PPE requirements – returning to work after COVID-19 lockdown

Draft measures for the guidelines on returning to work after the lockdown have been circulated. While these measures provide some information, there are still some questions you may have about PPE requirements for your employees. The COVID-19 lockdown return to work will require some planning. As an employer, you must take all the necessary steps to protect your employees.

Protecting employees returning to work

You may have many employees currently working from home and are now looking at phasing back to normal in the business. The new guidelines are a staged process that will see the lockdown measures ease and allow many companies to try and restart the business.

If you have employees working now or you are starting to bring people back, guideline requirements include:

Maintaining social distancing – this will include moving desks and workstations, marking office space with tape on floors, and restricting lift access

Reduce congestion in offices and workplaces – changing shift patterns and allowing those who can work from home to continue to do so

If social distancing is not possible, PPE should be considered. Extra cleaning measures and separation screens should be used wherever possible.

PPE for employees returning to work

The current guidelines are not specific as to what PPE should be given to returning employees. Each business needs to asses their particular circumstances and complete risk assessments. Following these steps, you will have an idea of the steps you need to take to protect your employees.

Some of the PPE you may need could include:

Masks
Disposable gloves
Visors
Hygienic uniforms

There has been some concern about the availability of PPE during the pandemic. Lindstrom carries a wide range of PPE that can be supplied ready for your employees returning to work. We have launched a new reusable mask service. Clean and hygienic masks are delivered regularly, and used ones are taken away for cleaning. A reusable mask is a more sustainable product, and with our rental service, it is a more cost-efficient PPE solution.

With a uniform rental service, your employees can wear hygienically clean uniforms at the start of each shift and remove these for proper cleaning at the end of each day. Our service includes everything required to provide your workforce with everything they need to stay safe, contact us today for more information.