May 3, 2020, the Ministry of Labor published a national protocol for businesses to ease lockdown restrictions and ensure the health and safety of employees. This protocol is intended to guide companies in protecting their employees during the planned reopening on May 11. The government explicitly prioritizes collective protective measures , whether technical (physical separation, barriers, etc.) or organizational (sequencing of activities, staggered schedules and tasks, etc.), over individual protective measures (masks, gloves, goggles, hairnets, etc.). A central principle underpins the government's recommendations is that each person must have 4 square meters of available space (1 square meter per department). This principle will govern the rules for maximum space occupancy and the management of people flow.
Organizational collective protection measures
Objective ?
Organizational collective protection measures must eliminate circumstances of exposure to the risk of contamination.
What measures?
Teleworking: this is the preferred option when possible;
The sequencing of activities and the implementation of staggered schedules when presence on the workplace is required.
In case of a necessary presence in the company?
The number of people who can be present simultaneously in the same space must not exceed a maximum number, which will be determined according to the area and configuration of the space concerned.
Maximum occupancy of a space open to the public and in the workplace
The rule to follow?
Each person must have 4 m² of available space.
Maximum number of people allowed to be present at the same time
A maximum number of people who can be present simultaneously in a given space must be calculated in order to ensure compliance with this space of 4 m² per person.
Calculation formula?
This maximum number is determined by applying the following formula: residual area of the open space / 4;
The residual area corresponds to "the area actually available to the occupants, after deducting the occupied parts" :
The remaining area is obtained by subtracting from the total area the area used by offices, cabinets, shelves, meeting rooms, individual offices, etc.
Example given: let there be an open space with an area of 700 m², of which the remaining area is 135 m²: 135 / 4 = 33 people.
Managing the flow of people
The principle?
The presence of people in a given space and the management of their movement within it must be organized in such a way that each person benefits from at least 4 square meters of space to move around.
What measures should be put in place?
Use teleworking or staggered hours to limit the number of people present simultaneously;
Identify and prevent bottlenecks :
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- Workplace accessibility must be considered at each stage of the arrival and departure process (parking, traffic to the company, reception, workstation, etc.) to identify risks of accidental breaches of physical distancing.
Avoid or limit the risks of cross-contamination :
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- Define the area of intervention of a service provider;
- To ensure reception in the services by making appointments;
- Stagger break times for access to common areas, draw up a traffic plan on the ground with an arrival and departure direction, mark on the ground the minimum distance to be respected.
Some recommended best practices
- Floor markings for minimum distances to be respected, particularly in waiting areas;
- Traffic plan with visible markings on the ground to avoid crossings;
- Regular cleaning plan , especially of stair railings;
- Display the barrier measures in the break areas;
- Wash your hands before and after using the coffee dispensers/machines;
- doors open , if possible, to avoid hand contact with surfaces;
- Prioritize one person per office ;
- For shared offices, avoid face-to-face contact , maintain a distance of more than one meter, use plexiglass barriers if possible, etc.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
The principle?
PPE is considered as a complement to collective protection measures, allowing to cover the risks of accidental breach of physical distancing.
Mandatory ?
Wearing a mask becomes mandatory when physical distancing between two people cannot be guaranteed.
Wearing gloves is not recommended by public authorities, due to the false sense of protection it would give.
Which masks?
The employer may provide FFP1 masks or alternative non-medical masks, also known as general public masks:
Information ?
Wearing a mask requires specific information to avoid risks associated with improper use (fitting, conditions and duration of wear, removal):
Display of rules to be followed in the workspace.
Cleaning operations
Reopening after lockdown
If the premises have not been frequented in the last 5 days, the usual cleaning protocol is sufficient, without specific disinfection measures;
If the premises have been frequented in the last 5 days, a usual cleaning with an active product must take place.
Daily cleaning after reopening
Daily cleaning of surfaces using products containing a surfactant (soap, degreaser, detergents, stain removers);
When the risk assessment justifies it, a disinfection operation may be carried out, but only when strictly necessary:
Repeated use of disinfectant is not recommended;
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects several times a day using wipes or cleaning strips containing a surfactant.
