Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

176. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether employers have a duty of care to those returning to work in offices to ensure a tracking and tracing system is in place in order that those working in the office can be notified of Covid-19 outbreaks in their workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6613/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Transitional Protocol: Good Practice Guidance for Continuing to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19, a revision of the Work Safely Protocol was published on 31st January. This publication reflects the lessons learned to date, including the most recent public health advice, and is the current guidance for the safe return and continued safe operating of workplaces.

It places a greater emphasis on guidance and best practice to support the safe return to the physical workplace. There is, of course, no impediment to employers, in consultation with their workers, maintaining some of the precautionary practices that were previously provided for in the Work Safely Protocol.

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 imposes a statutory duty on employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their staff. This duty relates to staff transitioning back to the office. All existing core occupational safety and health legislative provisions remain in place.

The Transitional Protocol provides both employers and workers with the necessary advice and guidance to ensure that appropriate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, and other measures, are put in places to facilitate the safe return of workers to the physical workplace in the context of mitigating against the spread of COVID-19.

While there is no specific requirement to maintain a contact log with details of workers and visitors to a workplace, in the context of COVID-19, in the Transitional Protocol, such details may still be recorded for other reasons such as security or fire safety. Also, employers might be asked to provide appropriate attendance information in the event that the local Department of Public Health has to investigate an outbreak of COVID-19.

As COVID-19 continues to pose a risk to public health it remains important that everyone continues to play their part in limiting potential transmission. Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19, or testing positive, should follow all public health advice regarding self-isolation, restricting movement, testing and what to do if identified as a close contact. They should cooperate with Public Health personnel, and their employer, for contact tracing purposes and follow any public health advice given in the event of a case or outbreak in their workplace. Persons in charge of a workplace should continue to have in place a case manager/designated contact person for dealing with suspected cases of COVID-19 and co-operate fully with the local Department of Public Health in relation to contact tracing.

The need for pro-active and positive collaboration between employers and workers, and their representatives, continues to be an important and fundamental requirement in the ongoing efforts to protect all members of society against COVID-19.