BUSINESSES have
been struggling to cope with the challenges posed by the COVID -19 crisis
management. We have generated this guide to help organisations and their
employees protect themselves in the process of initiating phased resumption in these
unusual circumstances.
This guide
provides information on
The 4 Es
stated below:
Employers’ roles and duties
Employees’ buy-in and compliance
Essentials of phased resumption
Extra information for positive work results
The principal
policies, laws and regulations on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in
Nigeria include the National Policy on OSH, the ILO Convention No. 155 on OSH
and the working Environment 1994 ratified by Nigeria, Factories Act 1990,
Mineral Oils Safety Regulations 2004, and Employee’s Compensation Act,
2010.
They all prescribe
a general primary duty for employers of labour to ensure the safety, health and
welfare of all workers as far as reasonably practicable. At all times,
including this difficult period of the COVID-19 emergency, all employers are
expected to demonstrate that they comply with these responsibilities.
There are a number
of other specific duties prescribed in the regulations and we will touch on
them below in view of their relevance to the phased resumption of outdoor
workers.
EMPLOYERS’
DUTIES.
The key duties
include:
Managing and conducting all work activities to ensure the safety, health and welfare of employees.
Providing safe systems of work that are planned, organised, maintained and uncrowded.
Assessing risks and implementing appropriate control measures. Providing safe equipment including personal protective equipment required and adequate First Aid facilities.
Providing employees with information, instructions, training and supervision in relation to safety and health.
Displaying prominently at the entrance and the front office COVID-19 Company Compliance Precautionary Directives or Requirements.
Developing COVID-19 Response Plan and updating to deal with any suspected case in the work place. This is to include temporary isolation room and nearest NCDC Contacts.
Managing and conducting all work activities to ensure the safety, health and welfare of employees.
Providing safe systems of work that are planned, organised, maintained and uncrowded.
Assessing risks and implementing appropriate control measures. Providing safe equipment including personal protective equipment required and adequate First Aid facilities.
Providing employees with information, instructions, training and supervision in relation to safety and health.
Displaying prominently at the entrance and the front office COVID-19 Company Compliance Precautionary Directives or Requirements.
Developing COVID-19 Response Plan and updating to deal with any suspected case in the work place. This is to include temporary isolation room and nearest NCDC Contacts.
EMPLOYEES
DUTIES.
All employees are
required to fully comply with all safety and health laws and regulations, as
well as requirements of safe work conditions as stipulated by the employer.
ESSENTIALS
OF PHASED RESUMPTION
Following the
prescription of the National Committee on Disease Control (NCDC) and
Governments’ consultations with the private sector stakeholders, the Nigerian
Employers Consultative Association (NECA) issued advisory information designed
to support employers on general measures to put in place to prevent the spread
of COVID-19 in the work place. The essentials are covered in this Guide. You
may check details in www.neca.org.ng
COVID-19
Compliance Officer
The need to
appoint a COVID-19 Compliance Officer who is well informed to oversee all
matters of health and safety of all employees for work resumption, and during
the office hours should not be overlooked.
Each work group
should also have a COVID -19 Champion to support and reinforce the efforts of
the COVID -19 Compliance Officer.
Health Check
for Returning Employees
Every employee
should complete a Pre-Return to Work Form before resumption. A Sample Form is
at the end of this document.
Mandatory medical
check-up of all workers is to be conducted to identify
workers who are
medically fit for resumption, while appropriate steps should be taken to assist
non-medically fit ones as may be necessary.
Thermal Scanning
is mandatory for all concerned to access the site, including re-entry every
time.
Full
Accountability Record of All Humans on Site
Identify and
properly record details and Contacts of everyone on Site every day.
Ensure strict
restriction of all non-essential visitors to the premises, work site and living
camps.
Social
Distancing Measures
Ensure work space
can allow the 2 -metre separation or take additional risk control measures if
this is not feasible.
Ensure 2 - metre
separation is maintained in welfare facilities (toilets, dressing rooms,
canteens) or take additional risk control measures if this is not feasible.
Adopt shift
arrangement to avoid congestion on site. Consider 50% workers’ rotation on
alternate days and staggered resumption and closing time.
Reduce number of
persons using lifts or hoists. Encourage use of stair case when feasible.
Consider
worker-travel alone, e.g., by bicycle, private car, etc. Avoid public
transport, if possible.
Sit far apart in
vehicles with open windows for ventilation.
Hygiene
Disinfect the work
premises (construction site, camp, canteen, toilets, entry/exit gates etc.)
regularly.
Disinfect all
vehicles, equipment, tools, machinery and materials coming to the site.
•
Provide
facilities for hand washing, sanitizing in the site
•
Limit
plant and equipment use to one person where possible
•
Avoid
sharing of hand tools and equipment. Clean touch points of tools and equipment
before and after use
•
Practice
correct coughing and sneezing etiquette
•
Wash
hands before and after eating and toilet use
•
Dispose
used tissues in hands-free closed up bins/containers
•
Avoid
touching your Mouth, Face, Eyes and Nose
Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE)
On all
construction, engineering and manufacturing sites all regular PPEs required for
work prior to COVID-19 pandemic should be worn during the resumption period.
These may include:
safety helmets,
eye googles, ear muffs, safety boots, hand gloves, coverall, high-visibility
clothing, safety harness, face/nose masks, etc.
In COVID-19 era,
all PPEs should now be completely personal, not to be shared with any other
person.
Take note that
disposable gloves are not a full and final replacement for hand washing. Hands
can be contaminated when gloves are taken off. Face masks should be worn by the
sick and every employee since no one knows who is already infected.
Other
Recommendations
Conduct daily
morning Safety Tool Box (HSE Briefing)
No sharing of
belongings: food, water, bottles, utensils, mobile phone etc. with other.
Click here for a Checklist of your employee’s
awareness of safety & health requirements
For more
information contact our Risk Management Subsidiary, The Industrial Risks
Protection Consultants Limited (IRPC) via email info@irpc.com.ng or call +234 802 225 2906