Office Emergency Arrangements during Covid-19

Carol · Post by **Carol** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:19 pm

Hello Everyone

I'm new to this site and hoping for some guidance/best practice knowledge regarding Office Emergency Arrangements during Covid-19.

Whilst the return to office is currently voluntary on a 50/50 split, it is highlighted that we have had no Company qualified First Aiders on site. All of our Emergency Team members (First Aid/Fire Marshal/Defibrillator operators/Mental Health First Aid) are all volunteer staff members.

I would state that the building management staff are First Aid qualified and at least 1 x building management team member on site at all times.

My queries are:

Should my Company be reliant on the building management to provide First Aid assistance, knowing that in all likelihood that the Emergency Team (staff members) will also be working from home and not attending the office.

Is posting a communication on a Company intranet regarding Emergency Arrangements sufficient notification to staff with the possibility that not all staff will read the posted information?

If an accident/incident were to arise, would my Company be able to satisfy h&s regulations and be compliant if no Company qualified First Aiders were not in the office?

Are there other Companies that are experiencing any similar issues and decided against opening up the office and continue to have staff work from home?

I appreciate that I have asked a lot of questions, but having recently found this forum I'm hopeful of the support I will get and so thank you in advance for any helpful suggestions.

Muchos gracias

ddlh · Post by **ddlh** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 5:37 pm

Can you advise what the operation is please? Just routine office work - or operations?

Carol · Post by **Carol** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 6:17 pm

I think it would be classified as routine office work

ddlh · Post by **ddlh** » Wed Sep 16, 2020 2:20 pm

We gad a system that if you were within 10 minutes travel to a medical centre then we would allow work to progress without a first aider on site but this was always an exception - usually at weekend.

I suggest you revisit your risk assessment and ask the building management staff if they would be willing to offer first aid assistance and get that permission recorded - e mail confirmation would suffice.

As for communications - this will only affect the people in the building so a first aid notice at entry point to your business area displaying the arrangements - ie In case of first aid requirement contact such and such.

Dave