PwC notes that Covid-19 will bring about a fundamental shift in the business world and that companies will need to adopt newer ways of working to create safe and hygienic work environments for employees. It stated that some of these measures would include safety management procedures, mapping risks related to transport hotspots and gateways, and the usage and disposal of PPE kits, among others.
With employees predicted to return to the worksite fulltime in Q1 2021, MECN speaks to UAE-based property solutions provider Khidmah’s executive director, Maher Al Aghbar, on ways to increase workplace safety.
Provide periodical training
Employees working in FM companies often tend to be more prone to unsafe situations depending on their allocated external and internal working conditions. This could be seen as undertaking high-risk tasks, and underscores the importance of providing staff with all the tools and awareness training to not only succeed but more importantly, to stay safe. Adopting and adhering to stringent health and safety protocols, including safe staff training, are critical. Employees should be provided with periodical training on the safe operation and maintenance of the working environment, types of machinery, and systems. Every employee would be required to undertake mandatory induction when they join, and the training and development needs of the organisation should also be revisited and assessed frequently.
Optimise work environments
Occupational health and safety of your people should be at the heart of the firm and underpin any task you engage in. Employees have the right to work in suitable environments that prioritises their health and safety, regardless of the physical needs of the job at hand. Companies that implement programs and initiatives that continuously optimise the health and safety of their operations and their people as part of their DNA succeed and this also reflects positively on clients.
Have open workplaces
Every employee should feel responsible for the health and safety of their workplace. Therefore, it is important to develop initiatives that will encourage employees on all levels to be more accountable and pro-active to rectify an issue when they can, or report to the concerned department or team, when they encounter an issue concerning health and safety. This will help identify hazards and near misses and capture them before an accident occurs due to human error, equipment failure or shortcuts during work.
Develop proper communication channels
A clear line of proper communication between the management and the employee is a must. Safety programmes such as HSQE site inspections, toolbox sessions, HSQE committee meetings and publishing of safety alerts and bulletins will increase safety awareness and enable employees to perform well and avoid work-related lost-time injuries (LTI).
Address Safety Risks
Establish a hierarchy safety system – an approach used to effectively address safety risks in a facility. After performing the job safety analysis, list out the different kinds of hazards in decreasing order of effectiveness that may happen. The hierarchy is as follows:
- Elimination: Physical elimination of hazards
- Reduction/Substitution: This system involves replacing something that produces hazard with a lesser hazardous product, thereby reducing the risk to an acceptable level is essential.
- Engineering controls: The next option is to limit the exposure to hazards by engineering controls, modification of designs of machines or equipment to limit physical contact with employees.
- Administration controls: Implementing rules and regulations to minimise risks such as putting safety signs, assigning standards and operating procedures etc.
- PPE (personal protective equipment): Discipline and standardisation ensures that all the workforce is aligned to the goal of zero harm.
Maintain up-to-date safety handbook
A safety handbook which includes key elements of the facilities management safety requirements, procedures and guidelines should be made available for all employees. The handbook should be periodically updated based on new health and safety policies. It will also be better to designate an employee with the responsibility of monitoring and coordinating compliance. Understanding legal requirements in the workplace plays a significant role in providing advice on health and safety matters and providing guidance on relevant legislation.
Provide correct PPE kit
Employees should be provided proper PPE based on the hazard analysis of the job. They should also be provided with relevant education on using the PPE and the repercussions that may occur if they fail to use it. They should also be well informed about the hazardous chemicals that may be used or encountered as part of their day to day duties.
Maintain the checklist tool regularly
Maintain a health and safety checklist tool to assess and review the management of health and safety in the workplace. This checklist tool for health and safety inspection may also assist organisations in applying best practices for improving workplace conditions.
Prepare for unprecedented situations
During these unprecedented times driven by the pandemic, it is important to establish safety and preventive measures to detect possible Covid-19 cases and safeguard staff and clients alike. These include providing coverall PPE and hand sanitisers to the staff engaged in sanitisation and disinfection works, regularly disinfecting and sanitising staff’s accommodation and transportation as well as daily staff health checks. Raise awareness among all staff on necessary safety and precautionary measures that include social distancing and hygienic protocols in line with the guidelines stipulated by the concerned authorities and the World Health Organisation. Additionally, ensure full compliance to all regulatory guidelines from local governments and health authorities. A crisis management plan is indispensable.
Follow government protocols
Train and brief employees on good hygiene and sanitisation practices. Also, make sure to educate them on how to use sanitisation effectively and safely, and disinfection products in line with all hygiene guidance provided by concerned authorities.
Also, follow good sanitisation procedures before and after any personal contact, after any activity that contaminates hands and after proper use and disposal of personal protective equipment. Provide employees with regular interval breaks to rest and re-energise, monitor their temperature regularly and provide them with immune system boosting beverages rich in vitamins and minerals.