This archive report was first published on 11 June 2020.
On June 5th, the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) issued guidelines for a safe return to work amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines were published on June 11, 2020.
According to FKE, employers should constitute occupational safety and health committees to oversee the return to work process. These committees will be composed of both employers and employees and will be responsible for formulating and implementing occupational safety and health preventive and control measures.
“Develop a work plan that includes steps to be taken to organize a safe and healthy return to work. This should be part of the business continuity plan,” FKE advised.
The committees will also be required to train members on the basic principles for the formulation and implementation of occupational safety and health preventive and control measures.
Under the new guidelines, employers have been urged to conduct risk assessment and put in place preventive and control measures for those who will be required to return to work.
“Implement the prevention and control measures before resuming business activity and determine if your sector is fit for teleworking,” the lobby group added.
FKE also advises that companies should identify critical personnel who will be required to be present during the reopening process and create policies that limit the number of workers and visitors in the workplace.
“Where possible, plan for gradual/staggered or a phased out reopening from a minimal level to a normal level of operations,” FKE says.
