Continuity Planning?
Considering again to Monday 16th March 2020 I bear in mind getting up early. I used to be resulting from go to considered one of our houses in Tewkesbury. I used to be nearly to depart the home when an e-mail landed from a senior Director telling us all to ‘Maintain’ all visits and be prepared for a convention name that morning. Sure, this was the beginning of the ‘Lock Down’. With the good thing about hindsight, how prepared had been we for what was about to occur subsequent?
Our administration group has already undertaken varied strategic planning workout routines. On the 16th March, a ”strategic government group” was established and a planning and response process produced – that is nonetheless a stay doc.
Workplace based mostly workers had been then requested to make money working from home. Inside a number of days we obtained experiences {that a} member of workers based mostly at residence had hit their head on a shelf. Perhaps time for a DSE evaluation maybe? ‘We may see it was time to leap into motion’
So how did we reply?
One of many first H&S challenges we encountered was the variety of contractors who is perhaps visiting our houses. All non-essential visits had been stopped. LOLER inspections introduced us with a number of extra challenges. LOLER engineers would usually have entry to all areas all through our houses. We deemed this must be classed as an important go to and determined the easiest way ahead can be to attenuate the ”actions” undertaken by the engineer inside every residence. We determined to allocate an space/lounge for the engineer to work in and all tools can be delivered to them, checked and put again in situ. This may preserve social distancing measures and reduce the chance of cross contamination points inside the residence.
When it comes to House working, the Well being and Security group have developed a 2 web page self-assessment which now combines DSE, lone working and fireplace security. It is simpler to make use of in its present kind and much more streamlined.
Laundry – we’ve reviewed our procedures and produced a Customary Working Process (SOP) to assist handle issues regarding contaminated gadgets
Cleansing – Provide points meant we wanted to work shortly to supply completely different sanitizers and undertake new COSHH threat assessments which are actually in place.
When it comes to cleansing rooms with confirmed or suspected Covid -19 A Customary working process was additionally produced.
Sustaining fireplace security is a vital problem for all care suppliers at the moment. We had numerous houses with on-going enchancment plans in place which were recognized in a Fireplace Danger Evaluation. To assist reduce the onsite visits to the houses by contractors, the group carried out a evaluate of all stay/ongoing fireplace threat evaluation actions. Every motion was assigned a RAG (crimson, amber or inexperienced) score. This helped us to determine any works classed as important (security essential). Contractors will now solely be permitted to attend websites to finish the remedial works the place the works are deemed Security essential.
RIDDOR reporting of Covid-19 is now reportable as a illness. That is efficient from the 5th April. The problem for us: If a member of workers did develop Covid-19, how would we all know it was on account of office publicity? We have now since developed a screening questionnaire, to assist determine when a report is the truth is needed
Fireplace & Rescue Companies had been beginning to contact us each by way of the H&S Staff and domestically on to our houses. Totally different ranges of issues had been raised by completely different Fireplace & Rescue Companies relating to their deliberate response to 999 calls. They had been conscious of the dangers related to Covid 19. The hearth service needed to make sure the security of their crew. They might wish to know the variety of optimistic Covid-19 instances and likewise suspected instances earlier than they had been capable of reply. We have now agreed working protocols in such an occasion that preserve security for all.
Lastly, we’re opening numerous new construct houses which we might examine and help with the registration/opening. We agreed that such inspections may very well be undertaken remotely with help occurring nearly.
The previous few weeks have been actually difficult. Instances are certainly unprecedented. We have now been introduced with numerous questions that we did not instantly have a solution to. At instances we’ve been requested to make the unimaginable, potential. What mattered then was that we had been decided to discover a resolution, which made sense and ensured some type of enterprise continuity.
Now wanting ahead, I am positive there might be a complete host of recent challenges and likewise new questions. We are going to proceed to supply the help and recommendation as and when it’s wanted as we’ve at all times completed earlier than and we are going to try to grow to be much more ”resolution targeted” alongside the best way
Seemingly there are solutions to most questions, however solely if you’re dedicated to discovering them.
Why will we do that job I hear you ask? As a result of security – save lives and has by no means been extra vital.
Andy Hollingshead (H&S Supervisor), Lisa Harris (H&S Supervisor) and Paul Mason (H&S Director).
