The
Next Normal . . .
(Questions,
Questions Questions related to workplace Health & safety during the
COVID-19 Pandemic)
People
Purpose
Process
Profit
The above represents a foundation for every
business.
People make
it possible to have a business. They represent all sides of your equation as
they are consumers, contributors or constituents within your business. What
would your business be without People?
Ultimately, your business is looking to get
back to its Purpose (what your business is set out to do) and engaging
your internal Process(es) to get the work, product services etc. done. Profit
is a result of managing the financial components so that at the end of the
day, there is a surplus that can be reinvested, saved, shared or otherwise
allocated to the likely “why” that put the business into place, in the first
place!
With our current pandemic and the fact that
many businesses are getting back to some level of the “Next Normal” the people
side is evident with respect to ensuring their protection. This brief will
focus in on the internal People of your business.
“Your workplace priorities are essential
for Everyone’s Protection!”
There are a number of questions that will
assist you in working towards doing what is right!
What are your workplace safety risks? There are likely many responses to this question, and it is vital
that you have a handle on being able to clearly state your Health & Safety
risks. As part of your response to answering this question, also state your
reasons the particular risk is identified
As part of the Employer’s obligations in
Health & Safety, meeting legal requirements must rank highly and remember,
there are multiple sources of applicable legislation that would apply. As an
Employer you are expected to know what legislative requirements apply and that
the associated legalities (as a minimum) are met.
Ensuring functional applicability to the
legislative needs – how can I make this work for my people & business – is
also an important factor.
Your employees / workers make your business
tick. Worker confidence in leadership’s ability to manage Health & Safety
as well as all other requirements of your successful business is vital.
Include Mental Wellness factors – Direct
& Indirect Impact. The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely impacted most
people from a psychological perspective. That too has a lingering and present
day impact on their psyche. Be aware that also has an impact on respective
performance and concentration. That forms part of aspects of risk that must
also be considered.
“Common Areas” Usage and maintaining Social
Distancing is likely aspects to which your workplace will have to deal.
As an overall consideration, here is
another question that needs attention; What factors affect transmission
of this virus?
Among some of the responses to this
question, considerations of the above points may also come into play. Here are
just a small portion of responses that may apply and can be studied:
·
Workplace access and potential
contact with workplace parties. - Distancing
·
Co-mingling during entry &
exit - Distancing
·
Meetings. Lunch, washroom, Coffee
etc. - Distancing
·
Common areas – reception,
shipping/receiving sales counters, lunchrooms, washrooms etc.
·
General workplace personnel
movement/circulation – Distancing
·
Traditional office environment
·
Maintenance activities
including custodial / janitorial activity
·
Information sharing/education –
meetings, gatherings
From this foregoing question and responses,
the next big question may likely be; What can be done to manage these
factors?
As you can imagine, responses would be
numerous and have to take into consideration all the factors you would have
provided to all the previous questions. Among the responses to the points
raised, the “How” questions you raise and respond to will start to provide
assistance on the right direction that your workplace will take to ensure the
Health & Safety of all concerned.
Identify “How” to manage these.
Ultimately, Workplace Worker and Supervisor
Education / Information Sharing will have to follow.
Workplace Rules, Guidelines, Policy, Safety
Talks, PPE, etc. will need to be addressed and the following is a sample list
of considerations:
•
Worker anxiety / trust /
concerns (On and off-the-job)
•
Passive or active screening to
access the workplace
•
Staggering start times, breaks,
lunches to assist in physical distancing
•
Changing meeting/lunchrooms to
enable physical distancing
•
Evaluate front and service
counters, how will this impact AODA accessibility issues.
•
People flow through the
workplace, barriers, signage
•
Disinfection of Touch Points
(CCOHS) - https://www.ccohs.ca/images/products/pandemiccovid19/pdf/std-op-proc-disinfection.pdf
•
Evaluate office set up to have
barriers or 2-meter (6 foot) distancing.
•
Regular cleaning plan vs. a
confirmed Covid contamination
•
Washroom logistics
•
Signage, and issues with people
not “seeing” signage
•
Ergonomics for those working at
home
•
Overall effectiveness of all
controls
•
Training – how do we do with
physical distancing smaller classes and online potential.
•
Coaching, follow up
•
Anticipate Questions /
Complaints / Refusals – Work with your Leadership Team to be Prepared to
Respond / Take Action
•
“…Take every precaution
reasonable under the circumstances…” – Ontario Occupational Health & Safety
Act
•
Ensuring at least minimum
legislative requirements are met.
•
Your Workplace Rules are
Enforceable by Legislation
You are not alone and there is support available to you.
The last question you can ask yourself; Where can you find information
to help you manage your risks?
Here is a list of resources that are
available with reliable information*:
·
Ontario.ca
·
Ontario MOL
https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/
·
WSIB –
https://www.wsib.on.ca
·
Local Health Unit -
https://www.swpublichealth.ca/WorkplacesCOVID19
·
Workplace-specific H&S
Association for Ontario Workplaces
o
Infrastructure Health &
Safety Association (IHSA)
o
Public Sector Health &
Safety Association (PSHSA)
o
Workplace Safety North (WSN)
o
Workplace Safety &
Prevention Services (WSPS)
·
Related Industry
Associations
·
Outsourced professional
services
* The above are mainly related to
Ontario-based workplaces. There are respective links for every Canadian
Province and Territory – Please contact your respective authority for your
jurisdiction.
Getting it together . . .
answering and addressing all the previous
questions and answers should contribute to assisting your workplace to be able
to properly address the following main points:
o
Health
& Safety Factors
o
Planning
& Communication
o
Training
& Monitoring
o
Dealing
with Potential & Actual Covid Cases
o
Screening
o
Cleaning,
Disinfection, Sanitization & PPE
o
Workplace
Layout
o
Distancing
in Production Areas
o
Distancing
in Common Areas
o
Additional
Business Factors
o
Operation
Plan (includes H&S)
o
Financial
Plan
o
All H&S
Plans
o
Execute,
Monitor & Refine
o
Conduct
Daily & Weekly Reviews
o
Continuous
Improvement
o
Review,
Revise & Repeat
At the end of the day, evaluating the
effectiveness of your efforts to address the requirements will allow you to
adjust, fine tune the requirements and lead you to be successful in your
business and taking care of your people. The resulting outcome is closely tied
to making your clients see you as a business that has “it all together” and
doing “the right things for the right reasons” ultimately, for the benefit of
all.
Meeting legislative requirements, is good
for business, in oh so many ways!
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Wouldn't it be a good idea to create a course?
