM, the Ministry of Health and sector agencies will take action against wandering employers, including cessation of operations and law enforcement, ”said MOM.

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