Smart working, masks, sanitisation, distancing: the new work rules to safeguard our own health and that of our colleagues
On May 4, 2020, as per the latest decree by the Italian Prime Minister, Zanardi Fonderie will restart its production activities and implement the regulations laid down by a strict health and hygiene protocol drafted in cooperation with all the representatives of workers and employers and trade unions.
At the onset of the Covid-19 emergency, Zanardi Fonderie implemented temporary layoff measures for most colleagues working in the production department whilst promoting smart working for all the managerial and administrative activities. To restart activities, the production shift timetables have been altered and the rules for accessing communal areas, such as the canteen and changing rooms, have been redefined.
Over thirty work-related instructions and procedures have been drafted to clarify and remind all workers of the importance and obligation to conduct themselves appropriately at all times. These have been represented in graphic form and displayed in all the company production departments, offices and communal entrance and exit areas.
The key measures adopted by the Health and Safety Committee (HSC) are listed below to allow all workers to return to normality whilst respecting the necessary rules to protect their own health and that of their colleagues.
1) SANITISATION OF ALL COMPANY PREMISES
In the days preceding the reopening of Zanardi Fonderie, all the company’s premises have been duly sanitised by a specialised company. The communal areas, production departments, offices and individual workstations have been sanitised to allow normal work to restart safely. Periodic sanitisation will be guaranteed until the emergency has been declared over.
2) TEMPERATURE CHECK OF ALL STAFF ON ENTERING
All staff will have their body temperature checked, in full observance of privacy laws, using the instruments indicated in the protocol. Temperatures will be taken with a thermal camera and scanner at all entrances with a high footfall. Anyone with a temperature over 37.5° will not be allowed to enter the company and should promptly contact their GP and/or local healthcare institution.
3) SUPPLY OF MASKS FOR EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS
To ensure that business can carry on as normal and to prevent the spread of the virus, anyone entering Zanardi Fonderie (employees or external parties) will be obliged to wear masks in all areas, including the communal areas, building entrances and exits. All employees will be provided with two washable cotton masks treated with Carbon Nanocluster, plus instructions for their use and periodic washing. The company will ensure the availability of FFP2, FFP3 or KN95 masks for all activities where the use of dust filter devices is required by the risk assessment, as well as for the logistics and reception staff.
4) MANDATORY DISTANCE OF ONE METRE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS
As decreed by the government, one of the first measures adopted was to maintain a safe social distance at all times. To avoid gatherings and problematic situations within the company, a distance of at least one metre must be maintained between individuals, colleagues and employees in all areas, including communal areas and entrances and exits from rooms and the premises.
5) FREQUENT HAND WASHING AND THE USE OF DETERGENTS
One of the government measures, that has now become standard practice, is washing hands: a simple and now all-important gesture to avoid any possibility of contagion and spreading the virus. All restroom areas now have anti-bacterial soap; the communal areas have alcohol-based detergents distributed in suitable containers and accompanied by instructions on how to correctly wash your hands before and after any activity.
6) NEW RULES FOR ACCESSING THE CANTEEN
No food whatsoever can be brought into company premises, including the production departments and offices. New rules have been introduced in the company canteen to avoid gatherings and to guarantee the safety of the workers. In addition to the usual hygiene rules for people and the objects used with the cleaning products supplied by the company, it is mandatory to maintain a distance of at least one metre between people and to sit a maximum of one person per table (or two diagonally).
7) ADVOCATING SMART WORKING FOR OFFICE ACTIVITIES
Since the beginning of the emergency, the company’s management team decided to introduce smart working for all office and administrative activities. Employees have thus been able to continue working whilst staying at home and avoiding gatherings and any possibility of contracting or spreading the virus. Smart working will continue even during the reopening phase and meetings and/or encounters on-site will only be held under exceptional circumstances whilst observing all the safety regulations and provisions laid down in the protocol.
8) CORRECT HANDLING OF INVIDUALS WITH SYMPTOMS
In all cases where a person manifests symptoms whilst on company premises or has a fever, cough or breathing difficulties, procedures for isolation and distancing are ensured and the individual will be referred to the healthcare authorities.
9) COVID-19 EMERGENCY KIT IN PRODUCTION DEPARTMENTS
An emergency kit has been added to the standard first aid kit in all production departments so that colleagues can be assisted in the event of an accident or if they are unexpectedly taken ill. The kit contains all the relevant PPE for preventing any possible contagion: a mask, pair of gloves and face shield/eye protection.
10) DAILY CLEANING OF OFFICES AND WORK INSTRUMENTS
All the offices and communal areas of Zanardi Fonderie will be cleaned by the designated cleaning company every day. All employees must also keep their workstations, tools and work devices clean with the detergents provided by the company. It will thus be possible to avoid any contagion through contract with instruments, such as computers, mice, keyboards, desks, printers, push-button control pads, touchscreens and tools that may occur if they have not been sanitised.
11) SETTING UP OF SEPARATE RESTROOMS FOR EXTERNAL USERS
Restrooms have been set up in all parts of the company based on the protocol and all the regulations for sanitisation. To avoid any possibility of contagion and gatherings, every worker and every external person will have access to separate restrooms. Specific restroom facilities have, in fact, been set up for hauliers, contractors and visitors. When accessing all the company restroom facilities, the access rule of one person at a time applies, in addition to personal hygiene.
12) REORGANISATION OF WORKSTATIONS IN DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES
To ensure and allow all staff to work safely, the workstations both in the departments and offices have been reorganised. The measures adopted allow the distance of one metre between individuals to be maintained and to limit interaction between colleagues as far as possible to prevent the spread of the virus.
13) COMPANY MEETINGS WITH MAXIMUM OF 5 PARTICIPANTS
To minimise contact between individuals, digital communication will be advocated for meetings and sales relations. If this is not possible, the meetings will be organised in suitable rooms (where it is possible to maintain a distance of one metre) with a maximum of five participants who will be provided with gloves. All the participants must sanitise their hands with the gel provided by the company both before and after the meeting.