Coronavirus Contingency Plan
Global switchgear services ltd will identify a Coronavirus Pandemic Crisis Management team. They will consist of employee representatives from throughout the organisation and will include members of both senior and middle management.
Members of the Coronavirus Pandemic Crisis Management Team will be trained in how to respond to a pandemic. In the event of a pandemic, members of the team will be expected to exercise leadership and make operational and business decisions, in the absence of senior and operational managers.
A pandemic communications strategy will be developed to ensure that employees are provided with up-to-date and accurate information on the status of the pandemic. Information will be provided to employees via the organisation’s Intranet, e-mail and, where possible, through team meetings. As well as other important information, employees will be briefed on the symptoms of the virus and who to contact should they believe they, or a colleague, has the virus. Employees will also be provided with instructions regarding personal hygiene to avoid spread of the virus.
The organisation’s leave and absence policies will be continuously developed as the status of the pandemic changes. The leave policies that will be developed include the organisation’s sick leave policy and bereavement policy.
Employees may be required to observe social distancing work rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus and will be informed of this through the organisation’s Coronavirus Pandemic Crisis Management team at the time.
Examples of social distancing work rules include:
- avoiding unnecessary travel
- cancellation of face-to-face meetings
- working from home
The above policy and procedure will be continuously reviewed and updated to take account of the changing status of a pandemic.
What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?
The symptoms of Coronavirus are:
- A cough
- High temperature
- Shortage of breath
Further NHS guidance is available here:
NHS – Coronavirus overview
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
NHS – Common questions
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/common-questions/
Of course, these symptoms are true of many illnesses at this time of year, so it is the combination of the symptoms together with other factors such as recent travel to an affected area or possible contact with an infected person that are considered.
What is the government guidance on dealing with coronavirus?
The guidance applies to two groups of people:
1. People who have returned from “high risk” areas (even without symptoms)
“High risk” areas are: Iran; designated lockdown areas of Northern Italy; Wuhan or Hubei Province in China; “special care zones” in South Korea
2. People who have returned from a much wider area who display symptoms (cough; high temperature; shortage of breath)
The relevant countries are: China; Hong Kong; Thailand; Japan; Korea; Singapore; Malaysia; Macau; northern Italy; Vietnam; Cambodia; Laos; Myanmar.
The advice is:
These people should self-isolate, stay at home and not come to the workplace
- They should phone NHS 111 (NHS 24 111 in Scotland) for advice
Further government guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public.
Note that government guidance is updated daily at 2.00pm, in particular regarding the countries affected – so please check.
What is “self-isolation”?
“Self-isolation” involves an individual remaining at home and away from work, public areas and other people to prevent the potential spread of the virus.
Where the person has no symptoms, self-isolation may be called “quarantine”.
Further government guidance is available here:
https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/02/20/what-is-self-isolation-and-why-is-it-important/
Last reviewed 13 March 2020