Weatherite Group of Companies Coronavirus Risk Assessment

Issue date 12/05/20

Weatherite intends to operate as safely as possible during the coronavirus pandemic, minimising the risk to our workforce and others whilst still providing an efficient and quality service to our customers.  

We have carried out a formal risk assessment to assess the risks of COVID-19 with the view to doing everything practicable to minimise these risks.  Our findings and approach have been extracted from the formal risk assessment and summarised below: 

What is Weatherite Group doing to create a safe working environment for you? 

• We will prevent the spread of the disease by adhering to current government guidelines
• We will keep management informed of any changes to government guidelines and instruct accordingly
• We will carry out only necessary work during the pandemic
• We will keep workers fully informed of any measures put in place, with appropriate signage displayed as applicable
• We have instructed employees that anyone who has symptoms or lives with someone who has symptoms should not attend work.
• We will have anyone who displays symptoms at work leave the premises
• We have increased cleaning regimes in both the offices and the Shop floor.
• Office staff have been instructed to work from home where possible.

What can Weatherite Group employees do to maintain a safe workplace?

• We remind employees frequently what the symptoms are and suggest that they take their temperature before leaving home
• We have instructed employees to wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more, or use hand sanitiser, before they leave and at the beginning and end of every break
• Workers have been reminded that they should cover mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when they cough or sneeze, put used tissues in the bin as soon as possible and wash hands afterwards (if a bin is not available the tissue should be put in a pocket or bag until it can be placed in a bin).  Bins are emptied frequently.
• Where the sharing of tools and equipment is unavoidable, the risk has been reduced by individuals practising good hand hygiene, wiping over tools and equipment frequently with anti-viral wipes.
• Individuals are instructed that they must use the hand sanitiser product supplied on entering reception or offices.

What about communal areas?

• There are ample hand washing facilities and several hand sanitising stations have been set up.
• Breaks have been staggered to minimise the amount of personnel in one area, e.g. canteen, restrooms, and smoking areas.

Social distancing in the workplace

• Individuals have been instructed to maintain a 2 metres distance where possible. Where this is not possible, employees have been allocated to the same ‘team’ wherever possible to limit social interaction. Employees try to work side by side or facing away from each other rather than face to face.

Visitors

• No visitors are admitted unless their visit has been pre-arranged
• Visitors to reception, shop floor deliveries etc are instructed to use the provided hand sanitiser immediately upon entry to the premises.
• Visitors are expected to follow the company's social distancing measures and good hygiene practices. They are informed of these by signage instruction, verbal instruction, employee example and/or induction. Any visitor failing to do so are asked to leave. A Perspex screen has been erected in reception.