Returning to Work: Practical Steps

Here are some initial practical steps employers can take at each Alert Level change:

Communicate with workers and identify whether any are:

• • in the ‘at risk’ category
  • required to self-isolate
  • unwell with covid-19 symptoms
  • are restricted in their work due to childcare arrangements
  • unable to work for any other COVID-19 related reason
• Determine which jobs can be carried out from home and which workers will need to come onto your premises to work
• Check industry guidance on safe work, the Ministry of Health website and covid19.govt.nz
• Strongly encourage your workers to get vaccinated – give them time during work hours to get vaccinated if you wish
• Ensure workers know what to do if they feel sick or have any of the signs of COVID
• Identify and purchase required PPE
• Make a hygiene plan including a cleaning and sanitising schedule
• Consider if and what daily health checks will be performed
• Check your skills and experience with the returning workforce are adequate
• Prepare any health and safety training required e.g. wearing/disposal of PPE, cleaning, return to work refreshers on high risk tasks
• Decide how you will communicate instructions and processes to workers
• Consider methods for worker travel that maintain physical distance (1 metre in workplace, 2 metres outside the workplace).
• Maintain a contact tracing register
• Consider how separation will occur, for example, dividing the workplace into zones, staggering shifts and breaks, putting up barriers
• Consider business continuity if any self-isolation is required due to COVID contact
• Conduct pre-work workplace checks e.g, air quality checks, equipment servicing
• Designate responsibilities for monitoring these measures, for example:
  • managing stock of PPE and hygiene goods
  • maintaining the contract tracing register
  • auditing of the cleaning schedule
  • keeping up to date with changes and industry recommendations
• Assess and implement additional health and safety controls needed