COVID-19: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AT

WORK!
Personal Protective Equipment & Risk Assessments

Are you provided with the correct Personal Protection Equipment to carry out
your job safely? Do you fall in the High-Risk group?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

 ALL workers should be provided with Aprons, Gloves, Fluid Repellent
Surgical Masks and where you are aware of a risk of splashing then eye
protection also needs to be provided to minimise all risks. The PPE
above MUST be worn when delivering personal care such as washing,
bathing, oral care and contact with bodily fluids.

 IF THERE ARE ANY SUSPECTED CASES OR A SERVICE USER IS

SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 THEN YOU MUST
FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES AS SET ABOVE ALWAYS ENSURING
THAT YOUR SAFETY COMES FIRST.

 It is a must that you change your PPE when you are moving from one
episode of care to another, i.e. when you are moving from one resident
to another or leaving a bedroom/bathroom.

 Always make sure that the PPE is disposed of safely and as soon as you
can. It must also be double bagged.

 Where you are working in a resident’s bedroom, a mask should always

be worn. If
a window is open, and a draft is coming through, that will increase the
risk of the
virus spreading.

 All uniforms should be supplied and laundered within your workplace

and should not be taken home.

 Individual hand sanitisers and handwashing facilities should be available

at all times and throughout the workplace.

 Please speak to your manager if you are not receiving the correct PPE in
the first instance and if they fail to supply the correct PPE, then please
contact GMB.
  Training should be provided to ensure that staff know the measures to
take to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and how to correctly fit
and remove PPE.

 If PPE is ill-fitting, then you need to raise this with your manager
urgently. If they fail to supply the correct fitting PPE, then please contact
the GMB.

 If you are expected to clean, ensure that you are provided with the
detergents that are effective at getting rid of the virus on surfaces and
ensuring that you are wearing the correct PPE.

 The employer has the duty of care to provide suitable PPE for all
employees, Under regulation 4 of the personal protective equipment
regulations 1992. Your employer has to provide the appropriate
equipment that will ensure it lessens the risk of the activity being
completed to a controllable level or to minimise it completely.

THESE GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY PUBLIC

HEALTH ENGLAND

Risk Assessments
 If you are in the high-risk category, a risk assessment must be done
before you start your shift. If the risk is deemed too high then you must
not work please contact the GMB on the details below.

 If the risk is deemed moderate/low, then regular risk assessments are to

be carried out as and when factors change.

 Following a risk assessment, the employer must provide staff with the
control measures that have been put into place to reduce the risk of the
COVID-19 virus.

 All employers should monitor and assess the risk to health and safety to
their employees either before a new process is being implemented or
when something out of their control affects the health and wellbeing of
the workforce.

To keep up to date with Coronavirus (COVID-19) and know

your rights at work:

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