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With the government easing protective measures, many workers are now returning to their workplaces from their home office. In the context of seven tips, Quality Austria's occupational safety expert Eckehard Bauer explains how employers can avoid COVID-19 infection in their employees.
1. Create trust base and give extensive instruction
In addition to the managers, the preventive forces such as security specialists or occupational doctors are of great importance. It is up to them to create a trusting working basis. "Since there is currently a lot of wrong or a confusing flood of information circulating in the media, these people can counteract uncertainty on the part of the employees with clear and precise information and instructions. However, it is important not to stir up fears, but to build trust in the protective measures, ”explains Eckehard Bauer, Business Developer for Risk and Security Management, Business Continuity, Transport at Quality Austria.
2. Evaluate dangers and derive measures
The most important task at the moment is the evaluation of the risks and dangers with which the employees are confronted in everyday work. Once these have been identified, measures and instructions for action can be developed from them to ensure the protection of employees and thus also the performance of the company. Management systems such as ISO 45001 (occupational safety and health) or ISO 22301 (avoidance of business interruptions) can strongly support those responsible in the company.
3. Avoiding contact where possible
The most important transmission path is through droplet infection in close contact between people. Therefore, the first priority is to avoid (direct) contact with other people as much as possible or to postpone it to a time when this will be possible without risk of infection. Alternative options for meetings are also conceivable - instead of meetings in large groups or personal customer appointments, numerous tools such as video conferences have been established that are a good substitute.
4. Technical measures to protect workers
Where personal contact is unavoidable, technology can help prevent COVID-19 transmission. So you can erect boundaries such as cutting discs or build barriers or mechanical barriers to create more distance between people. The separation of working areas by using other rooms or moving tables apart is also helpful.
5. Good organization works wonders
Likewise, there are no limits to creativity when it comes to organizational measures. For example, the work can be staggered over time and work can only be carried out at the same time if it is technically absolutely necessary. At meetings, training sessions or handovers that cannot be replaced by video or telephone conferences, the greatest possible distance between the participants must be created. Frequent ventilation of rooms can further minimize the risk of transmission.
6. Use personal protective measures
One thing that has also become established in our culture in recent weeks is the avoidance of manual contacts, which should definitely continue to be maintained. The minimum distance to other people in the company should be one meter. If this cannot be ensured, mouth-nose protection, face shield or - where necessary - an FFP protective mask are mandatory. "According to the WHO, masks, glasses or gloves are generally not required, but regular hand hygiene must be ensured by washing hands or using a disinfectant," emphasizes Bauer.
7. Rely on role models
The best instruction, the most creative information notices and the coolest instructions via email can never achieve what can be achieved by management and preventive staff by consistently following the protection requirements. Even if mouth-nose protection is uncomfortable, it serves to protect everyone - therefore those who ignore prescribed protective measures should also be consistently advised of their compliance.
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