2020-03-12

Managing the Corona Virus at work

The virus is a highly transmittable respiratory disease, and transmitted similar to flu: contact with another infected person, or surface.

Employer’s obligation

Employers have a legal obligation (Occupational health and Safety Act) to provide and maintain a safe and healthy environment and to take reasonable steps to limit the risk to employees, and of outbreak.

Paid or unpaid sick leave, annual leave or special leave.

1. Medical quarantine: If a doctor places an employee in quarantine there must be a medical certificate.  The usual paid leave applies.  Once paid leave is exhausted, the remaining period becomes unpaid sick leave.

2. Employer quarantine: If the employer requires and enforces quarantine, the employee is not on sick leave, unless a medical certificate is issued for the quarantine.  The employee is neither subject to sick, annual nor unpaid leave.  Becuase the absence is at the instruction of the employer, the leave is paid.

3. Self-imposed quarantine.  If the employee quarantines him/herself, they are not sick and therefore sick leave is not applicable.  The quarantine is either annual or unpaid leave, at the employer’s discretion.

The potential for abuse is high, and self-quarantine should be considered the last resort.  The employer may investigate the reason for self-quarantine, specifically the reason why the employee has elected self quarantine, including symptoms, contact with ill people, etc.

4. After quarantine.  Generally the quarantine period is 14 days.  Even upon return to work, and the employee no longer displays symptoms, the employer may require a valid medical certificate confirming that the employee can return to work.

5. Contracting the virus at work.  Apply your sick leave policy.  The employee must obtain a medical certificate and any time out of work will be considered sick leave.

Travel

Ideally a moratorium should be placed on business travel to affected areas, and personal travel discouraged.  If employees do travel to affected areas, they should not be allowed to immidiately return to work, and should be quarantined for at least 14 days.  This would be paid leave, but not annual leave.

Measures to take.

*  Communicate: Provide information about the virus and the measures to avoid infection, hygiene, leave provisions to the employees in general, the Employment Equity Committee, Shop Stewards Committee, first aiders, health and safety reps, management meetings and written communication.

* Prevent the spread: Are there adequate facilities for employees to wash and/or sanitise their hands regulalrily?  Advise all employees of the preventative measures that they can practise daily, including:
    - Wash their hands frequently and properly with soap for at least 20     
      seconds after touching others or or exposed surfaces.
    -  avoid touching the mouth, eyes and nose.
    -  ensure that wounds or bites are covered.
    -  avoid physical contact and crowds.

Identify vulnerable workers: Eployees with severe symptoms, older and pregnant employees, those with weakened immune systems, which includes HIV/AIDS, diabetes, heart and lung disease are vulnerable.  Direct “at risk” employees to seek medical assisstance immidiately and get tested for infection.

Advise employees who suspect that they may be infected, or who have travelled to affected areas, or have been in close personal contact with the others who have travelled to affected areas, to stay at home and isolate themselves until they have been tested, received medical attention, and recovered.

*  Request all employees to disclose international travel by them or the people in their household since 1 February 2020.

*  Update personal details.

*  Display the treatment centres:

    - Corona Virus Outbreak Hotline: 0800 029 999 (Monday to Friday 08h00-16h00)
    -  Western Cape: Tygerberg Hospital.
    -  Gauteng: Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital/ Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
    - KwaZulu-Natal: Greys Hospital (Pietermaritzburg)
    - Limpopo: Polokwane Hospital.
    - Mpumalanga: Rob Ferreria Hospital (Mbombela)
    - Free State: Pelanomi Academic Hospital (Bloemfontein)
    - North West: Klerksdorp Hospital
    - Northern Cape: Kimberley Hospital
    - Eastern Cape: Livingstone Hospital (Nelson Mandela Bay)

Mark - 15:05 | 1 comment

 
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