The Ministry of Health has published a protocol with a compendium of safety measures that serves as a guide to good practices, which includes general hygiene and/or protection measures for workers, in the establishment, for customers and in air conditioning and ventilation systems.
We inform you that the Ministry of Health has published a protocol with a compendium of safety measures that serves as a guide to good practices, which includes general hygiene and/or protection measures for workers, in the establishment, for customers and in air conditioning and ventilation systems.
The guide is divided into two sections: general prevention measures and specific measures.
- General prevention measures
Protective measures against the virus
The document begins by explaining general protective measures against the virus, such as social distancing, washing hands and personal items, and wearing masks.
General hygiene and/or protection measures for workers
Regarding workers, it is indicated, firstly, that they should consult the website of the Ministry of Health, particularly its recommendations. We already addressed this in another circular concerning: procedures for occupational risk prevention services in response to exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
The following workers are indicated as not being able to return to their jobs:
- Workers who are in isolation or have symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of reopening
- Workers without symptoms but who are in home quarantine with a person with symptoms or diagnosed with COVID-19.
If a worker suspects they have contracted the disease, they must undergo a specific pre-employment medical examination. Furthermore, the owner of the business operating in the establishment must ensure that all workers have appropriate PPE for the level of risk and that they have readily available hand sanitizer at the workplace for hand hygiene, or when frequent handwashing with soap and water is not possible. The use of face masks will be recommended when a safe interpersonal distance of 2 meters cannot be guaranteed. It is also stipulated that all personnel must be trained and informed on the correct use of the aforementioned protective equipment.
Close contact should be avoided, and a minimum distance of two meters should be maintained, with surgical or medical masks worn at all times. Commonly used equipment such as water dispensers, coffee makers, refrigerators, microwaves, etc., should be removed or closed in the workplace. Specific guidelines are also provided for work clothes and changing rooms.
Hygiene and protection measures in the establishment
Each establishment must establish a cleaning protocol. Businesses open to the public will clean and disinfect their facilities twice a day. In addition, hand sanitizer dispensers must be installed, and the restrooms in commercial establishments will be closed, among other measures.
Specific protection measures in air conditioning and ventilation systems.
A review of the air conditioning system must be carried out before reopening, and ventilation must be increased, among other specific measures.
- Specific measures
Organizational measures
An organizational plan must be established detailing the procedures for all staff (both internal and external), the list of necessary protective and cleaning materials for each area of the center(s), and the established measures or recommendations for employees and customers. In addition, a cleaning and disinfection plan must be established, outlining hygiene control measures in a structured manner and assigning responsibilities.
The number of workers present at any one time will be limited. Furthermore, the layout of workstations must guarantee the possibility of maintaining a safe interpersonal distance of 2 meters. If this is not possible, the use of face masks will be mandatory.
Information and training on hygiene measures related to Covid-19 must be provided to staff. Furthermore, since one of the symptoms of Covid-19 is high fever, workers are advised to check their temperature daily before leaving home and, if it is above 37.5 degrees Celsius, not to go to work and to notify their company by calling the medical contact provided by the company.
Procedures to follow in case of infected or at-risk personnel
For basic information about Covid-19, please note that:
- The symptoms of Covid-19 are mainly cough, fever and difficulty breathing, and muscle and head pain in some cases.
- Eighty percent of cases present with mild symptoms, and the incubation period is 2–14 days. Fifty percent of cases begin to show symptoms within 5 days of infection
If a worker begins to experience symptoms consistent with the illness, they must immediately contact the telephone number provided for this purpose by the corresponding Autonomous Community or health center. The worker will leave their workstation until their medical condition can be assessed. The company must also notify the occupational health and safety service. Furthermore, the company must have a protocol in place for these cases. If any worker falls into a "risk profile" (pregnancy, chronic illnesses, or age), their workstation will be reviewed.
General hygiene and customer protection measures
Businesses may require customers to wear surgical or sanitary masks inside the premises and must establish a maximum capacity, requiring customers to wait outside once this limit is reached. They must also provide customers with gloves and disinfectant gels. And they must remind customers, through signs, of hygiene procedures, among other specific provisions.
At the checkout, a 2-meter interpersonal distance must be maintained, partitions will be installed, and card or mobile payments will be encouraged. A disinfection strategy must be in place for returned products, and vending machines must undergo rigorous cleaning and disinfection.
The document concludes by establishing specific measures for different commercial sectors such as food, textiles, footwear, jewelry, technology and culture, furniture, renovations, hat shops, gas stations, non-sedentary sales markets and street vending, which can be consulted in the document itself due to their specificity.
See: Protocol and Guide to good practices for commercial establishments
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A Àmbit Assessor, SL has 40 years dedicated to the tax, comptable and labor consultancy of the Pime.
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