As part of the one to one discussion managers must advise the employee of what Health & Safety arrangements have been put in place to either facilitate a physical return to work or to allow the employee to work from home.
It is essential that employees feel confident that their Health, Safety, and Wellbeing is a priority and they are aware that appropriate risk assessments are in place otherwise any concerns may become a barrier to someone’s return.
There are some key areas that should be discussed with the employee:
- Hygiene and cleanliness
- Employees Responsibilities
- Social distancing measures
- General measures
- Meetings
- Customers and visitors
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
More advice on Health and Safety in relation to returning to work can be found below. Information on conducting risk assessments can be found here.
Risk Control Measures
Workplaces operating during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic need to ensure they are protecting their workforce and minimising the risk of spread of infection. The guidance on this page is intended to support mangers with the introduction of risk control measures in line with the Government’s recommendations on making the workplace COVID-19 secure.
The guidance comprises 4 documents:
CC01: COVID-19 Site operating procedures compliance checklist. This checklist is aligned with UK Government guidance and is designed to help managers understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic. It is designed to be used prior to restarting work, or when significant changes to work are planned, to ensure compliance with this guidance and to protect the workforce on site during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CC02: COVID-19 Risk assessment guidance for managers. This guidance is provided to assist managers produce COVID-19 risk assessments. Employers are not expected to eliminate all risks, but do need to do everything reasonably practicable to protect people from harm. This means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control the risk. There may be more than one way to control any particular risk – it may be that a single risk control measure is appropriate, or a combination of risk controls may be required. The risk assessment process will help managers identify, for their particular setting, the risk control measures that will reduce risk so far as is reasonably practicable. Risk assessment is a proactive process and should be carried out before a work activity starts.
CC03: COVID-19 Toolbox talk for workers. Making a workplace COVID-19 secure is likely to involve changes to the workplace and working processes. Employees are likely to be concerned about how risk will be managed. This toolbox talk can be used by managers to keep employees up to date on the risk control measures that have been put in place, and to reassure them that risks are being managed.
CC04: COVID-19 Site operating procedures routine checklist. Regular checking and monitoring is required to ensure risk control measures are working effectively. Managers should use this checklist for this purpose on a routine basis. Where risk control measures are not effective, or are not being adhered to, corrective action must be taken. Where new or improved risk control measures are identified, this should prompt a review of the relevant risk assessment.