Working safely during Covid-19 in Offices & Contact Centres

Working safely during Covid-19 in Offices and Contact Centres

This is the title of the UK government guidance first published on 11^th May 2020 and already on its 21^st revision – HM Gov.Guidance

The key messages have remained the same throughout and there is joint responsibility between individuals and employers to minimise the risk.

• Maintaining social distancing guidelines – courtesy and care for others.
• Following good hygiene practices – hand-washing and sanitising, covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• Using appropriate PPE – particularly face masks and disposable gloves.
• Sanitising hard surfaces regularly, paying particular attention to frequent touch points.
• Self-isolating if symptoms are showing – high temperature, a persistent dry cough, loss of taste and smell.
• Regular communication, refresher talks and training and clear signage stipulating precautions.

Facilities and Building Managers have been hard at work putting measures in place to reduce risk to those returning to office working.

Sickness absence rates for workers prior to the pandemic had fallen over the last ten years within the public and private sectors and stood at 2.7% and 1.8% respectively in 2018.

This suggests working environments and health generally had been improving but are workers after the measures that have been put in place returning to their safest working environment yet?