Once you’ve created a health and safety plan defining health and safety protocols to protect your employees, you need to ensure workers comply with the new measures. To reduce the risks presented by COVID-19, your employees must understand all of the new measures you are putting in place and how their work will be affected. Creating a plan to explain the new protective measures and provide training is critical.

Some considerations for building your compliance program are listed below:

general best practices.

  • Clear all your protocols with guidelines from local authorities.
  • Establish COVID-19 Ambassadors for each of your work sites. These employees will monitor compliance and support their colleagues in following COVID-19 protocols.
  • Maintain a list of workers who are on-site and update it daily. If someone tests positive for COVID-19, it will be easier to identify who was on site and eliminate risk of additional workers being exposed.
  • Avoid unnecessary outings and business travel to minimise exposure.

providing personal protective equipment.

  • Wearing a mask is highly recommended but not mandatory.
  • Employees whose work requires them to work in close proximity with others should be given priority for protective equipment.

checking employee health.

  • Complete online self-assessment questionnaire before starting workday. This is a good non-invasive way to minimise the spread of the virus.
  • Measure body temperature at building entry.
  • Conduct random visual and temperature checks during workday.
  • Perform random checks in all departments to make sure they respect the measures.

if an employee shows symptoms of COVID-19.

  • Establish policies to send employees home.
  • Clearly reiterate your sick leave policy to all employees.
  • Report cases of COVID-19 to relevant health authorities.

communicating positive COVID-19 cases to employees.

  • Establish a communication plan for how and when to communicate positive cases of COVID-19 with your employees.
  • Prepare a plan for what you’ll do in the event an entire department or group of workers is affected.
  • Determine your back to work protocol for employees who have previously tested positive for COVID-19.

important note.

Randstad prepared these resources to share best practices to get back to work safely. The information in this document is intended as a guideline only. Please do additional research and consult with experts before making decisions for your business.