In the phase two of lockdown in India a new set of guidelines have been introduced by the government to manage COVID-19. As some businesses continue to function amid lockdown and work in some other sectors is also expected to begin after 20th April, a new list of directives has been issued for them to follow.
According to the The National Directive for COVID-19 management, no organisation, management of public place shall allow gathering of five or more persons. Further all workplaces are required to have adequate arrangement for temperature screening and provide sanitizers at convenient places.
Here are the national directives for offices, workplaces, factories and manufacturing and other establishments:
Here are the rules and guidelines for offices and workplaces to be followed after the lockdown:
- Persons above 65 years of age and persons with co-morbidities and parents of children below the age of 5 may be encouraged to work from home.
- For workers coming from outside, special transportation facilities will be arranged without any dependency on the public transport system. These vehicles should be allowed to work only with 30-40% passenger capacity.
- All vehicles and machinery entering the premises should be disinfected by spray mandatorily.
- Not more than 2/4 persons (depending on size) will be allowed to travel in lifts or hoists.
- Use of the staircase should be encouraged.
- All areas in the premises including the entry gate, elevators, cafeteria and canteens, meeting rooms, conference halls, cabins shall be disinfected completely using user-friendly disinfectants.
- Mandatory thermal scanning of everyone entering and exiting the workplace to be done.
- There should be a total ban on non-essential visitors at sites.
- Medical insurance for the workers to be made mandatory.
- Provision for hand wash and sanitizer preferably with touch-free mechanism will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas. Sufficient quantities of all the items should be available.
- Workplaces shall have a gap of one hour between shifts and will stagger the lunch breaks of staff, to ensure social distancing. Large gatherings or meetings of 10 or more people to be discouraged. Seating at least 6 feet away from others on job sites and in gatherings, meetings and training sessions.
- There should be a strict ban on gutka, tobacco etc. and spitting should be strictly prohibited.
- Hospitals/clinics in the nearby areas, which are authorized to treat COVID-19 patients, should be identified and a list should be available at the workplace at all times.
- Use of Arogya Setu will be encouraged for all employees both private and public.
Guidelines for manufacturing establishments:
- Frequent cleaning of common surfaces and mandatory handwashing shall be mandated.
- No overlap of shifts and staggered lunch with social distancing in canteens shall be ensured.
- Intensive communication and training on good hygiene practices shall be taken up.
The objective of the revised guidelines is to consolidate the gains achieved during the 1st phase of lockdown and further slow down the spread of Covid 19 and at the same time provide relief to farmers, labourers and daily wage earners.
Click here to see Consolidated Revised Guidelines: