New safe working guidelines to help businesses manage a safe return to work and reoccupation of their facilities as Covid-19 lockdown measures begin to ease have been published by national standards body BSI. Businesses and employees concerned about safe working practices during the pandemic are also offered a new training course setting out relevant guidance by the British Compressed Air Society.
The BSI guidelines are intended to become a consensus of good practice, with version one of the document now available for immediate use. It provides a framework for business owners, senior leaders, managers and workers to protect employees from the risks related to Covid-19.
The document uses the “plan – do – check – act” approach and recommends measures for workplaces including planning one-way systems in corridors, stairways and other common areas and introducing processes to stagger arrival and departure times to reduce crowding at entry and exit points.
Duty holders should check how effective the safety measures and controls are and act immediately to improve or change measures and controls that are not effective.
BSI is encouraging the business community and members of the public to give feedback on the first version of the guidelines. Working with an advisory group, the standards body will revise the document as frequently as necessary, taking into account the feedback and government guidance as well as the overall level of risk and emerging knowledge.
“Since the government announced gradual easing of the lockdown, business leaders across the country have been taking steps to make sure that their working environment is safe,” said BSI director of standards Scott Steedman. “Now it is imperative that they come together to achieve that goal.”
Version two is intended to be published at the end of June, with revised sections clearly highlighted to assist implementation. “Our role as the national standards body is to bring people together so they can share their expertise and knowledge and agree what is good practice. Together we can help to make the working environment safe for all,” added Mr Steedman.
Meanwhile the British Compressed Air Society is offering a new training course delivered via the group’s new online learning portal, which details government guidance for maintaining a secure workplace.
It covers the key workplace types identified in the guidance, including outdoor work, factories and warehouses, offices, and vehicles and is designed to fulfil the employer’s requirement to provide information and training to its employees.
The course identifies the ways in which Covid-19 is spread and provides practical workplace hygiene rules to help minimise risk. It also offers useful guidance for maintaining safe social distancing when at a workstation, in meetings, when moving around the office or factory floor and when travelling in vehicles.
Businesses and employees interested in taking the course can register online at https://e-learning.bcas.org.uk or contact BCAS directly at training@bcas.org.uk
The BSI’s safe working guidelines are available at www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/topics/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-guidelines/