FOCUS
Safe return As UK industries begin to reopen,Silke Hendricks
believes that now is the time for employers to show their commitment to worker safety
the economy back on its feet, concern remains about how to keep employees safe in a still very uncertain period against a risk that we have much to learn about. Since the start of the global COVID-19
T
outbreak, the world has dramatically changed. Simple activities which previously we rarely gave a second thought to have taken on whole new meanings. We have also added to our everyday vocabulary words and phrases such as ‘social distancing’ and ‘PPE’ (personal protective equipment). For most of us, this is the fi rst experience of a government imposed lockdown, driven by the need to protect us and our communities. But as lockdown restrictions are slowly lifted, re entering the world brings with it its own worries.
Worker anxiety
For many workers, chief amongst such anxieties will probably be how to socially distance in
28 JULY/AUGUST 2020
www.frmjournal.com
HE REOPENING of the UK economy will be a welcome lifeline for many sectors and, while this is a positive step towards getting
their workplaces, the kind of equipment they need to safely carry out their jobs, workplace hygiene and whether the right measures are in place. From the employer perspective, the magnitude of their responsibility to keep their employees safe will be heavily felt. In order that the economy can open up again successfully – and remain open – employers will be working hard to put in place the appropriate safety measures that will help employees feel comfortable and stay healthy while at work. In addition, there is an opportunity here for employers to underline their leadership roles in employees’ lives by offering guidance on health and safety measures. Indeed, the latest poll looking at UK worker sentiment on returning to work and workplace PPE has found that if employers do not take up their leadership mantle, they are likely to face backlash in the form of employee absenteeism. A survey by Populus Data Solutions, which was commissioned on behalf of Ballyclare, asked 2019 respondents from across a range of UK industries about their feelings on PPE: where the responsibility lies in providing it and whether
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
