Whether employers like it or not, remote work is set to become a regular feature of employment. Forced by the closing of offices and other work environments, millions around the world have now been working from home for a considerable amount of time during lockdown. LinkedIn research suggests that ‘job searches for remote work have gone up 60% globally since March.’ Shopify has suggested that its offices will be closed until 2021, and many tech firms such as Slack have announced permanent remote working. Businesses can predict a saving in overheads; less office space means increased profit per employee. Yet employers are still responsible for the health & safety of their employees, and liable if something goes wrong.
Ventilation has been shown to be a key weapon in the fight against COVID-19, so now is the time for H&S consultants, FMs and building owners to work together to prepare buildings for people returning to work. Sara MacLean from MacLean Communications explains.
Coronavirus has caused the largest decline in economic health since the second world war; a contraction three times greater than that caused by the '08-'09 crash. But economic risk is equalled by never before seen levels of occupational risk, even in traditionally safe working environments. Employees in shops, restaurants, and offices are on the frontline as businesses seek to re-open. But as businesses react to the threat of COVID-19, it is paramount that employees remain protected by a holistic EHS management system. After all, 'traditional' Health & Safety risks are still present in the workplace, and should not be ignored despite new pandemic threats.
London, 1.06.2020
- Emex, a leading EHS software provider, has today announced the release of an innovative COVID-19 solution to enable businesses and their employees to safely return to work. With over a decade of sector experience, EMEX has taken proven EHS functionality and adapted the platform to aid businesses of all sizes in return to work initiatives.
Businesses are beginning to return to work. Employees who have been safely working remotely are now preparing themselves for a return to the workplace. For many, this is good news, and a step on the path towards normality. Yet anxiety remains for employees in a variety of workplaces, from teachers, construction contractors, and office based workers.
It is no secret that mental health issues affect the construction industry more severely than comparable industries. Male site workers are three times more likely to commit suicide than their non-construction counterparts; with men making up nearly 90% of the construction workforce, this is a clear systemic issue in the industry.
New York state has perhaps been the worst hit region of the US during this Coronavirus pandemic. With rising death rates – higher than many countries –Cuomo drew attention to the potential that crises possess to spur on innovation, urging us to consider not just a ‘reopening’ but a ‘reimagining’ of society, one in which technology is fully utilised for the protection of people and the economy.
The HSE Executive recently published guidelines on how COVID-19 incidents should be reported. RIDDOR reportable incidents include:
‘An unintended incident at work has led to someone’s possible or actual exposure to Coronavirus. This must be reported as a dangerous occurrence.
A worker has been diagnosed as having COVID 19 and there is reasonable evidence that it was caused by exposure at work. This must be reported as a case of disease.
A worker dies as a result of occupational exposure to Coronavirus.’
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has had far reaching consequences on all of us. In much the same way that the ’08 crisis changed the way in which the financial services markets operated, we predict that COVID-19 will force every investor to take ESG seriously. In even these early days of the pandemic – with nations such as the USA and UK yet to feel the full brunt of the virus – ESG funds have fallen by half the decrease of non-ESG funds on the S&P 500. More than anything, this pandemic underlies the vulnerability & fragility of a fully globalised word and raises the question – how can businesses adapt for a post COVID-19 world?
London, 31.03.2020 - For many UK businesses this is a time of uncertainty; restaurants, pubs, and non-essential shops are closed. Nearly all of us are self-isolating and working from home. Yet for many businesses work still goes on, notably in the construction and manufacturing sectors - essential work which can hardly be done remotely. So how can businesses ensure continuity, while keeping the workforce safe?