3 pitfalls to consider now you’re Covid-19 secure
On the 15th June 2020 we witnessed more business premises opening and displaying their Covid-19 secure certificates.
Confirming that they have complied with the government’s guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19 and the FIVE STEPS TO SAFER WORKING TOGETHER which are:
- We have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and shared the results with the people who work here
- We have cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures in line with guidance
- We have taken all reasonable steps to help people work from home
- We have taken all reasonable steps to maintain a 2m distance in the workplace
- Where people cannot be 2m apart, we have done everything practical to manage transmission risk
This is great news for business however as a professional safety company we’d like to highlight just 3 areas that you really need to consider right now.
Increased Risk Area 1 –- FIRE
You now have an increased Fire Risk across your facilities, you will now have new ways of working, have you revisited your fire risk assessment?
Some organisations are stockpiling Hand Sanitiser and with the alcohol content 60% and above it is extremely flammable. You may have the potential for one hell of o fire right in front of you!
You need to review your Fire Risk Assessment at once to manage the risk that you have introduced into your workplace. The Fire Risk Assessment will help you maintain a safe workplace and satisfy your legal obligations with the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order.
You will also need to revisit training to ensure that you have enough fire wardens and ensure all employees have fire awareness training and the knowledge required to deal with a fire that’s propellent is an alcohol based sanitiser.
Increased Risk Area 2 – COSHH
Have you carried out a COSHH Risk Assessment for the hand sanitiser that you are using and do you have the material safety data sheet available?
Have the findings from the above been communicated to your employees?
Have you considered occupational health monitoring for employees using sanitiser?
Increased Risk Area 3 – First Aid and Emergency Assistance
The primary responsibility is to preserve life and first aid should be administered if required and until the emergency services attend.
When planning site activities, the provision of adequate first aid resources must be agreed between the relevant parties on site.
Emergency plans including contact details should be kept up to date.
Your first aid procedures should already include consideration of the risk of infection. However, there may be some changes which you need to make. Review your first aid procedures, particularly regarding control of infection and the generation of aerosols during CPR.
There may also be potential delays in emergency services response so this will need to be considered and you may want to review the numbers of first aiders and the health status of them.
Do you now require additional competent first aid or trauma resources such as a Defibrillator for your premises?
Essential 6 provide organisations with expert safety advice and outstanding training from a dedicated team of competent professionals covering the UK. Want to know more then call us on 0845 272 3558 or email info@essential6.co.uk
