Level 3 Lockdown Health and Safety Covid Guide

 

The phrase, “no man is an island”, was penned by 17th -century English author, John Donne. This saying could become the Covid-19 mantra of South African businesses because it expresses the idea that people need people to thrive and to survive. Business owners would be well-advised to take these words to heart because, like the people they employ, employers need people to drive their companies. They also need experts in the occupational health and safety field to help them overcome the many additional obstacles presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 health and safety regulations for Level Three

 COVID-19 health and safety regulations for Level Three are not much different from those that dictated Level Four protocols. Social distancing, hygiene and the use of face masks will continue to be implemented in the working environment when South Africans resume employment at the end of May for the first time since lockdown more than seven weeks ago.

Health and Safety Covid Guide

Level Three marks the return of the majority of the workforce to active employment. This huge influx of people back into the economy will increase the danger of increased cross-contamination. For this reason, employers will have to be extra vigilant about Covid-19 health and safety precautions in the workplace.

Employees will have to wear cloth face masks, maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres from fellow workmates, be subjected to daily screening for symptoms of the coronavirus, and self-isolate at home if becoming ill.

Employers will have to prepare the workplace before the return of the workforce. This entails thorough disinfection of the premises, providing personal hygiene stations with water and soap for handwashing, bottled sanitizers and disposable towels.

They will also have to ensure daily disinfection of all work surfaces and provide workers with Personal Protective Equipment, free of charges, such as facemasks and shields, head and shoe covers, gowns, overalls and aprons, gloves and goggles.

Achieving OHS Act Compliance

The danger of increased levels of Covid-19 infection on Level Three will undoubtedly see a redoubling of efforts by the Department of Labour inspectorate to ensure that work givers comply with risk-free strategies. Failure to comply with OHS Act risk assessment requirements can lead to hefty fines and the closure of a business. Employers also face the threat of being found guilty of committing a criminal offence. These drastic consequences can be averted.

MAKROSAFE Offers a Helping Hand

MAKROSAFE with SafetyWallet is recognised as one of the country’s leading OHS specialists. Over the years it has helped hundreds of clients achieve and retain OHS Act compliance certificates, a must-have in the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of its continued commitment to occupational health and safety in the working environment, MAKROSAFE has developed a Back to Work Covid-19 Prevention Kit. They are giving the kit away, free of charge, to South African business owners.

The kit is a goldmine of information that helps business owners to cope with Covid-19 health and safety demands. Worth a staggering R15,000, the kit can be downloaded and used with impunity with no obligation. Another bonus is that MAKROSAFE and SafetyWallet are offering business owners a one-on-one online free 20-minute consultation to discuss queries, as well as the implementation of an effective plan of action.

 

Contents of the Covid-19 Prevention Kit

Contents of the Covid-19 Prevention Kit

The contents of the prevention kit are updated daily, in keeping with changes to government directives in the field of OHS. The kit includes:

  • Covid-19 Policy
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Policy
  • Testing and screening employees to comply with COVID-19 Policy
  • Working from Home Policy
  • Working from Home Risk Assessment
  • Risk Assessment for travelling between the workplace using public transport
  • Assessing the workplace risks of exposure to infectious diseases
  • Workplace Readiness after Lock
  • Control measures Guidelines
  • E-Learning - managing infectious diseases (Covid-19) in the workplace
  • Induction Booklet
  • Toolbox Talks
  • Awareness Posters
  • Daily Mandatory Checklist

Sectors Returning to Work

Let’s take a look at the sectors that will be returning to the workplace at the end of May.

Manufacturers scaling up to 100% Employment

  • Manufacturers who will be allowed to return to full production are:
  • Paper products
  • Packaging, including plastic and glass bottles and containers
  • Petroleum smelters, refineries and furnaces
  • Clothing, bedding and heaters
  • Automotive industry
  • Cement and construction materials
  • Steel and metal industries
  • Footwear
  • Chemical manufacturers

Industries scaling up to 50% Employment

  • Construction and related services, including tradespeople
  • Civil engineering for public works projects, including water, energy and sanitation
  • Critical public works construction
  • Roads and bridges projects
  • Commercial building projects
  • Critical maintenance and repairs

 

Other Sectors Returning to Work

  • Wholesale and retail trade, including shops, spaza shops, e-Commerce and informal traders
  • Food products, including non-alcoholic beverages and animal food
  • Toilet Paper and sanitary items
  • Hand sanitizers, disinfectants, soap, alcohol for industrial use, household cleaning products and Personal Protective Equipment
  • Baby care products
  • Toiletries and personal hygiene products
  • Medical and hospital supplies, medicine and equipment
  • Fuel, including coal, wood, paraffin and gas
  • Hardware
  • Household appliances
  • Tobacco products
  • Computers, mobile telephones and office equipment
  • Motor vehicles sales
  • Bottle stores subject to restrictions
  • Information and communication services
  • All telecommunication services and infrastructure
  • Information and Communication Technology services for all private and business customers
  • Postal and courier services
  • Media and entertainment services
  • Online services
  • Information and Communication Technology services for private and business customers
  • Financial and business services
  • Call centres for local and international markets, subject to restrictions
  • Commercial real estate
  • Private security services
  • Vehicle, machinery and equipment rentals
  • Take-away meals (no sit-down or pick-up allowed)
  • Transport, storage and communication services
  • Limited domestic air travel
  • Cargo shipments
  • E-hailing services subject to restrictions
  • Essential imported goods will be prioritised through ports of entry and for transport and handling to final users
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Tow trucks and vehicle recovery services
  • Emergency repair work, including plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, glaziers and roof repairs
  • Emergency automobile repairs
  • Essential government and administration services including disaster management, licensing, permits, deeds offices, marriage certificates, birth and death certificates and replacement ID documents
  • Medical and veterinary services
  • Recycling of glass, paper and metal, including informal recyclers
  • Laundry and dry-cleaning services
  • Social workers, counsellors and care-givers
  • Wildlife management and anti-poaching

 


Posted date: 7th Jun 2020
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