As phase 2, namely the resumption of operations, approaches, we want to clarify what measures each company will need to put in place to contain Covid-19 infection contained in the March 14, 2020 Protocol.
First of all, INFORMATION:
The Employer has the obligation to inform all workers of the authorities’ provisions, such as:
- Obligation to abstain from work and stay at home in case of quarantine, fever or flu-like symptoms, having come in contact with a Covid-19 positive or suspected person, coming from or having traveled within the last 14 days to an area at risk according to WHO;
- Obligation to promptly inform one’s supervisor if any of the above conditions arise even after entering the company (e.g. onset of symptoms);
- Obligation to comply with all measures required by the competent authorities and the company in terms of containment of contagion, including isolation measures that will be put in place (within the limits of the dignity of the person), should symptoms arise while in the company.
Studio GSA is available to draft information for workers.
Second, the MAINTENANCE OF SAFETY DISTANCE (at least one meter), which translates into:
- Review processes so that a safe distance is guaranteed, including installing plexiglass dividers where possible;
- Contigent and regulate entrances to common areas (cafeteria, locker rooms, bathrooms, etc.);
- Facilitate smart-working where possible and review office layouts (in enclosed and modestly sized spaces such as offices, it is recommended to maintain a distance of at least 2 meters and it is mandatory to ensure good natural ventilation);
- Regulate the access of outsiders:
- prohibit transporters from entering company premises;
- Obligation to maintain distance even during loading/unloading preparations;
- use of dedicated bathrooms for outsiders;
- obligation to comply with the measures required by the competent authorities and the company in terms of contagion containment;
ENSURE DAILY CLEANING AND PERIODIC SANITIZATION:
- Daily cleaning and periodic sanitization (at least weekly is recommended) of all rooms and work surfaces, such as: floors, workbenches, keyboards, mice, etc;
- At least daily sanitization of the most sensitive surfaces: doorknobs (keep doors open where possible), pushbuttons, vending machines, equipment not for the exclusive use of a worker, steering wheels, levers, etc.; for faster and more effective sanitization, equipment can be wrapped in clingfilm;
- In case a positive case occurs within the company, it is recommended to provide for sanitization of the environment with specialized company;
DISTRIBUTION OF INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION DEVICES:
- Where safe distance cannot be maintained, masks should be distributed:
- surgical if they are distributed to all those who cannot maintain distance;
- FFP2 or FFP3 for healthcare personnel or those in contact with the public (traffic wardens, nurses, etc.);
- In case it is necessary to come in contact with potentially infected surfaces, such as transport documents, mixed-use equipment, etc., disposable latex gloves should be used;
- In the case of contact with a suspected infected person (e.g., with symptoms) or in the case where, due to process necessity, it is necessary to work for long periods (more than 15 minutes) at a distance of less than one meter, it is also necessary to distribute goggles.
COMMITTEE FOR VERIFICATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
- It is necessary to appoint a committee to verify the implementation of the measures provided for in the Protocol of March 14 (downloadable at this link), in which company union representatives (if any) and the RLS must be present.
http://www.governo.it/sites/new.governo.it/files/protocollo_condiviso_20200314.pdf
The verification check list for companies drafted by the ASLs of the Liguria Region can be downloaded at this link, which is a better example to take as a reference.
http://www.asl4.liguria.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Informativa-Imprese-COVID19-DEF.pdf