{"id":84145,"date":"2020-09-21T08:24:04","date_gmt":"2020-09-21T08:24:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/?p=84145"},"modified":"2020-11-20T13:20:10","modified_gmt":"2020-11-20T13:20:10","slug":"5-steps-for-a-safe-return-to-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/2020\/09\/21\/5-steps-for-a-safe-return-to-work\/","title":{"rendered":"5 steps for a safe return to work"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; font_family=&#8221;font-134980&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;800&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221; subheading=&#8221;Philip Shepherd<br \/>\n21st September 2020&#8243;][\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]With many workplaces starting to welcome employees back after lockdown, the government has outlined five steps to ensure a safe return to work.<\/p>\n<p>You must follow these five steps to ensure that you are providing as safe an environment as possible for your employees, customers and visitors to your site.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;70&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_reduced=&#8221;yes&#8221; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>#1: COVID-19 risk assessment<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]As an employer, you are required by law to protect your employees from harm. It\u2019s therefore essential that you undertake a COVID-19 risk assessment in line with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hse.gov.uk\/simple-health-safety\/risk\/index.htm\">HSE guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the minimum you must do is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify hazards that could cause injury or illness in your business<\/li>\n<li>Determine how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously<\/li>\n<li>Take action to eliminate the hazard or mitigate the risk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Risk assessments are essential in places of work, but the situation must now be reassessed with COVID-19 in mind so that adequate steps can be taken to prevent illness. You should also share the results with your workforce and make them available on your website.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-wayh&#8221; back_image=&#8221;84178&#8243; back_position=&#8221;center top&#8221; parallax=&#8221;yes&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; font_family=&#8221;font-134980&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;800&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>#2: Stringent hygiene procedures<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]Strict hygiene policies are essential to curb the spread of the virus. All workplaces should increase their cleaning procedures to minimise the risk of transmission.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Increase the frequency of workplace cleaning, especially in busy areas<\/li>\n<li>Provide hand sanitiser, particularly around touchpoints such as door handles<\/li>\n<li>Encourage people to follow the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/live-well\/healthy-body\/best-way-to-wash-your-hands\/\">NHS guidance on hand washing<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Regularly disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched frequently<\/li>\n<li>Hire professionals for deep cleaning and sanitisation where necessary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; font_family=&#8221;font-134980&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;800&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>#3: Support home working<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]Working from home remains the safest option for employees. Where possible, you should take all reasonable steps to support this.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensure that you have a robust home working procedure in place<\/li>\n<li>Educate managers and team leaders about home working<\/li>\n<li>Allow for open discussion about flexible working, including reduced hours<\/li>\n<li>Remain compassionate and reasonable when employees request flexible working<\/li>\n<li>Communicate regularly with home workers to ensure that they are included<\/li>\n<li>Support the physical and mental wellbeing of your staff through regular check-ins and offering paid sick leave<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;70&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_reduced=&#8221;yes&#8221; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>#4: Maintain social distancing<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]Wherever practical, social distancing guidelines should be adhered to. This means helping employees, customers and visitors to stay 2m away from each other as much as possible.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Display posters reminding people to keep a 2m distance<\/li>\n<li>Implement a one-way system for foot traffic<\/li>\n<li>Use tape or decals to mark out safe distances for waiting areas and queues<\/li>\n<li>Implement a rota system or occupancy limit to prevent overcrowding<\/li>\n<li>Avoid hotdesking and sharing workstations<\/li>\n<li>Switch to an appointment-only system for visitors and opt for phone or video communication instead of in-person meetings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-wayh&#8221; back_image=&#8221;84179&#8243; back_position=&#8221;center top&#8221; parallax=&#8221;yes&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; font_family=&#8221;font-134980&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;800&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>#5: Manage the risk of transmission<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]Where people are unable to stay 2m apart, you should do as much as practically possible to mitigate the transmission risk.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use screens and barriers to separate people where distance cannot be maintained<\/li>\n<li>Opt for back-to-back or side-by-side working in favour of positioning employees facing each other<\/li>\n<li>Implement staggered arrival and departure times for employees and customers<\/li>\n<li>Work with fixed teams or partners to minimise the number of people each person is in contact with<\/li>\n<li>Assess which activities are business critical and which can be cancelled or postponed<\/li>\n<li>Where face-to-face activities are unavoidable, ensure that time spent on them is kept to a minimum and avoid physical contact such as hand shaking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; font_family=&#8221;font-134980&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;800&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Supporting your workforce through recruitment<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]Opilio offers expert\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/opiliorecruitment.co.uk\/hiring\/\">digital marketing recruitment<\/a>\u00a0to support your business, helping you to get back on your feet with the right people on board.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last year I wrote about why booking too far in advance can be dangerous for your business, and this concept of margin so eloquently captures what I had recognized had been my problem: I was so booked up with clients that I wasn\u2019t leaving any margin for error, growth, planning, or reflection.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":84176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84145"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84145"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84177,"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84145\/revisions\/84177"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olim.dwhdev.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}