Guidelines
for workplace when reopen post COVID-19 lockdown
To prevent
the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease among industrial workers and
office staff when commercial activities resume in various states of India, the states,
district administration and the labour department already issued a detailed
advisory for business units reopening while the lockdown is still in place. The
labour department said that since the city has a unique mix of industrial and
office workforce, owing to closeness with other national Capital region cities,
it has been decided to apply more stringent measures in a few domains to
prevent the spread of this disease.
Additional
labour commissioner of NCR, Haryana. “All organisations are expected to align
their operations to these guidelines to ensure safe working conditions. In case
the companies don’t comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP), their
permissions will be withdrawn and criminal proceedings would be initiated
against them,” he said.
What is COVID-19
COVID-19
is a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus. ‘CO’ stands for corona, ‘VI’
for virus, and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as ‘2019
novel coronavirus’ or ‘2019-nCoV. The COVID-19 virus is a new virus linked to
the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and some
types of common cold.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms
can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. In more severe cases,
infection can cause pneumonia or breathing difficulties. More rarely, the
disease can be fatal. These symptoms are similar to the flu (influenza) or the
common cold, which are a lot more common than COVID-19. This is why testing is
required to confirm if someone has COVID-19.
How does COVID-19 spread?
The virus
is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected
person (generated through coughing and sneezing). Individuals can also be
infected from and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and touching
their face (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth). The COVID-19 virus may survive on
surfaces for several hours, but simple disinfectants can kill it.
The
outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared a Public Health
Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and the virus has now spread to many
countries and territories.
The Ministry of Home
Affairs has issued new guidelines for the restarting of manufacturing units
post coronavirus lockdown. As per the new guidelines, the production units have
been asked to consider first week after the lockdown ends as a trial
period. The new guidelines address the issues from accommodation to
sanitization needs. It also asks the companies to not target high production in
the first week of operations.
"When Lockout/Tagout procedures are not in
place, many energy sources can prove to be hazardous to operators/supervisors
who are servicing or maintaining electrical, mechanical or chemical equipment.
When heavy machinery and equipment are not maintained periodically, they can
become dangerous for the operators/engineers," NDMA said in a
statement.
Key Messages & Actions for workplace
administrators or safety Managers
Following basic principles can help keep students, teachers,
and staff safe at school
·
sick
worker or employee and other staff should not come to workplace.
·
Promote
regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors, and customers.
·
Workplace
should promote physical distancing, only two worker or employee can do work.
Seating arrangement also be spread.
·
Combine
with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational
health and safety officers, briefings at meetings, and information on intranet
sites to promote hand-washing
·
Display
posters promoting respiratory hygiene. Combine this with other communication
measures such as guidance from occupational health and safety officers,
briefing at meetings, and information on the intranet, etc.
·
Office
room, workstation, cabin room temperature should under 24
to 30. Relative humidity within 40% - 70%.
to 30. Relative humidity within 40% - 70%.
·
Ensure
that face masks (Ordinary medical masks rather than N95 masks) or paper tissues
are available at your workplaces, for those who develop a runny nose or cough
at work, along with closed bins for hygienically disposing of them.
Disinfect workplace
Clean and disinfect
workplace area & buildings and especially water and sanitation facilities
at least once a day, particularly surfaces that are touched by many people (Chair-table,
elevator, railings, lunch tables, sports equipment, door and window handles, tools,
entrance electronic gate, learning aids etc) or restricted area (Lab equipment,
AC, DVR/NVR, Amplifier, any type controller, Fire Panel, Pump House, Hose, Fire
Extinguisher, Access Reader etc) through
Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2). This sanitizer not applicable for Human skin.
Primarily as a cleaning and disinfecting agent.
SANITIZING
TUNNELS are disinfecting passageways for human use if sprays are non-flammable
& non-toxic Super oxidized water Hypochlorous acid (HOCL). If purchase from
vendor, vendor should share Lab test report & national or international
certificate.
Verify Electrical System
Carry out
the visual inspections of the distribution boards, switch boards. This is to
ensure that during lock down insects have not got trapped in the electrical
apparatus. If possible, get the earth values check of the earth pits.
Ensure
that all stand by equipment’s are tested for the operations, such as DG sets. Ensure
to have those equipment’s in auto mode, if they were kept in auto mode prior to
the lock down.
Lift
operator should strictly use gloves and mask during duty hours.
Verify CCTV System
CCTV
surveillance is now an integral part of the school, collage across the world.
Visual inspection of all the components for any kind of damage or loose
connections, which might have happened during the lockdown period.
Verify
CCTV video footage of each camera and all the recorders (DVR/NVR/Servers etc.)
for last 60days. Must be implement thermal image scanning body temperature
camera. It can be handheld / tripod standing type. the government will ask all
major companies that reopen with permits to share their CCTV footage. “We will
make it mandatory for all bigger organisations to share CCTV footage. We will
set up a control room where our industry department will monitor this feed to
ensure that the social distancing norms are being followed,” said additional
chief secretary and GMDA chief VS Kundu.
Verify PA System
Student
Announcement or class bell system is integral part of the school, collage
across the world. Visual inspection of all the components for any kind of
damage or loose connections, which might have happened during the lockdown
period along with proper functionality of all the speakers through announcement.
Verify Fire Detection & Protection System
Visual
inspection of all the components for any kind of damage or loose connections,
which might have happened during the lockdown period alongwith check any fault
indication on panel.
Test
Detection system through fauls smoke (using aerosol) & Pulling MCP and chk
notification signal, other hand test fire Electrically Driven Main (Hydrant /
Sprinkler/ Jockey) pump start value stop value, Diesel Driven Pumps etc.
Checked all fire Extinguisher are in correct place and healthy.
Workplace attendance
Strictly
avoid attendance thru fingerprint based biometric machines instead use face/eye
scanning biometric machines or wave-based machine. Visual inspection of all the
components for any kind of damage or loose connections. If Body temp screening
camera not installed then implement thermal Face scanning Solution can be
integrate with attendance solution. There should be no overlap of shifts. A
minimum time of an hour should be there between two shifts for cleaning to take
place. Managerial and administrative staff should work one shift at 33 per cent
capacity as per MHA guidelines; but while deciding which particular person to
be included in 33% at any given point of time, overriding priority should be
given to personnel dealing with safety.
Posters, helpline and training
Posters
with approved guidelines and messages must be displayed. Regular drill and
training of employees must be conducted maintaining six feet of distance.
Frequent announcements must be made on the floor to remind workers to be
mindful of their actions. Contact numbers of government helplines must be
displayed.
The following precautions to be taken
before starting any activity on these Plant and Machinery as well as stacks:
(i) Prior to start of any activity, location specific
risk assessment to be done by Safety In-charge.
The location wise risk assessment to take care of aspects
like:
o Integrity of Assets (Condition of
Batching plants, winch machine, lifting tools & tackles, back stay/guy rope
arrangements etc.) & strength of the same.
o Inspection of erected tower cranes/
gantries for any missing parts.
o Stability of Scaffolding & other
work platform/ arrangements before loading or permitting workers to climb on.
o Safety of Electrical systems
including Earthing.
o Biological Hazards (Snakes/other
poisonous reptiles or insects), clearing of bushes& spraying of chemical
repellents to be carried out.
(ii) After preparation of location specific risk
assessment, a thorough inspection to be carried out on the identified risks and
corresponding control measures & to be recorded & approved by Safety
In-charge.
(iii) Safety critical inventories like Cranes, lifting
tool and tackles, DG Sets, Scaffolds etc., to be got re-inspected and certified
Safe worthy by competent person/ OEM.
(iv) Disinfection
of Incoming materials at project sites
(i) Incoming materials may be contaminated
while transportation and hence all incoming material vehicles arriving to the
project sites shall be parked at stores/ safe location and the material should
not be handled/touched for stipulated hours.
(ii) Thereafter all the new material
to be disinfected with recommended concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) solution
before use except for items which can reacts with the disinfectant.
(v) Ensure
no sharing of tools or workstations to the extent possible. Provide additional
sets of tools if needed.
Key Messages & Actions for workplace
Members
COVID-19
is a new virus and we are still learning about how it affects children.
Understand
basic information about coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including its symptoms,
complications, how it is transmitted and how to prevent transmission.
Remember
that symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough or fever can be similar to those of the
flu, or the common cold, which are a lot more common.
Prevention of Spread of
Virus amongst Workers
For
Workers/ staff staying at Labour Colony/ Camps/ Site
(i) It shall be mandatory for all the workers/ staff to
wear face mask, hand gloves and full sleeve shirt/ kurta/ trouser/ pyjama all
the time so that their faces, hands, arms and legs are covered. Sufficient
number of safety masks, gloves, safety shoes, helmets etc., shall be arranged
for all workers.
(ii) Regular visit of Doctor/ medical staff in the labour
camp. Tie up with nearby hospital dealing with COVID 19 testing and treatment
to be ensured. Contact mobile number of the doctor/medical assistance shall be
prominently displayed in the camp at number of locations. Routine medical
check-up of each labour/ staff by qualified medical staff shall be ensured at
least once in a week.
(iii) Any person with symptoms of COVID-19 infection
shall be immediately placed in designated isolation rooms. In case of positive
test results for COVID-19, he should be admitted to designated hospitals or
Government quarantine center.
(iv) Physical distancing shall be ensured in labour camps
by providing adequate number of rooms for workers.
(v) Food items, vegetables and other items of daily
requirement for the labours / staff shall be arranged by the contractor from
one or more reliable sources in the camp itself and no one from the camp will
be allowed to move out for these requirements. Labour camp to be cordoned off
(vi) Consumption of liquor shall be strictly prohibited
in labour camps as it may result in violation of physical distancing.
(vii) List of worker/ staff leaving and entering each
labour camp shall be maintained and updated every day. Any missing worker shall
be reported and traced immediately.
(viii) Transportation of workers/ staff from labour camp
shall be only by designated vehicles/buses with physical distancing maintained
in the vehicles/ buses. They should return back by same vehicle. Once the
workers/ staff are back to the camp, they shall clean their hands with soap
thoroughly before going to their rooms.
Organizing meetings and
events
Organizers
of meetings and events need to think about the potential risk from COVID-19
because, there is a risk that people attending your meeting or event might
unwittingly bring the COVID-19 virus to the meeting. Others might be
unknowingly exposed to COVID-19.
BEFORE the
meeting or event
• Check
the advice from the authorities in the community where you plan to hold the
meeting or event. Follow their advice.
• Consider
whether a face-to-face meeting or event is needed. Could it be replaced by a
teleconference or online event? Could the meeting or event be scaled down so
that fewer people attend.
• Pre-order
sufficient supplies and materials, including tissues and hand sanitizer for all
participants. Have surgical masks available to offer anyone who develops
respiratory symptoms.
• Make
sure all organizers, participants, caterers, and visitors at the event provide
contact details: mobile telephone number, email, and address where they are
staying. State clearly that their details will be shared with local public
health authorities if any participant becomes ill with a suspected infectious
disease. Anyone who does not agree to this condition cannot attend the event or
meeting.
• Develop
and agree a response plan in case someone at the meeting becomes ill with
symptoms of COVID-19 (dry cough, fever, malaise). Identify a room or area where
someone who is feeling unwell or has symptoms can be safely isolated
DURING the
meeting or event
• Provide
information or a briefing, preferably both orally and in writing, on COVID-19
and the measures that organizers are taking to make this event safe for
participants. Build trust. For example, as an icebreaker, practice ways to say
hello without touching.
• Encourage
participants to cover their face with the bend of their elbow or a tissue if
they cough or sneeze. Supply tissues and closed bins for disposal.
• If there
is space, arrange seats so that participants are at least 1 meter apart.
AFTER the
meeting
• Retain
the names and contact details of all participants for at least one month. This
will help public health authorities trace people who may have been exposed to
COVID-19 if one or more participants become ill shortly after the event.
• If they
develop even a mild cough or low-grade fever (i.e. a temperature of 37.3 C or
more) they should stay at home and self-isolate. This means avoiding close
contact (less than 1 meter) with other people, including family members. They
should also call their health care provider or the local public health
department, giving them details of their recent travel and symptoms.
New Workmen/ staff
joining
(i) Induction of new Workers / staff should be avoided as
far as possible. Worker/ staff from hot spot or potential risky areas should
not be inducted at site at all.
(ii) If a new worker is coming to site, his background
should be verified to know any history of illness/disease. Each new worker/
staff should be checked for any COVID19 symptoms by qualified Doctor even if
the information provided by him is satisfactory.
(iii) All the newly inducted person should be kept in a separate
camp and not allowed to mix up with existing workers for 14 days. Separate work
area to be allocated for newly inducted persons for 14 days.
(iv) B riefing should be given to them regarding
precautions and procedure to be adopted before entering the camp/ work site for
the first time.
Gutkha, tobacco, smoke
breaks
The use of
gutkha and tobacco products has been banned. It is also encouraged that
employees get prescription nicotine patches or gums to avoid smoking. Smoking
at public places is anyway a punishable offence and if companies have closed
smoking rooms then these should be closed.
Key Messages & Actions for employee’s
travel
Before
traveling
– Make
sure your organization and its employees have the latest information on areas
where COVID-19 is spreading. You can find this at https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/.
– Based on
the latest information, your organization should assess the benefits and risks
related to upcoming travel plans.
– Avoid
sending employees who may be at higher risk of serious illness (e.g. older
employees and those with medical conditions such as diabetes, heart and lung
disease) to areas where COVID-19 is spreading.
– Make
sure all persons travelling to locations reporting COVID-19 are briefed by a
qualified professional (e.g. staff health services, health care provider or
local public health partner)
– Consider
issuing employees who are about to travel with small bottles of alcohol-based
hand rub. This can facilitate regular hand-washing.
While
traveling:
–
Encourage employees to wash their hands regularly and stay at least 1 m away
from people who are coughing or sneezing.
– Ensure
employees know what to do and whom to contact if they feel ill while traveling.
– Ensure
that your employees comply with instructions from local authorities and any
local restrictions on travel, movement, or large gatherings where they are
travelling.
Return
from traveling:
–
Employees who have returned from an area where COVID-19 is spreading should
monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days and take their temperature twice a
day.
– If they
develop even a mild cough or low-grade fever (i.e. a temperature of 37.3 C or
more) they should stay at home and self-isolate. This means avoiding close
contact (less than 1 m) with other people, including family members. They
should also call their health care provider or the local public health
department, giving them details of their recent travel and symptoms.
Key Messages & Actions for discovering
a positive case
• Factories
have to prepare accommodation to isolate workers, if needed.
• HR has
to help manage the whole process for individual, all travelling employees also
to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine
• Presence
of skilled workers
• Workers
involved in dealing with hazardous material must be skilled and experienced in
the field.
• No
compromise on deployment of such workers should be permitted when an industrial
unit is opened up.
Ref:
https://www.gacs.world
