Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease that has spread around the world and has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths.  The UK and Northern Ireland lockdown legislation was put in place to isolate people from the virus, especially those who may be more vulnerable, in order to reduce the spread.  As we move on to the ‘new normal’ and some of us go back to the workplace it is vitally important that everyone plays their part to eliminate or reduce the risk of an even more devastating second wave of the virus.  Here is a suggested health and safety checklist you might like to follow:

• Have you reviewed all risk assessments to minimise the risks associated with Covid-19?  
• Have you identified all potentially vulnerable employees?
• Do you regularly communicate with your employees (including those furloughed) to provide them with information regarding their jobs, your arrangements for them to return to the workplace and any changes that may affect them in the coming months?
• Have you planned how you will comply with the social distancing guidance in all areas of your premises? For example, production lines, administration areas, canteens, toilets, kitchens, walkways, car parks, entrances etc?
• Have you sourced and procured protective screens in interface areas?
• Have you got special arrangements in place for cleaning the workplace, including welfare facilities? This includes the provision of soaps and sanitisers.
• Have you procured relevant pictogram signage that all of your employees understand, and arranged for them displayed around the work place?
• Have you considered marked walkways with a one-way system to reduce the risk of crowding, including floor markings to ensure the two-metre rule?
• Have you considered reducing the number of personnel on site in order to maintain social distancing?
• Are you planning staggered start and finish times to reduce congestion and contact at all times?
• Can you increase the number of site access and egress points to enable social distancing?
• Have you considered how meetings will be carried out, perhaps by virtual means?
• Have you considered loading and off-loading arrangements on site to enable delivery drivers to maintain social distancing?
• Can two-person manual handling tasks be completed safely at the two-metre distance? If not, mechanical aid for manual handling tasks may be required.
• Do you have a system of monitoring and supervising the new safety measures?
• Have you consulted with the workforce to invite their recommendations as required in health and safety legislation?  This could be through Trade Unions or your Safety Committee.
• Last defence PPE – have you sourced and procured the required PPE and planned how this will be distributed to employees and others?
• Do you have a system of monitoring and supervising the new safety measures?

This is by no means an exhaustive list - you may have many more considerations within your organisation.  However, I hope it is a good place to start.