Page 4 - SAPOA Workplace Re-entry

WORKPLACE RE-ENTRY
1 BACKGROUND
1 1 1 1 On 23 April 2020 the the the the the President further announced the the the the the gradual and phased approach to to to to other business operations which will differ having regard to to to to the the the the the applicable level of lockdown as declared by Government from time time to to to to time time (Levels 1 to to to to 5) 1 2 Every employer will during each of of the the the levels of of lockdown and and for for the the the foreseeable future thereafter have to to to adhere to to to detailed occupational health and and safety protocols This means that all employers must re-examine their activities work environment and and and policies in in in the the the the light of the the the the COVID-19 pandemic and and and may need to to to change adapt or or enhance these in in order to operate 2 SCOPE AND APPLICATION
2 1 Applicable to to to South African businesses (self-employed persons / sole proprietors independent contractors companies close corporations) other organisations organisations organisations (non- profit organisations organisations organisations trade unions employer organisations organisations organisations trusts associations) and and government (national provincial or or or district level departments entities and and and SOCs) and the like 2 2 2 2 This practice note provides minimum requirements to to to be applied by employers to to to enable them to to to to resume operations safely and and in in in a a a a a a a a a a a manner that minimises the the the risk of of COVID-19 transmission to to workers and and members of the the public 2 3 Each employer employer is unique in in its activities environment and workforce demographics accordingly while each employer employer should should where reasonably practicable apply the minimum controls controls herein it it it should should consider any additional controls controls appropriate for its organisation workspaces and commuting arrangements 2 4 This practice note provides guidance to employers on on on on the the the application of the the the Occupational Health and and and and Safety Act (“OHSA”) and and and and the the the the the regulations published thereunder thereunder and and and and Disaster Management Regulations and and and and the the the the Ministerial Directives published thereunder thereunder 2 5 Where there is is is is a a a a a a a a conflict between this document document and any legislation regulation or or directive published on on on on the the the the same matter then the the the the regulatory document document must be be followed 3 OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYERS
3 1 Regulations employers in in in in the the sector will be required to to to provide and and maintain as as reasonably practicable a a a a a a a a a a a a a a working environment that is is safe and and without risk to to to the the health of workers 3 2 In the the the context of the the the COVID-19 pandemic this means any employer which is is permitted to to to commence operations must develop measures to to to ensure that the the the the workplace meets the the the standards of health protocols adequate space for for workers and and and physical distancing measures for for the the the public and and and service providers as as required Employers should take steps to eliminate or or or mitigate the the the the transmission of of COVID-19 in in respect of of its workers workers and and any other person directly affected by the the the the the employer’s activities (e g customers clients or or or or or or or contractors and and their their their workers workers workers who enter their their their workplace or or or or or come into contact with their workers) WORKPLACE RE-ENTRY
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