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The government has issued a new guide on how different workplaces should be safe for staff during the coronavirus pandemic.
This follows the Prime Minister’s announcement that those who could not work from home should be “actively encouraged to go to work” in England.
Several key points should be followed, such as maintaining a distance of 2 m (6 ft) whenever possible, cleaning more frequently, and conducting a risk assessment.
But many employees are still concerned about what will change in the workplace.
What are the new guidelines for different sectors?
1. Working outdoors
Prime Minister Boris Johnson singled out construction and manufacturing as the type of industries where employees would now be explicitly encouraged to return to work.
On Monday, a new government guide said that the bosses of employees who work primarily outdoors, such as in the construction or agriculture industries, must ensure that staff can work, even if social distancing is not possible. .
He advised that no additional personal protective equipment (PPE) that was above normal helmets and other construction site protection, such as face masks, were required.
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Other guidelines include:
- Amazing arrival times and providing more entry points to construction sites
- Give people individual tasks for the day, so that as few hands touch the computer as possible.
- Separate sites into different “zones” to keep worker groups separate to contain any possible spread of the coronavirus.
- Limit the number of visitors to the site
- Disinfection of all hand tools, controls, machinery and equipment after use.
Adam Marshall, CEO of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “This is an important step forward in terms of the information available to companies, which will now need to digest the details.”
“The guide points to major changes in the way many companies operate, and some companies will now need time to plan and speak to their employees so they can return to work safely.”
2. Food manufacturing and processing.
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Factory and warehouse worker bosses must ensure that regularly touched surfaces are cleaned frequently and that there is plenty of hand sanitizer.
Shifts should have the same staff and, as with construction, shared tools should be left somewhere rather than delivered directly.
Deliveries should be larger and less frequent to minimize contact with strangers.
The government also said that “factory, plant and warehouse workers should not use PPE as a precaution against coronavirus, and should not use more PPE than usual.”
3. Office employees
For office workers, employers must design one-way systems to minimize contact between their staff.
Work arrival and departure times should also be considered to reduce overcrowding, as well as providing additional parking and facilities such as bicycle racks to encourage people to walk, run, or bike to work if possible.
Meetings should also be conducted remotely, and only involve participants who are absolutely necessary. Gathering outside could be considered if that is not possible, although the government still says those who can work from home should continue to do so.
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Screens, barriers and floor tape should be used to keep people apart and help show distances of 2m.
And you should avoid using hot desks. In call centers or training facilities where that is not an option, workstations should be disinfected between shifts.
Staggered breaks and packed lunches will also help avoid gathering people.
But Michael Izza, executive director of the accounting industry body, ICAEW, said: “This is not a return to business as usual, and companies will take note of government advice that employees should continue to work from home if it’s possible”.
He added: “Implementing the guide will mean costs and changes that companies will not find easy. In light of that, I hope that many of them will think twice before reopening their offices.”
Much of the same guidance applies to those who work in research facilities or laboratories.
But it is also recommended that arrangements be made on how to clean expensive equipment that cannot be washed. Also, in the event of an emergency, such as a chemical spill or fire, people do not need to be kept 2 m apart.
4. Stores
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The new guide applies to businesses that are currently open, such as pharmacies and stores that sell food, as well as others that are still closed.
Johnson said in his address to the nation on Sunday that if the circumstances were right, other types of stores could open next month, such as fashion retailers.
The guide suggests that all of these companies should use the following measures:
- Define the number of customers who can follow the social distance of 2 m within the store
- Note the total floor space as well as “pinch points” such as doors or hallways
- Limit the number of customers in the store at any time
- Eliminate services that you cannot safely do, or that would require close contact with customers
- Consider if locker rooms are essential and make sure they are cleaned after each use if they are kept open
- Use floor tape or paint to clearly mark distances of 2m.
- Make sure contactless payments can be made if possible
5. Working in a vehicle
Truck and mail drivers have been classified as key workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
When social distancing guidelines cannot be followed while on the job, bosses have been told to consider whether that activity is business critical. An example includes heavy deliveries that need more than one staff member.
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The heads of those who work in vehicles must also:
- Use screens or barriers to separate people from each other if they work in the same vehicle if they can
- Reduce the number of people with whom each person has contact by using “fixed teams” so that each person works with only a few
- Guarantee the periodic cleaning of vehicles, particularly among different users.
- Minimize contact when customers pay or sign a package
- Be prepared to drop off products in an agreed area, for example by clicking and picking up, to avoid transmission
- Maintain sufficient supplies of hand sanitizer or antibacterial wipes in cars or trucks so workers can wash their hands after each delivery or delivery
6. Work in other people’s homes.
The government also had private advice for people who work or visit other people’s homes, such as plumbers, electricians, cleaners, and caregivers.
“We understand how important it is that you can work safely and support the health and well-being of your employees,” says the council.
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Workers should wash their hands and surfaces more and cut any activity that requires being 2 m or closer to a colleague.
If that’s not possible, suggest several tactics:
- Keep uptime as short as possible
- Using screens or barriers to separate people.
- Working side-by-side or side-by-side, rather than face-to-face
If none of this is possible, companies should assess whether the work can continue safely, and employees should raise their concerns if they think otherwise.
You should not work in homes where the inhabitants are isolated, unless it is to address a security problem, and where there are vulnerable people, you should avoid face-to-face contact.
It is also imperative to make sure customers know that they need to be kept 2 meters away, as well as cleaning surfaces that will be touched regularly.
7. Pubs and restaurants.
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By July 4, some companies in England, including pubs and restaurants, may be allowed to open as long as they can comply with social distancing measures.
This is part of a tentative plan to allow the hotel industry to reopen in the third phase of easing the closure.
For now, all food and beverage stores should continue to offer exclusive takeaway or delivery options, with all seating areas and bars remaining closed.
The new guidelines state that Covid-19 is a respiratory disease and is not known to be transmitted by exposure to food or food packaging. For takeaway and delivery services, it is recommended:
- Installation of panels that can be cleaned to separate workstations in larger kitchens, as it may not be possible to separate equipment such as sinks and hobs
- Minimize the amount of contact at food “delivery” points between staff and delivery drivers
- Install plastic screens between house workers and customers
- Introduction of areas where drivers can collect packaged food
- Encourage customers to use contactless payments and order online, via app, or over the phone to reduce queues
