Return to Business under COVID19: Building Health and Safety capacity
As New Zealand builds towards life beyond ‘Level Four’ and moving through the alert levels, businesses need consider how they will reestablish operations. The ability to operate will be dependent on a business’s capability to take the practical steps required at each alert level. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated in a recent press conference (April 9) that businesses need to be preparing for the different alert levels and treat the eradication of COVID 19 as a Health and Safety issue.
All New Zealand businesses should now be thinking about these requirements and their obligations under Health and Safety even as we move to lower alert levels. The official decision to move from Level Four to Level Three will was made on Monday 20th April and we will move to Level Three at 11.59pm on Monday 27th April. Businesses should make plans as adaptable as possible to negotiate the various alert levels.
Firstly, businesses should consider their capacity to safely operate under each Alert Level and the protocols which will need to be introduced. The protocols need to consider how they can be put into place and also how they will be practically managed and monitored in the business.
Examples may include:
Physical distancing
Contactless delivery
One-in -one out
Staggered staffing to reduce ‘bubble’ size
Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to staff
Secondly, there is a new consideration – contact tracing. It is widely expected that contact tracing will be a control required of all businesses operating under all alert levels when operating any face to face services.
To begin creating a return to business plan, ask the following question: How well placed is your business to resume operations?
Here is what you need to consider.
1) Could your business meet the current requirements (social distancing, limited numbers in store, PPE stocks, contactless/contact minimal payment, cleaning between sales) to operate under Alert Level 4 (even if you are not an ‘essential service’)?
If you can provide these requirements your business is well placed to reestablish operations post “Level Four”. If you are limited in your capacity to deliver on these requirements, it is important to begin the creation of protocols and communicate these with staff prior to return of business. It is important to remember that these protocols will be considered a health and safety requirement and that consultation with staff will be mandatory by law.
2) What is the current online capacity of your business? Can you provide operate only? Can sales be conducted online?
While being in Alert Level Four the world has stayed connected online. Innovation around sales and distribution has been fast moving and may offer a way in which to slowly reestablish cash flow without the requirement of face to face sales.
3) Can your distribution centres operate under mandatory social distancing requirements?
Distribution departments or warehouses will need to operate with staff at least two (2) meters apart. Without team lifting, manual handling becomes an issue that needs to be considered.
Worksafe has recently reaffirmed that PPE is not considered an acceptable control on its own. This means that asking employees to wear face masks while team lifting is not an acceptable control and an alternative lifting plan needs to be considered. If distribution centres require staff to work within close proximity (less than 2 meters), multiple other measures will be required to adequately control the risk of transmission.
4) Does your business have face-to-face sales procedures and practices that meet the social requirements?
During Alert Level Four, essential services such as supermarkets have enforced strict procedures to meet the social requirements. Managing these requirements has become a simple routine for staff and customers.
A customer places their items on the counter and stands back. When it comes time to pay, the cashier steps back and between this sale and the next, the belt and EFTPOS machine and Perspex screen are santisied. Businesses should be prepared to introduce similar processes and procedures for any face to face sales beyond Alert Level Four.
These procedures may differ depending on the service or product but should maintain the basic principles to maintain physical distancing of at least two meters and limit or remove contact.
This is going to be the new “normal” for businesses for the foreseeable future. It is important, as with any health and safety requirement, that it is taken seriously and communicated well within workplaces.
If you would like any assistance or consultation in creating a plan for your business within each of the Alert Levels please do not hesitate to contact us on info@corehr.co.nz for pricing options.