During this COVID-19 pandemic, it is strongly advised that people, especially those who are considered vulnerable to the disease, stay at home as much as possible. However, the time has come that we need to get back to work to keep businesses and the economy going. Now, to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being, the Australian government and those of other countries require businesses to implement certain relevant measures, such as vulnerable person risk assessment COVID 19 programmes.
As a business owner, you are also responsible for protecting your employees from harm. With this assessment, you are able to reduce the risk faced by individuals who are vulnerable to the virus.
Who Are Considered Most Vulnerable to COVID-19
According to governing public health organisations, there are individuals who are more vulnerable to getting infected with the virus or experiencing adverse effects when infected. They call them the “high-risk groups”. Generally, they include:
- Older males and females over 60 years old
- People who have health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease
- People who have conditions that affect their immune system
- People who have high body mass index (BMI)
- Pregnant women
Now, if you have employees who fall into these groups, you should include them in your worker COVID 19 risk assessment programme.
Why a COVID-19 Risk Assessment for Vulnerable Employees Matters
A vulnerable person risk assessment COVID 19 procedure is undertaken to evaluate a vulnerable employee’s characteristics, the area where they work, and the type of job they do. It ensures they will be re-deployed at work, where they are not at risk of getting the disease.
This type of assessment is good for your business as a whole. Not only that it ensures vulnerable individuals do not get the disease, but it also prevents the virus from spreading throughout your organisation.
But to implement it properly, you should hire an agency that specialises in COVID 19 risk assessment for vulnerable workers. This saves you a great deal of time and money that you can use for other important aspects of your business.
How Does COVID-19 Risk Assessment Works
As face-to-face interactions are highly discouraged for these individuals, a vulnerable employee risk assessment is mostly done online to quickly and effectively determine their vulnerability to the disease. Based on the results, your company can then formulate a management plan tailored to their work, the level of risk they face, and your organisation’s internal policies.
Basically, the process involves these three main parts:
Assessment
Using an online risk assessment tool, the agency you hire will identify vulnerable workers based on evidence. They will then provide you with a report that categorises these individuals into different levels of risk. Afterwards, they will recommend actions to mitigate or reduce the risks in each group.
Review
In case there is someone who is in a unique situation, a consultation will be set up with a physician or medical specialist to conduct a further review of the individual. Other steps will be recommended moving forward.
Management
After the assessment and review identify you have vulnerable workers, the agency’s occupational physicians will help you tailor a health management plan for your business.
Finding a Good COVID-19 Risk Assessment Agency
There would be many agencies offering individual risk assessment for vulnerable employees out there. So, how do you choose the right one for your business?
Here are the main qualities that you should look for:
1. Uses an automated process for a higher level of safety
2. Utilises evidence-based tools
3. Has a good reputation with a large number of referrals
4. Has experienced occupational physicians
5. Offers quick response
6. Customises risk management plans
7. Operates under a strictly confidential and privacy policy
Conclusion
Considering how the pandemic has impacted small businesses around the world, the importance of vulnerable person risk assessment COVID 19 programmes cannot be ignored. So, make sure you have one in place for your organisation and work out the best risk management plan. By protecting your workers against the virus, you are also protecting your business against the negative effects of this pandemic.
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