C-19 Safety Systems

Our Covid-19 Safety Systems include:

C-19 Return-to-Work Checklist
C-19 Business Response Plan
C-19 Safety Statement & Risk Assessments
C-19 Workplace Site Inspection

Covid-19 Employers Checklist for the Workplace

A detailed Employers Getting Back to Work Checklist has been developed by Corribview Safety Services Ltd. to assist employers in planning for getting back to work.

The checklist is generally applicable across all industries sectors and it is not designed to prohibit the introduction of further specific measures in particular sectors or workplaces. The checklist has been developed using the Return to Work Safely Protocol and the protocol should be read in conjunction with the checklist. A checklist will be forwarded to your company prior to the workplace opening up and this should be completed by the Employer as the first step in getting back to work. The actions identified in this checklist will serve as the basis for forming the Covid-19 Workplace Programme that each particular workplace will need to introduce.

Covid-19 Business Response Plan

As per the Return to Work Safely Protocol all employers must develop and update a Business Covid-19 Response Plan.

The Covid-19 Response Plan must include:

dealing with a suspected case or confirmed case of COVID-19,
include contingency measures and include control measures.
must be specific regarding the immediate steps that are to be taken during a disruption;
be flexible to respond to the changing internal and external conditions of a disruption;
focus on the impact of incidents that potentially lead to disruption;
be effective in minimising the impact through the implementation of appropriate solutions and
assign roles and responsibilities for tasks within them.

The Covid-19 Business Response Plan must be specific regarding the immediate steps that are to be taken during a disruption; be flexible to respond to the changing internal and external conditions of a disruption; focus on the impact of incidents that potentially lead to disruption; be effective in minimising the impact through the implementation of appropriate solutions and assign roles and responsibilities for tasks within them. Employers should therefore keep up to date with the latest measures introduced by Government and any advice issued as a result.

Compliance is to be monitored by the HSA using their existing powers under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts, which include inspection powers and the power to issue Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices requiring the cessation of work activities in cases of serious non-compliance. The usual penalties for breaches of health and safety obligations (which include criminal sanctions for employers and senior management as well as fines of up to €3 million) will also apply.

Employers should therefore keep up to date with the latest measures introduced by Government and any advice issued as a result. Corribview Safety Services Ltd. based on the initial checklist and consultation with management from the workplace will assist with the development, update and implementation of the Covid-19 Business Response Plan ensuring full compliance with government and public health advice in consultation with the employer.

Safety Statement and Risk Assessments

As per the Return to Work Safely Protocol all employers must update their occupational health and safety risk assessments and safety statement.

Employers must address the level of risk associated with their workplace and work activities in the Covid-19 Response Plan and the occupational health and safety risk assessments. The employer must take into account workers individual risk factors when preparing and updating occupational health and safety risk assessments. Corribview Safety Services Ltd. as part of the workplace programme and with consultation and collaboration with workers and management in the workplace will advise on the review and update of all health and safety documentation ensuring compliance with government and public health advice. The company Safety Statement will be updated in line with current legislation.

Covid-19 Workplace Site Inspection

A detailed Site Inspection will be conducted prior to reopening of the workplace. This workplace inspection will be conducted electronically onsite by one of our qualified Health and Safety Officers.

The following areas will be reviewed in your workplace ensuring compliance with the Return to Work Safely Protocol and ensuring all actions identified in the original workplace checklist are addressed.

A specific and designated isolation area must be identified in each workplace or location should there be a Suspected and/or Confirmed case of Covid-19 in the workplace. Staff must be briefed on the location of this area. This will need to be reviewed in your particular workplace and also where workers or members of the public are moving between sites/buildings/areas.
Hand Hygiene: Hand hygiene facilities in the workplace will be reviewed to ensure that appropriate hygiene facilities are in place to accommodate workers adhering to hand hygiene measures; Training on hygiene measures including hand washing to be implemented through online training platforms. Advise on the putting up of appropriate signage in the workplace and communicating HSE recommendations will be given to employer and the employees.
Respiratory Hygiene: Respiratory hygiene measures onsite will be reviewed to ensure employers are providing tissues as well as bin bags for their disposal; to ensure bins are being emptied at regular intervals in line with public health advice and to provide advice/training on good respiratory practice. Advise will also be issued on the putting up of appropriate signage in the workplace and communicating HSE recommendations to employer and employees
Physical Distancing: All social or physical distancing measures onsite will be reviewed to ensure strict compliance with government and public health advice. This could include the introduction of physical distancing measures appropriate to the business eg signage, 2m distance, screens/barriers, queue management system, card payments, allocating times for collections, staggering use of canteen facilities (incl. removing table and chairs), ceasing self service activities and providing pre wrapped food only, reducing office density, use of technology for virtual meetings/trainings, limiting meetings, shift handover arrangements, altering shift patterns, isolating individual buildings. Implement a no hand shaking policy; Prevent gatherings of workers in the workplace at the beginning and end of working hours; Implement physical distancing during any outdoor work activity; Review procedures for workers sharing collective accommodation, if applicable.
Restriction of visitors to site: Procedures will be reviewed to ensure appropriate controls are in place for controlled access to the workplace including adherence to sanitisation processes and full contact details for all visitors/guests/contractors. Visitors will need to complete visitor/contractor questionnaire.
Contact logging: All organisations, and where possible individuals, should keep a contact log for which the objective should be zero instances of “direct contact” for each day spent in the workplace. This may be through the use of sign in sheets, clocking systems, visitor logbooks, delivery personnel details, third party service provider visitor information. This information should be stored securely, maintained centrally and readily available upon request. Such information may be requested by the authorities to assist with contact tracing. Information will be provided to the Employer as part of the Site Inspection on contact logging.
Human Resource Management: Information will be provided to the employer as part of the Site Inspection on updating companies policies and procedures in relation to HR, such as flexible working hours, deferring non-essential travel, identify what is essential travel, employees with symptoms shall be instructed to self-isolate for 14 days, all suspected and confirmed cases treated confidentially, employees returning to work require health clearance, exercise readiness to implement public health response measures including contact tracing and physical distancing, review health insurance policies for workers, absence and sick leave policies, force majeure etc. Employees must be advised to report issues to management (including any symptoms developed); All employees must be aware of COVID-19 plan; The employer must develop and update cleaning procedures and waste disposal procedures Where applicable the Employer must review Driving for Work policies, ensure the number of workers wo share vehicles is kept to a minimum. Encouraged to travel alone. Provided with hand sanitisers and cleaning equipment for work vehicle. Where applicable, advice will be given to the Employer on working from Home Policy. Vulnerable workers should be permitted to work from home where possible.
Prevention of Cross Contamination: All infection prevention and control measures in relation to cross contamination of biological agents will be reviewed as part of the site inspection. This will include but will not be limited to site entry and workplace entry points, cleaning of common surfaces, reducing personnel in the workplace, delivery requirements, contractors requirements, one way systems, sanitising of tolls and equipment, driver requirements of site vehicles and plant, returning to work and cleaning of spaces, disinfection requirements, laundry and waste management requirements
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Requirements in relation to PPE will be reviewed onsite and advise issued to workers and managers on requirements for proper use, cleaning, storage and disposal of any PPE required in the workplace.