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Getting back to working at height after lockdown - free checklist download

Getting back to working at height after lockdown a free checklist to help you safely reopen your business after lockdown.

Getting back to working at height after lockdown - free checklist download
Laura Hemsley

By Laura Hemsley
On Apr 8, 2021

Read time
5 minutes

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Many businesses and organisations across the UK are getting ready to open offices, factories, warehouses, shopping centres and museums. There’s hopefully not long left to go before the latest national lockdown restrictions are lifted. So as we come down through the tiers and start thinking about getting back to working at height after lockdown, what should we consider? 

To help your planning efforts, we’ve compiled this handy checklist guide. It’s organised into sections so you can easily tick off key focus areas as you go.

DOWNLOAD THE CHECKLIST

Preparations of the building/site

Advising employees and visitors

 

Preparing for social distancing

  • Restrict fact to face meetings in groups of any size wherever possible.
  • Ensure the 2-metre distance between persons and workstations.
  • Consider if your current work at height equipment is suitable to enable social distancing, read more about social distancing and using ladders
  • Stagger customer and visitor entrances, staff break times and team schedules to prevent overcrowding.
  • Use paperless and contactless invoicing, data transfer, collaboration and payment methods where possible.

 

Limit outside access

  • Consider restricting external access to only those required by law.
  • Designate visitor areas with enhanced COVID-secure measures and cleaning.
  • Install one-way systems, signage and track & trace protocols.
  • Put in temporary plexiglass or another shielding between staff and external personnel.

 

Practice good hygiene

  • Educate staff on respiratory, surface and hand hygiene.
  • Install anti-bacterial stations with wipes, spray and gel prominently at all entrances/exits, offices, dining areas, visitor touchpoints and restrooms.
  • Replace traditional fixtures with low touch or no-touch versions, where possible.
  • Eliminated shared workspaces and shared supplies.
  • Mandate a clean desk and sanitisation policy while providing the tools to enforce it.
  • Ensure any tools and work at height equipment is disinfected after each use. Read IPAF’s safe operating guidance for MEWPS

Offer improved ventilation

  • Keep any fresh air systems on and open any (non-fire) doors and windows to allow circulation.
  • Avoid fans unless a proper level of ventilation is in place.
  • Provide or allow for more layers or fewer layers of staff clothing to account for seasonal changes.
  • Air out rooms when not in use.

Hopefully, this checklist will help you prepare, at a glance, to return to working at height after lockdown. A few months back, we prepared another comprehensive guide for returning to working at height after COVID. If you’d like to read more on the topic, part one is available here. If we all work diligently to adhere to government guidelines, we can help reduce the spread and make our return to normalcy that much faster.

Simple precautions, planning and detailed risk assessments can make a big difference. Taking action now to prepare will help protect your employees and your organisation when you are ready to return to work. 

Are you struggling to understand the new risks on your site or building? We offer a site survey and risk assessment support service, to help you find the right working at height solution and to help your business adapt to operating safely during coronavirus outbreak. 

Please share this information with your colleagues who you feel may find it useful.

**This guidance was correct at time of publishing. We will endeavour to keep this information up to date.

Download the HLS Working at Height Expert Guide

As part of our commitment to work at height safety this guide is designed to provide guidance and advice on how to minimise risk and ensure compliance.

Download

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Laura Hemsley

By Laura Hemsley
On Apr 8, 2021

Read time
5 minutes

Share this Article

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