By Uwin Lugoda
The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has released a report listing recommendations for companies who commence work today (11).
The report titled "Institutional Preparedness and Response to Covid-19 Outbreak" has been prepared by SLMA President Prof. Indika Karunathilake and lists out the institutional measures to control the spread of Covid-19 at workplaces.
These include a company's management creating a team for risk assessment and to develop, implement, and monitor an institutional Covid plan. According to Prof. Karunathilake, these teams should develop an institutional plan based on guidelines released by the Ministry of Health and conduct awareness programmes using videos, posters, and preparedness drills for workers on hygienic practices.
The report also suggested that companies should screen workers at the entrance for temperature and use a questionnaire to reveal exposure and symptoms of Covid infection; avoid overcrowding and movement between different sections, dining areas, exit, and entry; and install facilities for hand washing/sanitisation at the entrance, work areas, dining areas, and washrooms.
Other guidelines included a mechanism for waste disposal, the disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces with 70% alcohol, adequate ventilation by keeping doors and windows opened as much as possible, ensuring that employees avoid sharing instruments and equipment, and a mechanism to isolate workers who develop suspicious symptoms of Covid-19, while ensuring confidentiality.
"The company should follow the guidelines prepared by the Ministry of Health for workers with risk exposure following a risk assessment," said Prof. Karunathilake.
In the report, Prof. Karunathilake also stated that there is a higher risk of transmission if the air is recycled in a closed compartment, while the ventilation through fresh air poses a lesser risk. Due to this, he suggested that the number of people in an airconditioned room at a given time should be at a minimum and the use of standard precautions should be encouraged.
Speaking on personal protective equipment (PPE), Prof. Karunathilake stated that a surgical mask or simple three-layer cloth mask is adequate for day-to-day use. He explained that the surgical mask gives better protection than the cloth mask, and the mask worn should adequately cover the nose, mouth, and chin.
"After wearing the mask, touching the face and adjusting the mask frequently should be avoided. The cloth mask could be boiled and washed with soap and water," he explained.
Other recommendations include the use of face shields for industrial settings where splashes can occur, N95 masks for aerosol-generating procedures, and gloves to be worn in environments where employees have to deal with a lot of customers. However, Prof. Karunathilake stated that wearing gloves is not a replacement for hand hygiene or decontamination of surfaces.
As for individual measures to be taken in a workplace, he suggested that employees stick to four key steps. These include maintaining a one-metre distance from each other, washing/sanitising hands regularly, minimal touching of possibly contaminated surfaces, and properly wearing masks.
Finally, Prof. Karunathilake stated that if the employee has a fever, sore throat, dry cough, or suspicion of contact, they should immediately inform the office and get medical advice.
"All workers should be made aware of possible symptoms of illness. The management should promote workers to remain at home if they develop symptoms of fever or respiratory illness. If symptoms develop at the workplace, they should isolate the patient immediately and request medical help," Prof. Karunathilake urged.
John Keells Holdings to ensure safety
Premier blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH) has put plans in place to ensure the safety of their workforce across the group’s subsidiaries, according to the company's Executive Vice President/Chief People Officer Isuru Gunasekera.
"The safety of our people comes first. As you know, essential services such as our retail and logistics businesses were operational even during the lockdown period under strict health and safety practices,” he said while speaking to The Morning Business, yesterday (10).
The company is currently providing all basic personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, sanitisation liquids, wipes, and other relevant equipment. In order to further support safety precautions, Gunasekera stated that the company will also continue to work from home where possible unless the job physically requires the employee to be in office without exception.
"While we already had a ‘work from home and flexi hours’ policy in place during the Covid-19 lockdown period, we released a new ‘work from home and work on premise’ protocol, which was applicable to both the lockdown period and the back-to-work transition period. This provided clear guidelines to both supervisors and employees about not only health and safety protocols and a digital first approach with regards to even internal meetings and working hours, but also mental and physical wellbeing, productivity, and employee engagement," Gunasekera noted.
He explained that the Government's decision to reopen the economy was important, especially in the context of the daily wage earners. However, he went on to state that both the public and private sectors need to ensure protection of human capital and the implementation of the established health and safety guidelines.
JKH is Sri Lanka's largest conglomerate and employs approximately 14,000 people in 70 subsidiary companies across seven sectors.
The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has released a report listing recommendations for companies who commence work today (11).
The report titled "Institutional Preparedness and Response to Covid-19 Outbreak" has been prepared by SLMA President Prof. Indika Karunathilake and lists out the institutional measures to control the spread of Covid-19 at workplaces.
These include a company's management creating a team for risk assessment and to develop, implement, and monitor an institutional Covid plan. According to Prof. Karunathilake, these teams should develop an institutional plan based on guidelines released by the Ministry of Health and conduct awareness programmes using videos, posters, and preparedness drills for workers on hygienic practices.
The report also suggested that companies should screen workers at the entrance for temperature and use a questionnaire to reveal exposure and symptoms of Covid infection; avoid overcrowding and movement between different sections, dining areas, exit, and entry; and install facilities for hand washing/sanitisation at the entrance, work areas, dining areas, and washrooms.
Other guidelines included a mechanism for waste disposal, the disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces with 70% alcohol, adequate ventilation by keeping doors and windows opened as much as possible, ensuring that employees avoid sharing instruments and equipment, and a mechanism to isolate workers who develop suspicious symptoms of Covid-19, while ensuring confidentiality.
"The company should follow the guidelines prepared by the Ministry of Health for workers with risk exposure following a risk assessment," said Prof. Karunathilake.
In the report, Prof. Karunathilake also stated that there is a higher risk of transmission if the air is recycled in a closed compartment, while the ventilation through fresh air poses a lesser risk. Due to this, he suggested that the number of people in an airconditioned room at a given time should be at a minimum and the use of standard precautions should be encouraged.
Speaking on personal protective equipment (PPE), Prof. Karunathilake stated that a surgical mask or simple three-layer cloth mask is adequate for day-to-day use. He explained that the surgical mask gives better protection than the cloth mask, and the mask worn should adequately cover the nose, mouth, and chin.
"After wearing the mask, touching the face and adjusting the mask frequently should be avoided. The cloth mask could be boiled and washed with soap and water," he explained.
Other recommendations include the use of face shields for industrial settings where splashes can occur, N95 masks for aerosol-generating procedures, and gloves to be worn in environments where employees have to deal with a lot of customers. However, Prof. Karunathilake stated that wearing gloves is not a replacement for hand hygiene or decontamination of surfaces.
As for individual measures to be taken in a workplace, he suggested that employees stick to four key steps. These include maintaining a one-metre distance from each other, washing/sanitising hands regularly, minimal touching of possibly contaminated surfaces, and properly wearing masks.
Finally, Prof. Karunathilake stated that if the employee has a fever, sore throat, dry cough, or suspicion of contact, they should immediately inform the office and get medical advice.
"All workers should be made aware of possible symptoms of illness. The management should promote workers to remain at home if they develop symptoms of fever or respiratory illness. If symptoms develop at the workplace, they should isolate the patient immediately and request medical help," Prof. Karunathilake urged.
John Keells Holdings to ensure safety
Premier blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH) has put plans in place to ensure the safety of their workforce across the group’s subsidiaries, according to the company's Executive Vice President/Chief People Officer Isuru Gunasekera.
"The safety of our people comes first. As you know, essential services such as our retail and logistics businesses were operational even during the lockdown period under strict health and safety practices,” he said while speaking to The Morning Business, yesterday (10).
The company is currently providing all basic personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, sanitisation liquids, wipes, and other relevant equipment. In order to further support safety precautions, Gunasekera stated that the company will also continue to work from home where possible unless the job physically requires the employee to be in office without exception.
"While we already had a ‘work from home and flexi hours’ policy in place during the Covid-19 lockdown period, we released a new ‘work from home and work on premise’ protocol, which was applicable to both the lockdown period and the back-to-work transition period. This provided clear guidelines to both supervisors and employees about not only health and safety protocols and a digital first approach with regards to even internal meetings and working hours, but also mental and physical wellbeing, productivity, and employee engagement," Gunasekera noted.
He explained that the Government's decision to reopen the economy was important, especially in the context of the daily wage earners. However, he went on to state that both the public and private sectors need to ensure protection of human capital and the implementation of the established health and safety guidelines.
JKH is Sri Lanka's largest conglomerate and employs approximately 14,000 people in 70 subsidiary companies across seven sectors.