Developed a Guide to Corona prevention in Business

Dirk BERGRATH
German Metalworkers' Union (IG Metall)

The coronavirus has not been defeated, the pandemic continues. Protective measures such as social distancing and hygiene rules are now part of everyday work in companies. It is now a matter of examining and adapting the existing measures. For this purpose, IG Metall has developed a guide and continuously updates it.

Employers are obliged to offer more teleworking. The risk of contracting the lung disease COVID-19 at work is very high. It is therefore, and will remain, crucial to minimise the risk of infection and protect the health of colleagues. This can work well in many companies, but does not come out of nowhere.

To support operational stakeholders, IG Metall has developed a detailed "Guide to Corona Prevention in Business". This compiles instruments and measures for prevention at work and comprehensive health protection, and gives concrete recommendations for effective protection against infection in the workplace.

The occupational health and safety rules enable works councils to enforce the protection rights of employees where necessary. This includes, for example, technical aspects such as the ventilation of rooms, organisational aspects such as the organisation of working and break times and working from home. In addition to prevention measures, the rules also include options for dealing with risk groups.

The instruments available to the works council for its prevention policy are well known: they are called co-determination and risk assessment. The aim of the company's prevention policy must be to slow down the spread of infections and to protect employees.

Corresponding minimum requirements must be met in companies through technical, work organisation and personal protective measures. It is not possible to specify in detail what precautions are to be taken – this is determined by the nature of the hazards existing on-site.

One thing is clear: only a combination of measures can guarantee comprehensive and effective protection against infection. It is also clear that the best measures are of little use if colleagues are not adequately involved. Very important: for employees belonging to a risk group, for example because they suffer from cancer or a cardiovascular disease, special precautions must be taken.