Risk assessments to be carried out to help shielders return to work

New risk assesment guidance is to be introduced to help people return to work after coming out of shielding, which ends on Saturday, August 1.
Residents in an Edinburgh street joined forces to create a mural to says thank you to the NHS and key workers. Photo: Lisa FergusonResidents in an Edinburgh street joined forces to create a mural to says thank you to the NHS and key workers. Photo: Lisa Ferguson
Residents in an Edinburgh street joined forces to create a mural to says thank you to the NHS and key workers. Photo: Lisa Ferguson

The advice will support managers in their communication with staff to identify individual risks and take appropriate action to make workplaces safer.

The guidance includes a tool to help people identify how much risk they face from coronavirus, based on factors such as sex, ethnicity, age and health conditions.

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Employers are advised to follow current guidance and wherever possible home working should continue. However, where this is not an option, full workplace risk assessments should be carried out in conjunction with using the tool to discuss appropriate measures to protect employees.

Health secretary Jeane Freeman said: “At this stage in our fight against the pandemic we encourage people to work from home where possible but when staff are returning to the workplace we want them to feel safe.

“This risk assessment guidance is relevant to all staff, but will be particularly so to those who are returning to work after shielding, those who are returning to normal duties after Covid-19 related restrictions or anyone who has a concern about a particular risk from Covid-19.

“Employers have a legal responsibility to keep their staff safe and promote their wellbeing. After a workplace risk assessment has been done and measures to reduce the risk of transmission have been put in place, managers and their staff should use the tool to identify the individual risk level.

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“A conversation can then take place about how best to manage each person’s situation.

“Of course, everyone should continue to follow the guidance and remember the FACTS, as it is our collective behaviour which will keep us all safe.”

Police Scotland’s head of employee relations Nicky Page added: “This is a very useful tool as it is intersectional, provides an objective measure, can be self-administered and provides sufficient and timely information for an individual to consider and take relevant action on a personal basis. It also supports informed discussions in the workplace with line managers.”

In a joint statement, Faculty of Occupational Medicine president Dr Anne de Bono and Society of Occupational Medicine president Professor Anne Harriss said: “This guidance will support managers and staff to work together to implement practical control measures based around a helpful, evidence-based, easy to use framework, with the key message being the achievement of mutually agreed control measures to ensure staff feel as safe as reasonably practicable.  The Faculty and the Society are delighted to welcome this guidance.”

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