As restrictions continue, Garry Dalton, Account Executive at Keegan & Pennykid Insurance Brokers shares his thoughts on what organisations should be doing to address the return of employees and volunteers to the workplace and the re-opening of premises.
Throughout 2021, the experiences endured by us all during the pandemic will have undoubtedly remained foremost in our minds, even with the hopes and beliefs we had of new beginnings being there for all of us and the expectation that we can again start moving on with our lives. There has never been a time in recent history which created the challenges brought by COVID-19 and there won’t be many, if any, people that can honestly say they have not been affected whether directly or indirectly.
Perhaps, with the benefit of knowing what has been achieved so far this year, the optimism that was felt at the start of 2021 will be seen to have been realised. We can confidently, I believe, look back on this year as being a positive outcome in the response to the pandemic although we can never ignore the sacrifices made to get us to this point.
There is widespread belief too that vaccination programme in the UK has been successful and this, in no uncertain terms, has brought a degree of normality back to us all and if we continue to be vigilant, adopt good practices as well as enforce better hygiene standards, we can win the battle and maybe, just maybe, one day the war against COVID-19.
We must not, however, allow our guard to be dropped as we all have a responsibility to recognise that there will be a continuing and ongoing need to maintain control of the virus and to stop it from spreading.
RISK MANAGEMENT
A common sense approach to risk management often dictates a simpler process to assessing risks and, in turn, a more organised method in controlling those risks that have been identified. We all know the specifics required when it comes to social distancing, self-isolating, sanitising etc as these are the headlines in front of us daily, but it is possible that the other risk management issues that our lives centred around before coronavirus may have been given a back seat or, dare I say it, our eyes have been taken off them while we learned and adapted to a covid world?
PREPARING THE WORKPLACE
So, for those of us who will see a return to work premises over the coming weeks and months, taking appropriate precautions and following the guidance will remain. Preparations for safe return to work will require careful consideration too. Where premises have been closed and unchecked for a considerable period of time, it would be wise to conduct thorough inspections of the workplace before staff return and, of course, any visitors come back.
It is good practice following each winter that attention is given to roofs and gutters. Storm events that happen may have dislodged tiles and fallen leaves may have found their way into gutter systems, potentially blocking them. Access pathways and other pedestrian areas should be cleared and pathways and stairs cleaned and cleared of any residue foliage that may have lain for some time. Discoloured pavements may need professional cleaning as they can become very slippery in wet conditions. If pedestrian surfaces have deteriorated, possibly due to ice, then the potential for slips, trips and falls is increased and attention must be given to prevent such events.
And what of your utility supplies, are these operating as you would want them to? If you have been prudent in draining water systems, in an attempt to avoid burst pipes, then that will require refilling and with it checking for any leaks. If you have burglar and fire detection systems installed, are they fully functional? Due to lockdown, any regular annual inspection may have been missed meaning one is overdue. This equally applies to the statutory inspection of lifts, plant and equipment. As restrictions ease, capacity for having the essential work carried out may be diminished so plan well ahead to ensure that these have been done preferably before you re-open.
There is no escaping the need for proper risk assessments across all of the operations and activities that you undertake. Where you have begun, or plan to begin, new activities you should make sure that anyone involved receives appropriate training but also fully document this training. Indeed, the paper trail is an absolute must in the event of loss, damage or injury as without it the probability of successfully defending a claim significantly reduces.
INSURANCE
And finally, make sure that your insurance cover remains appropriate for your organisation’s current and forthcoming needs. This is particularly important where your organisation’s activities temporarily ceased during lockdown and your insurance cover may have been put on hold. Similarly, inform your insurance broker if your organisation plans to diversify its activities (or has already done so) in response to the pandemic.
Keegan & Pennykid is a leading specialist third sector insurance broker that has been working with WCVA and the Welsh voluntary sector since 1998.
For expert support and advice please contact our charities team on 0800 731 8030 (option 2) or email enquiries@keegan-pennykid.com.
Website: www.keegan-pennykid.com