IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Level 4 of the Nationwide Lockdown

The Department of Employment and Labour has published updated directives for employers to protect their workers against the Coronavirus on 28 April 2020, in preparation of the easing of the nationwide lockdown to level 4.

Approximately 1.5 million employees are expected to return to work in the coming weeks, increasing the risk of transmission of the virus. According to the new regulations that have been implemented with immediate effect, employers will need to implement many new measures to ensure that their employees are protected and reduce the risk of spreading the Coronavirus.

These regulations will remain in force for as long as the declaration of a national disaster published in Government Gazette 43096 on 15 March 2020 remains in force, irrespective of level and include, among other things, mandatory employee screenings to determine if they are showing any Covid-19 symptoms, and free masks and hand sanitiser must be provided to those returning to work. A working distance of 1.5 meters between each other must also be maintained at all times.

According to the Minister of Labour, these regulations do not replace any other occupational health and safety regulations and should be applied in conjunction with any other industry-specific requirements.

Companies with fewer than 10 employees have a less complicated set of rules than their larger counterparts. Businesses with more than 500 employees have their own special requirements and must submit a written risk assessment and accompanying policy to the Department of Labour.

In particular, employers should take note of the following regulations:

• Employees must be at least 1.5 meters apart or have physical partitions/barriers between them.
• Those who show symptoms of Covid-19 may not be allowed to work and the employer should in such cases immediately call the Covid-19 helpline on 0800 02 9999 for instructions.
• Employers must provide each employee with a minimum of two cloth masks for free and masks must be worn by employees at all times.
• Everyone should have access to soap and water and disinfectant that can be used on workstations as well as hands.
• Employers should ensure that employees wash and disinfect their hands regularly.
• Workstations must be disinfected regularly.
• Employers must also take any other measures recommended by a risk assessment.

The full scope of the new regulations, as published in the Government Gazette, is simply too much to summarize in this article.  A copy of the Government Gazette can be downloaded here.

We urge employers to familiarise themselves with the regulations contained in the Government Gazette, since failure to comply with the regulations may have serious consequences resulting in the closure of their business, costly fines and in some cases even imprisonment.

Kindly contact us should you require more information or assistance in this regard.