In the framework of the return to face-to-face activity and in response to all the concerns that this brings for both companies and their employees, this virtual meeting was held in which concerns, opinions and recommendations were exchanged on the subject, in order to ensure the best conditions for our employees during the health emergency.
Dr. Fernando Vargas of Vargas Abogados and Dr. Andrés Álvarez of Medicina Personalizada were in charge, from a legal and medical perspective, of clarifying existing doubts and presenting some recommendations based on their experience and on the health protocol agreed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security for Group 19 "Professional, technical, specialized services and those not included in other groups", as well as Resolution No. 54/020 of the National Council of Health and Social Security at Work (CONASSAT).
There is no doubt that the return to face-to-face activity brings a new scenario and challenge. As companies, this entails the implementation of some changes with respect to the operation we had been having until March 13, 2020, prior to the health emergency. In order to continue with this collective construction, we share the concepts highlighted during the webinar, as well as the experts' answers to a series of questions:
- Social awareness:
It is the responsibility of each of us to take care of ourselves and our peers, both at work and outside of work. In the work environment, the responsibility for the care and prevention of contagion should not fall exclusively on the employer. It is foreseen that the employer should provide hygiene elements and infection prevention measures to be implemented during the on-site activity, but he/she cannot supervise the behaviour of each individual or the correct use of the materials and compliance with the prevention measures.
- Inform workers:
It is suggested to inform workers about safety protocols, sanitary aspects and measures for the prevention of contagion, as well as the use of safety materials (masks, screen protectors, gloves, alcohol gel, hygiene of personal items, etc.).
- Company protocols:
Protocols should be posted in a visible manner for both staff and potential visitors. It is also suggested that staff be notified of the protocol and acknowledge their knowledge.
- Work spaces and lunches:
In the lunch areas, the established social distance should be maintained, so it is suggested to consider measures such as: implementing rotating schedules, delimiting lunch areas to maintain social distance between one person and another, setting up separate lunch areas in the offices (as long as the company's activity allows it). If it is not feasible to implement these measures, the company should devise other mechanisms to ensure compliance with the established distance and prevent contagion.
- Circulation spaces:
It is recommended to mark the circulation spaces to order the traffic inside the companies.
- Equipment and work materials:
A good practice is to provide work material for individual use, which will contribute to preventing contagion: e.g., telephone headbands, pens, fixed telephones, PCs with their corresponding peripherals, notebooks, glasses, cutlery, plates, etc. These materials should be sanitized before and after use, for which it is recommended that they be cleaned with 70% alcohol.
- Intra-company virtual meetings:
It is encouraged to promote virtual meetings or telephone contacts, even within the workspaces, thus reducing traffic within the company and the rapprochement between people.
- Transfers by bus:
People who travel by bus are more exposed to contagion so it would be a good practice to implement measures to avoid this type of exposure. Some measures mentioned were: promoting transport chains among workers, renting vans, transfer in Uber or Taxi, continue with telework.
If you have any questions please send it to info@cuti.org.uy
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