GSP 20-20 Return to Workplace Protocol

Description

On the 9^th May 2020, the government published a roadmap for easing the lockdown restrictions over five phases (this was subsequently reduced to four). In conjunction with this roadmap they also published a “Return To Work Safely Protocol”. This was developed at the Labour Employer Economic Forum. This is the forum for high level dialogue between government, union and employer representatives on matters of strategic national importance and included input from the Health and Safety Authority, the Health Services Executive and the Department of Health.

While the Protocol addressed returning to work it also applied to those workplaces where work continued during the pandemic and they remained open. In these workplace employers are also expected to review and update their existing arrangements to ensure that they are compliant with the Return to Work Safely Protocol.

While the majority of staff in An Post has continued to attend work as per normal and provide an exceptional essential service there are other areas of the Company, most particularly in the GPO, where new working arrangements were introduced with staff working remotely, ceased altogether or working from an alternative premise.

In relation to the Protocol a priority for the Union was to ensure that the existing Health and Safety arrangements in place in the Company for consultation and participation with the staff were utilised to address concerns in relation to COVID-19, most particularly the:

• JCC Health and Safety Sub-Committee
• Safety Committees
• Safety Representatives

We also believed that, given the changes that took place in the GPO, additional support should be provided to provide assistance to staff and Branches based in the GPO as we return to more normal working. In that regard we agreed the following in relation to Worker Representation:

1. The existing Health & Safety Committee of the Company’s Joint Conciliation Council will be responsible for reviewing the general application of government guidelines on the safe return of employees to the workplace and will agree principles which will guide any plans in this regard.
2. An existing sub-group management/ union sub-group which has been established to review options available to the Company in the context its headquarters will review plans intended to facilitate the safe resumption of staff in the GPO and in other locations, as required.
3. The availability of a Union Representative released from their normal duties. We have agreed that Colin Moore, Branch Secretary of the Dublin Postal Managers Branch, will take on this role.
4. Apart from the above nominated, Safety Representatives in each work location will continue to operate in their existing capacity and can address any concerns they may have about the operation of agreed arrangements to safeguard the health and wellbeing of staff, particularly in relation to the arrangements in place in relation to social distancing.
5. If any Safety Representatives have concerns about the operation of any aspect of the arrangements intended to mitigate the risk of transmitting COVID-19 in the workplace they can raise them with the local management and if not resolved progress matters in line with existing agreed procedures (i.e. by escalating their concerns to the Safety & Environment Area and, if necessary, thereafter to the JCC Health & Safety Sub Committee, via the Staff Side Secretary, Pat Kenny).

Safety Reps Role

It is important that we remember that the Protocol is mandatory and that the provisions contained within are also mandatory.  It is also important that we remember that it is the responsibility of managers in each office to implement and ensure compliance with the social distancing and other measures contained within the Protocol.

The Safety Representative is not responsible for the implementation of the measures contained within the Protocol, this remains management’s responsibility. However, the Safety Representative should support the manager’s efforts to implement and ensure compliance with these measures. The Safety Representative should engage with the manager on the measures that should apply and raise any concern they have in relation to the implementation or enforcement of these measures in their office. The manager is expected to engage with any representations made by the Safety Representative and act on them as appropriate. If the manager is unable or unwilling to do this, then the detail of any disagreement should be recorded in order that the issue of concern can be escalated.

Where, despite best efforts, it is not possible to resolve any concerns/ issues at a local level the matter should be escalated through the Company Safety & Environment section in accordance with existing agreed procedures. When escalating the concern, the Safety Representative should clearly set out the nature of the concern and include details of representations already made to management locally including the response received, if any. The Safety Representative can at all times contact Pat Kenny for advice.

If the matter remains a concern after these representations the Safety Representative can bring it to the attention of Secretary of the JCC Health and Safety Sub-Committee for consideration by that body.

In relation to the GPO, in addition to contacting Pat Kenny, members can also contact Colin Moore

 Process for Return to the Workplace 

The following process has been agreed to provide for the resumption of staff to the workplace over the coming months. Management in any area where it is intended to resume staff are required to present an outline to the Company COVID-19 Return to Premises task force for approval. Any plan will only be cleared by the task force where it meets with the requirements of the Return to Work Safely Protocol. The Company will then consult with the Staff Side through the arrangements on Worker Representation referred to earlier with a view to finalising any plans prior to them being communicated to staff and implemented.

In addition, staff resuming in the workplace following a period of absence which exceeds 14 days will be required to fill out a COVID-19 Fitness Declaration Form and return it at least three (3) days before they resume.

It is intended that either immediately prior to, or upon, resuming in the workplace staff will undertake a COVID-19 related induction. The detail of this is currently being developed and will be finalised following review at the JCC Health and Safety Sub-Committee.

Other issues that the Sub-Committee will discuss will be arrangements in relation to:

• Social Distancing
• Provision of appropriate PPE
• Traffic management and the management of shared spaces
• Attendances/ breaks
• Contact Log
• Provision of Cleaning Materials
• Temperature Testing in line with public health advice
• Isolation Area
• Remote Working

Publication Type: Circular