The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment issued a comprehensive guideline for industries and establishments to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the workplace. Dr Harsh Vardhan, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, the Minister of State for Labour & Employment, jointly released the guidelines by ESIC known as ‘Safe Workplace Guidelines for Industry and Establishment to combat COVID-19’ on Tuesday.
Dr Harsh Vardhan, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, emphasised on the need to maintain social distance at workplaces and to follow the safety guidelines issued by the Ministry for Health and Family Welfare from time to time at the release of these guidelines. He also praised the ESIC for undertaking measures to fight COVID-19 and for providing quality COVID-19 care to the general public in ESIC Hospitals across India.
Dr V.K Paul, the member of NITI Aayog, stated that the safe workplace guidelines for industrial workers are of great significance to curb the spread of COVID-19 disease to the industrial workforce of our country.
The guidelines issued on Tuesday are in the form of a booklet. It consolidates all essential measures in a ready reckoner action points form to make the workplace safe. It contains infection control measures like respiratory hygiene, frequent hand washing, social distancing and regular sanitisation of the workplace.
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It provides detailed structural and administrative standards and HR policies to follow in the workplace for controlling the spread of COVID-19. A contingency plan and guidance for the assessment, categorisation and mitigation of risks related to work exposures to COVID-19 is also present in these guidelines.
These guidelines deal with isolation and management of sickness at the workplace. It lists the do’s and don’ts of social behaviour for all stakeholders. It is comprehensive planning guidance for employers and workers to identify risk levels of COVID-19. It helps to identify risks in the workplace premises and also to determine appropriate control measures. By following these guidelines, the business community can stop the spread of COVID-19 while maintaining the continuity of the business activities.
The safe workplace guidelines issued to combat COVID-19 is essential to prevent the spread of the pandemic among the industrial workforce of our country. It helps to ensure that the economy and production activities of the country are not affected by Coronavirus. The industrial workers and their families remain safe and free of fear by following these guidelines. These guidelines are very timely, and the industries and establishments should adhere to them and make necessary modifications or changes at the workplace to maintain continuity in business activities while ensuring the safety of the workforce.
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