GUIDE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES

INTRODUCTION

Current international public health activity is aimed at reducing the spread of the currently

circulating novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 infection. This coronavirus is a novel agent

whereby there is no immunity in the world’s population to the infection. The two main methods of

preventing the spread of infection are hygiene measures and social distancing.

 

SUGGESTED CONTROLS

 

  • Consider whether task needs to go head if not stop the job
  • Limit task to small groups preferable two workers and short times
  • Keep the same groups of workers together don’t interchange
  • Ensure policy that workers with symptoms stay home is managed effectively
  • Ensure PPE is worn throughout the task, select appropriate PPE for:
  • RPE or masks, Nitrile gloves, glasses, disposable overall
  • Arrange face fitting where needed and training in donning and doffing
  • Supply washing facilities and/or sanitiser
  • All cuts on the skin to be covered
  • Contact points of equipment shall be cleaned down regularly
  • Supply full method statement for each task and pre-start checklist
  • Have in place a procedure which allows workers to stop work if issues arise

 

ELIMINATION

Inoculation when available, or immunity could be a way of eliminating harm from COVID 19. However, it is not clear whether either would offer lifetime immunity. Some viruses are known to only accommodate several years’ immunity, and most viruses can mutate.

Isolating people completely against exposure is a way in which harm from the virus is eliminated.

 

 

Examples of this are shielding where people are being advised to stay home for 12 weeks, and working from home. Both prevent becoming infected and infecting others, and care must be taken to ensure a safe working environment and assess mental health issues.

Social distancing is an age old control, in the case of this particular virus which is transmitted in droplets which fall to the ground after a metre, maintaining a distance of 2 metres apart will eliminate becoming infected through this transmission route.

This control needs to be implemented stringently in order to be effective, together with good hygiene practices, both personal and in the workplace. See appendix 1 for hygiene controls.

 

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

PPE is acknowledged as being at the bottom of the hierarchy due to its inherent limitations. In addition, current advice from all health authorities is that PPE should only be used in a health care setting and within a narrow group of sectors, this may change and is a fluid situation.

Please refer to the Government PPE guidance hub – https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-ppe to keep updated.

Note there are gender differences connected to all PPE; this needs to be taken into account when selecting appropriate PPE.

 

RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT RPE

HSE guidance document HSG53 states ‘when in an airborne state, micro-organisms can be classed as particles, so can usually be removed by filter-type Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE).

You Should always use equipment fitted with the highest efficiency filter possible (protection factor of at least 20) to control exposure down to the lowest levels.’ Therefore HSE recommends the use of an FFP3 for use against viruses.

HSE RPE guide: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg53.htm HSE advise that whilst FFP3 is the usual recommended control measure, if global supplies of FFP3 masks are low during this pandemic.

In this scenario, an FFP2 could be used as an alternative, as this is consistent with WHO guidance.

See here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/assets/docs/facemask-equivalence-aprons-gown-eye-protection.pdf