The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar T.D. published updated guidance on ventilation, vaccinations and antigen testing to protect workers and help people get back to work.
The updated Work Safely Protocol reflects the most up to date public health advice for the workplace. It sets out the range of measures required to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace, including information on how to approach the use of antigen testing.
The Work Safely Protocol is the second revision of the Return to Work Safely Protocol, first published in May 2020. This revised Protocol incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces, as issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the Department of Health. The updated Work Safely Protocol provides guidance on ventilation and vaccinations as part of the range of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as information on how to approach the use of antigen testing in the workplace. Government is now urging employers and their staff to read the Protocol as it reflects the most up to date public health advice for the workplace.
The Protocol also contains links directing employers and employees to a range of Government Departments and Agencies where additional and more detailed information and guidance can be sourced.The Protocol is a general document applicable to all sectors. It sets out the minimum public health measures required in every place of work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to facilitate the re-opening of workplaces following temporary closures and the ongoing safe operation of those workplace.
Please find attached the updated protocol here
The Tánaiste said:“Our advice is still to continue to work from home where possible. However, with some sectors being able to reopen over the coming weeks, it is timely to update our protocol for workplaces to make sure that employers have clear guidance on how to keep their staff and customers safe, based on the most up to date public health advice”