COVID-19 Workplace Health and Safety Guidelines

COVID-19 RETURN TO WORK POLICY

________

Effective Date: ________

1. INTRODUCTION

As we are all aware, the Coronavirus (also known as the COVID-19) has altered our lives and businesses. Due to the recent easing of the lock-down, employees were advised to return to work while taking safety precautions to limit the spread of the virus. At ________, the safety of our staff is our top priority. As set forth below, the Company has provided various social distancing, and other health and safety practices to ensure that our employees work in a safe and healthy environment.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Return-to-Work Policy (the "Policy") is to provide rules, practices, and guidelines to provide health and safety practices and precautions for employees, to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus. The provisions of this Policy are mandatory and must be adhered to by every staff of the Company.

2. SCOPE

This Policy applies to the entire staff of ________. Every staff is mandated to adhere strictly to all the guidelines stipulated in this Policy.

3. WHAT IS COVID-19?

According to the World Health Organization (W.H.O), COVID-19 is one of the known Coronaviruses (CoV) like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

It is a contagious disease that can be transmitted from person to person through the droplets from nose and mouth. It spreads when an infected person coughs or exhales, and the droplets are inhaled by another person. It can also be contracted through objects when a person touches an infected object and touch their eyes and mouth. Therefore, you are advised to maintain a distance from persons who are coughing or sneezing and washing your hands properly before touching your faces.

4. SYMPTOMS

According to WHO, common signs and symptoms of the disease include:

- Respiratory symptoms.

- Cough.

- Fever.

- Shortness of breath.

In severe cases, the disease may cause:

- Pneumonia.

- Severe acute respiratory syndrome.

- Kidney failure.

- Death.

5. GENERAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES

The illness can be transmitted through persons, animals, and objects. Accordingly, it is important to apply precautions to limit the spread of the virus. According to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), you are advised to take the following measures to prevent the spread of the virus:

- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water over a running tap for at least 20 seconds.

- Cover your mouths and nose while sneezing or coughing.

- Avoid public gatherings with more than 10 people.

- Avoid touching your face.

- Suspend all non-essential trips.

- Practice social distancing. Maintain a distance of at least six feet from other persons.

- Avoid persons showing signs of the disease (i.e persistent coughing, sneezing, or fever.).

- Use face masks and other protective equipment.

6. SOCIAL DISTANCING

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) emphasizes the adequate need for us to maintain social distancing. Common components of social distancing include:

- Maintaining a physical distance of 2 meters between two persons in the workplace.

- Re-organization of the workspace to ensure that physical distancing is properly observed.

- Avoiding gatherings, meetings, and appointments of more than 20 persons at a time.

- Allowing employees to work from home.

- Identifying and isolating employees who are experiencing the symptoms of the coronavirus, developing protocols for employees diagnosed with the virus, and tracing persons in close contact with infected persons.

Therefore, all employees are advised to adhere to the social and physical distancing requirements to curb the spread of the virus.

7. HYGIENE GUIDELINES

General Hygiene: Cover your mouth when you want to cough or sneeze, or sneeze/cough into a handkerchief or toilet paper. Used toilet papers should be disposed of properly, and should not be littered around surfaces. Alternatively, you should cough or sneeze in your elbows, and avoid close contact with anyone if you are coughing or sneezing frequently. After coughing or sneezing, wash your hands properly immediately and use the hand sanitizer.

Hand Hygiene: The Company has provided alcohol-based sanitizers. Wash your hands before and after meals. Wash your hands after every visit to the toilet. Employees will be permitted to take frequent breaks from their work to wash their hands. See https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html for more information about when and how to wash your hands effectively.

Office Sanitation: To limit the spread of the virus, we will sanitize the entire office premises frequently. The Company has developed procedures for cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, such as tables, doorknobs, office furniture, workstations, work tools, etc. Sharing of phones, pens, office tools, and equipment is strongly prohibited.

8. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

As we are aware, the Federal Government has stated that the use of face masks is mandatory. Therefore, all employees, visitors, clients, and customers are required to wear face masks within the business premises. In particular, employees must wear their masks in their offices, during meetings or gatherings, and during conversations or discussions.

The Company will provide face masks, hand gloves, and other required protective equipment to all employees. Employees should avoid sharing this protective equipment.

All face masks should be properly disposed of after each use. To reuse the mask, you should remove them properly and keep them out of reach.

9. WORKPLACE CONTROL

Temperature Checks: As required by the NCDC, there will be a compulsory temperature check on entry into the business premises.

Workstations: The large office will be re-organized so that employees can maintain a distance (of at least 2 metres) from other co-workers. Office desks and chairs will be re-arranged to create more space between employees.

Office Library: The number of employees encouraged to use the office library will be reduced to a maximum of ________ persons at a time.

Lunch Breaks: Employees may be encouraged to space-out their break and lunches to reduce the size of any group to a maximum of ________ at a time.

Workplace tools and Equipment: To curb the spread of the virus, employees of the Company are advised to use office tools and equipment in the following manner:

________

10. MEETINGS

All meetings will be done within the office premises. Employees are required to practice social distance during in-person meetings by maintaining a distance of six feet. It is compulsory to use face masks, and observe all sanitary and safety measures during face-to-face meetings.

11. WORK TRIPS AND TRAVELS

All work trips and travels will be cancelled/postponed until further notice.

Employees commuting to the office by public transportation will be given adequate transportation allowance as an incentive.

To protect the employees working within the office premises, the Company does not encourage personal journeys to regions with a high number of COVID-19 cases. However, if such trips are extremely necessary, you will be required to self isolate for at least 14 days and return to work when you are asymptomatic, and we have received a doctor's note or certificate to that effect.

12. VISITORS AND CLIENTS/CUSTOMERS

The Company will limit the number of visitors into the business premises. Therefore, entry into Company by visitors or clients will be by appointment only as no visitor without any appointment will be granted entry into the premises.

All visitors will be screened upon arrival into the business premises. Questions asked during the screening may include, but not limited to:

(I) Whether the visitor displays symptoms or has tested positive to the COVID-19?

(II) Whether the visitor has recently traveled to places with a high number of COVID-19 cases?

(III) Whether the visitor has recently been in contact with a person who has been diagnosed with the virus?

After conducting the screening, and the visitor gives a positive answer to any of the questions asked above, the visitor will not be granted entry into the premises.

All visitors, customers, or clients will be required to wear face masks and protective gear, and to submit themselves for temperature checks where necessary.

13. SICK OR MEDICAL LEAVES

If you experience any of the signs and symptoms of the virus or test positive for the COVID-19 virus, you must take a compulsory sick leave, and resume work after your recovery has been confirmed by a certified health practitioner.

If any employee has been in close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or has traveled to areas with a high number of COVID-19 cases, the employee will be directed to self-quarantine for at least 14 days from the date of their last contact with that individual or from the date the employee returns from such trip.

14. COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN

Employees who exhibit symptoms of the COVID-19: If any employee displays symptoms of the coronavirus, the employee will remain at home for at least 14 days.

If an employee or anyone within the workplace shows signs of the virus, such person will be kept in an isolation room and the NCDC will be contacted immediately. The suspected case will remain in isolation until evacuated by the NCDC. The Company will also permit an employee who reports to work with the symptoms of the virus to stay at home for at least 14 days.

If an Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19: If an employee has been diagnosed with the COVID-19 by a certified medical practitioner, the employee will remain in isolation for 14 days. Employees that have tested positive may return to work if directed by a certified medical or health care provider.

If an Employee comes in close contact with a COVID-19 Case: If an employee tests positive for the COVID-19, the Company will investigate to trace persons that have come in close contact with that employee, and report such to the NCDC. The Company reserves the right to inform co-workers that an employee has contracted the COVID-19 case, and other co-workers who have come in close contact with such employee will be required to self-quarantine for at least 14 days.

The Company may also inform its vendors, visitors, clients, and customers that an employee has tested positive for the virus so those persons may take precautions to protect their health.

Except for situations where the Company is required to report COVID-19 cases in the workplace, the confidentiality of the medical condition of the employee will be maintained under the relevant laws.

15. REMOTE WORK POLICY

To minimize the spread of the coronavirus, we will allow our staff to work remotely. An employee may be authorized to work from home if:

- They have returned from places with a high number of COVID-19 cases. In such a case, they will be required to self isolate for at least 14 days and work remotely. Employees in this category can thereafter return to work if they show no signs or symptoms of the virus.

- They have been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with the COVID-19. In this instance, they will self-isolate and work remotely for 14 days.

- They need to care for a close family or relative that suffers from the COVID-19.

Specifically, any staff on remote employment will be expected to adhere to the following schedule:

________

Staff can apply to work remotely in the following manner:

________

Note that we reserve the right to grant and refuse work from home requests, and the management will determine the duration of such remote work.

Such employees are required to work in a convenient workspace outside the office premises. To ensure maximum productivity while working remotely, employees should:

- Choose a quiet and organized work environment that is free from distraction;

- Ensure that they have a good internet connection that is required for their job performance;

- Adhere to their remote work schedule, with regards to attendance, work hours, and meetings;

- Dedicate their time and attention to their work.

Also, employees working remotely are not different from office-based employees. Consequently, they are required to do their work diligently and on time and comply with all Company rules, policies, and guidelines as contained in the Employee handbook, Remote Work Policy, or any other policy book to avoid disciplinary measures.

Remote workers will be entitled to adequate remuneration and other benefits, including promotion, annual leave, medical leave and other benefits contained in the employment contract.

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Disclosure 22 22582258 Data: 22 252 85552 2255 88558-28 825258 25 5285225 82225252822 22 252 8888, 22525 82-8252258, 858222258, 525 8882228. 5588 82225252822 8888 82 588882825 8522 82 5582 52828825 2255 52285882858 8228222 525 2252888822 22 52 82. 52 2588 885852825282, 2255 8228222 252 82 882555582 52 522 2822.

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(55) 85252 5888828552 88 228288552 22 2528852 2228222222 5222522828;

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17. COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

Every employee working in the office premises during the global pandemic must comply with all the provisions of this Policy, as non-compliance shall attract disciplinary measures and outright dismissal depending on the circumstances of each case.

If any employee of the Company wishes to make a formal complaint about any challenge the compliance of this Policy, such issues should be reported in the following manner:

________

18. MODIFICATION OF THIS POLICY

We reserve the right to modify and revise this Policy from time to time without your explicit consent. If we make any fundamental changes, we will notify you.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT

I, the undersigned, I acknowledge receipt of this document. I have read and fully understand the contents of this Policy, and I agree to observe the rules, procedures, and guidelines stipulated herein.

I also undertake to do my job diligently and in accordance with the provisions of this Policy.

I acknowledge that my failure to observe these rules may affect my employment, and disciplinary actions may be taken against me.

_____________________

Signature of Employee

Date: ________________