We have been receiving a lot of enquiries on implementing the correct requirements for protecting your employees while they are working during the lockdown.
- Education
By now you should have put up the posters that are available to inform employees.
There are many options for you to use from the Department of Health resources
http://www.health.gov.za/index.php/component/phocadownload/category/609-food-safety-advice-during-outbreak
- Educate more
There are many myths circulating that are factually incorrect. The WHO has created a set of myth-busting posters to address these issues that abound on social media.
You should share these with employees to keep them safe.
http://www.nicd.ac.za/?s=myth
- Handwashing retraining
Now would be a good time to ensure that hand hygiene standards are up to scratch. Although there have been repeated articles about the fact that there is no evidence to suggest that food can transmit the virus, we do know that food can transmit other hand borne pathogens.
These videos can help you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PmVJQUCm4E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGQpJafaWj0
Why not make your own video with your staff? Why not give a prize for the best song they create for handwashing? These are great ways to build a strong food safety culture.
This handwashing training should apply to all staff including truck drivers and warehouse staff – this is no longer just a food safety issue – this is about their health.
- Social distancing
If space allows for further separation to meet the recommended requirements of 1m. Also ensure staff have the correct PPE. Please avoid the use of single-use gloves – unless you are going to use them properly. Face masks are also not recommended unless you use them this way
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
- Increase your surface cleaning
This is a practice we should have in place as part of proper cleaning programs but now this is also for employee protection. Ensure you are using the products are registered with the NRCS. Use them strictly according to the dilution rates and temperature requirements.
This article was issued earlier this year https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(20)30046-3/fulltext The authors concluded that “endemic human coronaviruses (HCoV) can persist on inanimate surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for up to 9 days, but can be efficiently inactivated by surface disinfection procedures with 62-71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite within 1 minute. Other biocidal agents such as 0.05-0.2% benzalkonium chloride or 0.02% chlorhexidine digluconate are less effective”
This is concerning and means we should be cleaning and sanitising VERY regularly. Make sure you educate your staff as this practice should be also be taken home.
“Make sure you are sanitising the sanitiser bottle too!!!”
- Personal protective clothing
There is a lot of debate about whether or not to wear masks and gloves. The short answer – NO.
With a world wide shortage of these items, let us save them for the people who REALLY need them – health care workers.
According to the WHO, this is why NO is the right answer.
The Department of Labour have also issued some guidance for employers to further assist you.
http://www.labour.gov.za/DocumentCenter/Publications/Occupational%20Health%20and%20Safety/COVID-19%20Guideline%20Mar2020.pdf
References
