It has been official for some time now: the national lockdown easing will begin on Monday, May 11, 2020.
While it will now be possible to go out at any time of the day without a travel certificate, what about the measures for companies and their employees?
For companies, this means a gradual return to activity but above all the implementation of a protocol that ensures the safety and health of employees returning to their workplace.
Indeed, while remote work remains desirable and strongly recommended for employees whose activity allows it, the national protocol has been designed to protect those whose presence is necessary for the company’s operations.
This lockdown easing protocol has been defined to:
- Limit and prevent the risks of exposure to the Covid-19 virus.
- Assess risks that cannot be avoided.
- Prioritize collective protection measures over individual protection measures.
Here are the main measures that companies must implement and comply with starting Monday:
Protective measures and physical distancing in the workplace.
The main hygiene and safety protective measures to apply in the workplace:
- Wash hands regularly with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer solution.
- Cough into your elbow and use disposable tissues.
- Regularly ventilate enclosed rooms.
- Stay home if experiencing symptoms and contact your doctor.
- Avoid physical contact and maintain a safety distance of approximately 1 meter.
On April 24, the government established a minimum safety standard of 4 square meters per person, equivalent to 1 meter of distancing in all directions. When this distance cannot be maintained, wearing a mask should be considered. Details may vary depending on the size of the establishment and the nature of the activity. Find the details of this calculation here.
Managing the flow of people.
Establishments open to the public are required to anticipate peak periods in order to avoid or at least reduce them.
Customers, suppliers, service providers… It will be necessary to organize operations in a way that limits the crossing of paths between individuals. Here again, physical distancing is mandatory in both enclosed and open spaces.
To comply with these measures, all managers are required to inform their employees of the safety measures to be followed and to ensure they are applied.
Customers must also be informed by any means available: email, website, signage, etc.
In this same logic, appointments will be prioritized to avoid queues.
For each step of the entry and exit processes, it will be necessary to identify the risks of physical distancing breaches.
High-traffic areas may be marked with floor markings to help people navigate the space. The objective here is to streamline entries and exits as much as possible to avoid unnecessary gatherings.
Wearing masks.
The mask is a piece of individual protective equipment and not a collective protection measure. In these terms, wearing a “general public” mask is a complement to protective measures but under no circumstances a reason to substitute the measures mentioned above.
Wearing a mask must not replace physical distancing or diminish compliance with safety rules. However, it must be mandatory when the company is unable to enforce all protective measures.
Gloves, protective glasses, gowns, and caps follow the same usage rules as masks and are to be used according to the nature of the company’s activity.
While temperature checks are not recommended at the entrance of establishments, they are recommended on an individual basis for anyone experiencing sensations resembling fever or severe fatigue.
It should also be noted that the presence or absence of fever is not always linked to the Covid-19 virus. It is one symptom among others that should be monitored even during the lockdown easing period.
Screening tests.
Company-organized screening campaigns for their employees are not permitted. The role of companies in the national screening strategy is broken down into 3 points:
- Relay messages from health authorities. People showing symptoms must stay home, notify their employer, and consult their doctor without delay to obtain a prescription for testing.
- Assess contamination risks in the workplace. For those that cannot be avoided, implement the appropriate protective measures.
- Collaborate with health authorities if contacted as part of contact tracing.
Cleaning and disinfection.
For companies, daily cleaning of floors, rolling stock, transport infrastructure, and aircraft is required. For frequently touched surfaces and objects, more regular cleaning will be necessary.
For premises that have not been occupied in the 5 days prior to reopening, the standard cleaning protocol is sufficient. It is also recommended to properly ventilate the premises and let the water run for a few seconds to flush out stagnant water in the pipes.
All these recommendations for lockdown easing should be adapted according to your business activity.
All the teams at Boost’RH are mobilized across the entire national territory to provide you with help, advice, and reinforcement for your HR departments.
If you need assistance, do not hesitate to contact us or call our emergency number 06 07 81 51 32.
Best of luck with this transition back to normal operations.
