The Importance Of Providing Safety Reassurance Amidst Times Of Uncertainty

Author Kate Thompson, and The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health logo Kate Thompson, Director Wales, The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, discusses the importance of taking employee safety concerns seriously and gives guidance to FM professionals on where to go for the latest advice.

The Covid-19 pandemic has posed many challenges for the Facilities Management (FM) sector and, with the lifting of most restrictions, there is the temptation to think that things will revert to business-as-usual.

This is not the case, however. Employees are now more risk-aware and some may be nervous at the prospect of returning to the workplace, so will be looking to employers to provide assurance about their health, safety and wellbeing while they are on site.

Employees are also more conscious of workplace safety and news reports provide a stark reminder that Covid-19 has not gone away. While restrictions have been lifted, the Government still urges caution and its plethora of new guidance and advice on keeping workplaces safe, especially as there are differences across the UK - can be confusing.

With some workers nervous about the return to the workplace, it is nevertheless important for FM professionals to take their concerns seriously and provide reassurance amidst the uncertainty.



Where To Go For Advice

Busy FM professionals need up-to-date, definitive advice from a reputable source, so the question is – where do they go for it? The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has useful advice for businesses on its website, including on the requirement to undertake a risk assessment to decide what reasonable steps need to be taken to protect workers and others from Covid-19.

There is also useful information on controlling the risks through adequate ventilation, sufficient cleaning and good hand hygiene.

None of these control measures on their own are likely to be sufficient to reduce the risk of Covid-19 spreading, so risk assessments should identify a package of control measures.

Management should consider the risk to groups of workers who are particularly vulnerable and put controls in place to reduce that risk. Consulting staff on health and safety matters, talking to workers and their representatives helps to reduce risk.

Working Safely

Government guidance on working safely provides further information and advice on these measures for a range of different work settings. It includes six priority actions to take to protect staff and customers, including completing a risk assessment and providing adequate ventilation. This can be natural ventilation through opening windows, doors and vents, mechanical ventilation using fans and ducts, or a combination of both.

Facilities managers should identify any poorly ventilated spaces on their premises and take steps to improve fresh air flow in these areas. In some places, a CO2 monitor can help identify if the space is poorly ventilated.

The need to clean more often, turn people away with Covid symptoms and enable people to check in at venues are also highlighted, although there is no longer a legal requirement to collect customer contact details. Doing so however will support NHS Test and Trace to contact those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 so that they can book a test.

Most importantly, facilities management professionals should continue to communicate with staff, contractors and visitors about the risk of exposure to Covid-19 and what they are doing to minimise it, including what actions they need to take. Although this can be done orally, using signage is important as it informs visitors and reminds staff of what they should do.

Finally, training staff in safety, through a reputable provider, is key to ensuring the controls are being effectively implemented in practice and will also help reassure all employees that you and the business take their health, safety and wellbeing seriously.

For the latest safety guidance visit GOV.Wales, GOV.Scot  and NI Direct.

CIEH workplace image of two workers wearing hardhats