The Occupational Health and Safety Act together with the Disaster Management Act requires the Employer to provide and maintain as far as is reasonably practicable a working environment that is safe and without risks to the health of workers and to take such steps as may be reasonably practicable to eliminate or mitigate the hazard or potential hazard.
How do I provide a safe working environment for my Employees?
1. SOCIAL DISTANCING
Every Employer must arrange the workplace to ensure minimal contact between workers and that there is a minimum of one and a half meters between workers while they
are working.
2. DAILY SCREENING
Any worker that reports for duty must fill in a daily screening checklist ascertain whether they have any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19: fever, body aches, redness of eyes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, weakness, or tiredness.
3. FACE MASK
Every Employer must provide each employee, free of charge, with a minimum of two face masks, which comply with the requirements set out in the Department of Health’s recommendations, for the Employee to wear while at work and while commuting to and
from work. Every Employer must ensure that workers are informed, trained, instructed, and supervise as to the correct use of cloth masks.
4. COVID-19 TRAINING IN THE WORKPLACE.
The Employer must provide COVID-19 training to all Employees.
5. SANITIZER AND DISINFECTION OF THE WORKPLACE.
The Employer must provide hand sanitizer that has at least 70% alcohol content and is in accordance with the recommendations of the Department of Health. All work areas must be disinfected daily.
6. COMPILE AN COVID-19 RISK ASSESSMENT
As per the Disaster Management Act all employers must develop a full COVID-19 risk assessment based on all the Risks and Hazards regarding COVID-19 in the workplace.
This person must ensure that all COVID-19 rules and regulation, as set out in the COVID-19 risk assessment and workplace plan, are adhered to.
Article by William van Greunen – OHS Consultant, Compliance Hub
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