All employers must prepare and put systems and controls in place before they reopen their business and workplaces.

Employers must:

• Appoint at least one lead worker representative to make sure safety measures are in place and being followed. This lead worker should undergo a short training programme to understand the role and responsibilities.

• Update business and safety plans, including the business COVID-19 Response Plan, the occupational health and safety risk assessment and the safety statement. Include how to deal with a suspected case of COVID-19 in the safety plans and appoint a dedicated manager in charge of dealing with suspected cases.

• Develop, consult on, communicate and implement workplace changes or policies.

• Send out a pre-return-to-work form to employees at least 3 days before their return to work. The form will ask employees to confirm they have not had symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days, have not been diagnosed or suspected of COVID-19 in the past 14 days, have not been in close contact with someone confirmed or suspected of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and are not self-isolating or cocooning. A return-to-work form template can be downloaded from the HSA website. Note: Employers should not directly receive any test results from the HSE. Rather, the results should be provided to the person tested, who should then pass on the outcome to their employer. Employers should not keep the form after the employee has returned to the workplace.

• Provide COVID-19 induction training for all staff. This can be in the form of a short online course.

• Put in place temperature testing in line with public health advice.

This course has been developed to help employees to understand the Work Safely Protocol. One of these requirements is that employees must complete induction training. Employers should provide additional information, advice and training on COVID-19 measures in the workplace, including an outline of their COVID-19 Response Plan, and points of contact for addressing COVID-related matters during work.

Topics Covered are:

Employer and employee responsibilities

Preventing the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of Covid-19

Further relevant information and advice

Induction Quiz

The Return to Work Safely Induction course will take approximately 20 minutes to complete, and a certificate is available on completion.

Under the Work Safely Protocol at least one Lead Worker Representative must be appointed in the workplace. This short course has been developed to help those appointed as a Lead Worker Representative.

This short course on the Lead Worker Representative has been prepared by the Health and Safety Authority. As part of reopening Ireland for business the Government has published a Return to Work Safely Protocol. The Protocol is the key document employers must follow for reopening their businesses. At least one Lead Worker Representative must be appointed in the workplace to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Working together employers and Lead Worker Representatives can make sure measures are in place and adhered to, to help keep everyone safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Lead Worker Representative course will take approximately 25 minutes to complete, and a certificate is available on completion.

The Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) has issued guidelines with regard to the provision of first aid in the workplace during the pandemic. It is recommended that all first aiders be provided with an update on infection control procedures to take into the account the new risks associated with Covid-19. This training can be completed as an add on to previous training or can be incorporated into refresher training currently being delivered.

First aiders should be made aware of the new guidelines as issued by PHECC on 4th June 2020.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has published a Return to Work Safely Protocol which is designed to support employers and workers to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace when the economy begins to slowly open up, following the temporary closure of most businesses during the worst phase of the current pandemic. The Protocol should be used by all workplaces to adapt their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the COVID-19 related public health protection measures identified as necessary by the HSE.