Push Admin

Social eating, office conversation discouraged when private companies reopen

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/01/12/callcenter-rtr-101316.jpg"/></figure></div>MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday released guidelines for private companies, which are allowed to operate during the enhanced community quarantine and general community quarantine.Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III urged businesses to follow the precautionary measures to curtail transmission of COVID-19 in workplaces.Below are the interim guidelines on workplace prevention and control of COVID-19 approved by both agencies:<ul>	<li> Employers and workers must wear a face mask at all times. Face masks shall only be removed when eating and drinking.</li>	<li> Employers shall provide appropriate face masks for workers.</li>	<li> Workers must accomplish daily health symptoms form, and undergo temperature check.</li>	<li> Employers must provide DOLE a monthly reporting of illness, disease and injuries using the DOLE work accident/illness report form (WAIR).</li>	<li> Workers shall be placed in an isolation area and will not be allowed to enter the workplace premises if they have temperature above 37.5 degrees Celsius</li>	<li> Clinic staff assigned to assess the workers in isolation area shall be provided with the appropriate medical gear.</li>	<li> Disinfection for equipment or vehicles entering the company premises, including facilities, and touched objects, such as doorknobs and handles, at least once every 2 hours.</li>	<li> Eating in communal areas is discouraged, and if this is not possible the employer shall ensure one worker per table and one-meter distance per worker scheme.</li>	<li> Workers are also discouraged to engage in conversation, as well as prolonged face to face interaction with workers and clients. </li>	<li> Visitors must accomplish the “visitor health checklist form.”</li>	<li> Meetings needing physical presence must be reduced or avoided.</li>	<li> Private firms are mandated to implement alternative work arrangements, such as working-hour shifts, work from home (WFH), where feasible, and on a rotation basis.</li>	<li> Employers must provide shuttle services, decent accommodation or both in near-site locations to lessen travel and people movement.</li>	<li> Workers suspected of having COVID-I9 must be brought to the nearest hospital, if needed.</li>	<li> Most &quot;at risk&quot; workers and vulnerable groups, or those 60 years old or of any age with co-morbidities or pre-existing illness, such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, or with immunocompromised health status; or with high-risk pregnancy are encouraged to do work from home.</li></ul>Bello also reminded companies to create a COVID-19 hotline for employees to report if they are exhibiting symptoms of the disease.“Employers may test workers for COVID-19. Testing kits used and procured shall be the responsibility of the employer,” the labor chief said.As of Friday, the Philippines has tallied 8,772 COVID-19 cases. The tally includes 579 people who succumbed to the disease while 1,084 have recovered.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/01/20/coronavirus-covid19-tally-philippines-as-of-may-1">Philippines logs 284 new COVID-19 cases; 41 new recoveries</a></li></ul>

Employers are expected to provide face masks for their staff, who are required to wear them all the time.

Employers are expected to provide face masks for their staff, who are required to wear them all the time.