Health And Safety Policies To Implement At Alert Level 2

Have you been caught up in the level 2 confusion? Are your health and safety procedures good enough to meet the new requirements brought on by Covid-19?

A large portion of the country breathed a sigh of relief when it was announced that we would move into Level 2 of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, there are still restrictions involved with operating at Level 2. It’s as important as ever that businesses operate with all considerations for the health and safety of all staff, contractors or customers.

The obligations of business owners to set robust health and safety policies and procedures will be put under the spotlight in the coming days, weeks and months….. are you prepared?

Here is a brief rundown on Health and Safety in Level 2.

Health and Safety Policies To Implement At Alert Level 2

Policies and Procedures

The new addition to health and safety legislation, arriving in time for level two is that all businesses must formulate a COVID-19 safety plan. A COVID-19 safety plan will outline the steps your business is taking to mitigate the unique risk presented by this invisible threat. Any plan should include information of how you plan to implement the following processes

  • Contact Tracing

  • Hygiene Protocols

  • Physical Distancing

  • Cleaning Protocols

Robust and easy to follow procedures have been the highlight of the first week of level two, seeing some retail and hospitality businesses slowly regain momentum.

Failure to implement these procedures has drawn criticism with individuals being quick to report breaches via police hotline or social media. Who would believe that good health and safety practices would become a marketing tool for business?  

Of course, it is important that you adhere to the regulations set out by the government in your plan. But, don’t stop there. Take this as an opportunity to ensure your workplace is a great place to work during a pandemic or not!

Assessing Your Risk Factor

Assessing the risks your business may be facing will vary from business to business, and may not have been apparent pre – coronavirus.

If workers are sick, for example, will your business still be equipped with the skilled staff needed to operate certain machinery? Should you re-evaluate your cleaning routine? or double down on certain areas such as touch points. Better hand hygiene has become the new normal that should have never been so new. These issues are just a few of the many considerations being put into practice country wide.

Each business should sit down and review their current policies prior to a return to operations, improving any that do not align with the current situation unfolding.

You can find more detailed information on the exact regulations you need to comply with by visiting the Worksafe site.

Communication is Crucial

You also need to make sure your staff are fully aware of the protocols you are putting in place during the various alert levels. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 2015, you are responsible for consulting with and including your staff in any changes to your health & safety practices. 

Also on the subject of communication, in unusual circumstances such as these it is completely normal to have feelings of anxiety, stress and fear and it is important to check in with your staff.

Let them know that you are there to listen – you never know how badly each person has been affected by this pandemic.  Although you need at least 1m of compulsory physical distancing in the workplace, do not let your employees feel this distance mentally and emotionally.  

If you are looking for help and support for how to implement the appropriate Health and Safety procedures in your business at this time, then get in touch with the team here at Core HR.

Drop us a line today.

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Core HRCovid-19, Health and Safety