What does my Employer have to do to Protect me from COVID-19?

Employers have a legal duty to make the workplace safe for all staff. It’s the employer’s responsibility to regularly carry out workplace risk assessments and take steps to reduce COVID-19 risk. Employees also have a responsibility to follow safe working practices.

There is a range of information and advice available for employees on COVID-19. These cover such areas as:

Who can go into the workplace
Self isolation and sick pay
Protecting yourself as a PA at work and protecting your employer and others
Government Guidelines and employer requirements
Getting the vaccine
Access to PPE and testing
Long COVID
Other financial support
Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs)

ACAS has produced a range of information on COVID-19 for employers and employees, which you can find here: https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus

The Scottish Government has also produced guidance for businesses and workplaces on reducing the risk of COVID-19 and supporting staff and customers, which can b3e found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-general-guidance-for-safer-workplaces/

COVID still remains a concern for public health and therefore employers are encouraged to continue with all protective measures identified by their risk assessment, to make appropriate adaptations to workplace practises and to maintain a vigilant approach to managing COVID-19.

Employers are encouraged to continue following the advice in the COVID-19: Fair Work Statement. It states that no worker should be financially penalised by their organisation for following medical advice, and any absence from work relating to COVID-19 should not affect future sick pay entitlement, result in disciplinary action or count towards any future sickness absence related action.

Face coverings when in close contact with people

For close contact treatments provided to the face, mouth or nose area people, must follow any advice given. Individuals who have received COVID-19 vaccinations and booster(s) are still required to follow the rules on face coverings.

Risk assessments

Staff are at the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19 when working in close proximity to the face, nose or mouth of another person. For this reason, risk assessments should be carried out to consider what measures need to be implemented to protect the health and safety of all staff and PA employers, including whether or not to carry out the support required.

Risk assessments and COVID-19

The requirement for every employer to explicitly consider COVID-19 in their risk assessment will be removed on 1 April 2022.
The most important thing is what is actually done to manage and control risk associated with COVID-19 in the workplace.

Public Health Scotland has published guidance on how to carry out risk assessments that sets out further detail on managing workplace public health risks

The Scottish Government are encouraging employers to take the needs of those on the Highest Risk List into consideration when completing a risk assessment.

For those PAs returning to the workplace it is advised that employers carry out an individual risk assessment to look at your individual risk. This can help individuals and employers to discuss any additional changes that may be needed to make the workplace and duties safer.

Employers are encouraged to consult closely with employees on the Highest Risk List

Managing risk in the workplace

Employers can manage risks to their PAs by:

Encouraging staff to wear face coverings in enclosed, busy areas, or places which are less well ventilated
Maximising ventilation and the use of outside space if possible
Reinforcing enhanced cleaning, particularly of frequently touched surfaces, and hygiene measures such as providing alcohol based hand sanitiser
Supporting the distance aware scheme
Encouraging staff to travel safely when going to and from the workplace. PAs should not travel to work or car share if you have symptoms of coronavirus
Vehicle sharing at work involves close contact with other individuals therefore, PAs should wear face coverings, ensure vehicles are well ventilated by opening windows and clean after each journey
Protecting those at highest risk via conducting an individual risk assessment
Continue to support workers to follow self-isolation guidance. From the end of April 2022 anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will be advised to stay at home
Reducing the overall contacts between people
Regularly communicating with employees
Developing plans to adjust shift patterns to protect the workforce
Reducing the need for travel at peak times and providing opportunities for flexible working
Continuing to work with staff on health and safety matters such as providing training around any new processes and protocols introduced
Considering available resources to support the welfare and mental health of staff
Encouraging the uptake of vaccination

Working hours

Employers should be mindful of the issue of overworking and should support staff to set clear boundaries between work and home-life.

Employers should be mindful of the legal requirements for rest breaks:

At least 20 minutes break during each working day lasting longer than 6 hours
The time period between stopping work one day and beginning the next is not less than 11 hours
Have at least one complete day each week when no work is done

Employers should ensure that their staff take their contractual paid leave if they wish – in order to comply with Working Time Regulations paid leave entitlements, and ensure rest and employee wellbeing.

Vaccination

Employers can help encourage vaccine take up by:

Supporting staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine once it is offered to them. This may require paid time off to attend the appointment
Encouraging vaccine take up by sharing the benefits of being vaccinated with staff. It could help to display material from the NHS COVID-19 vaccination marketing toolkit which includes information leaflets in a number of languages

Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs)

SICPs are the basic infection prevention and control measures necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious agent from both recognised and unrecognised sources of infection.

The Scottish Government has set out the SICPs that are to be used by all staff, in all health and care settings, at all times, for all service users, whether infection is known to be present or not to ensure the safety of those being cared for, staff and visitors in the care environment.

As PA employers have the responsibility for health and safety of their staff members, it will be the responsibility of PA employers to assess risk from COVID19 and to put in place appropriate Infection Control Precautions.