Back to Work: Staff matters
By Scratch Staff | 19 June 2020 | Expert Advice, Feature
Scratch gathers guidelines from across the industry for what should be considered for when you & your clients set foot back into your business…
The government’s Keeping workers and clients safe during COVID-19 in close contact services guidelines state:
- You must maintain social distancing in the workplace wherever possible.
- When providing close contact services, the nature of the work is such that maintaining social distancing will not usually be possible when actively serving a client. In these circumstances, both employers, employees and the self-employed should do everything they reasonably can to reduce risk. Mitigating actions include:
- Further increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning.
- Keeping the activity time involved as short as possible.
- Using screens or barriers to separate clients from one another. If the practitioner is wearing a visor, screens will not provide additional protection between the practitioner and the individual.
- Using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face- to-face) whenever possible.
- Using a consistent pairing system if workers have to be in close proximity.
- Only opening client waiting areas where social distancing can be maintained.
- Maintaining social distancing between the treatment or service areas, such as client chairs.
You and any team members should adhere to the following infection prevention measures from BABTAC.
- Wash hands frequently with soap following NHS guidelines and before a treatment, during (when required) and after, and when putting on or taking off PPE. Use disposable towels to dry hands and turn off taps.
- Uniforms should not be worn to or from work. They should be changed into in the workplace and washed daily on the highest temperature possible.
- Consider ‘work footwear’ that remains in the workplace.
- Go jewellery free where possible, keep hair tied back and maintain short nails.
- Avoid sharing equipment such as lamps and have your own wipes or sanitising products for work areas.
- Use PPE equipment relevant to the treatment.