Protecting your employees:

New workplace health and

safety guidelines against
COVID-19
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
Safeguarding the health of the employees in the workplace is one of
the main priorities now that more businesses are allowed to operate
in areas under GCQ and MECQ. To protect both employees and
employers from the private sector, the DOH, DTI, and DOLE issued
guidelines to prevent and control the spreading of COVID-19 in the
workplace. This article aims to simplify and consolidate the
guidelines from the Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and
Control of COVID-19 which you may freely access to read the full
version.

However, employees under non-essential industries should not be

forced to go to their workplace. If working on-site is necessary,
minimum health protocols and standards should be implemented
using these guidelines.

A. PROMOTE AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR A HEALTHY

LIFESTYLE

1. Remind workers to take care of their physical health;

 a) Eat nutritious and well-prepared meals;

 b) Drink plenty of water;
 c) Avoid alcoholic beverages;
 d) Sleep for at least eight (8) hours; and
 e) Exercise regularly

2. Provide free medicines and vitamins; and

3. Provide referral for employees needing counselling for possible
mental health concerns.

B. REDUCING TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19

1. Traveling to and from work

 a) If possible, to lessen travel and exposure to different

places, companies shall:

o i. Provide shuttle services for employees commuting to

work; and/or
o ii. Provide decent accommodation on near-site location.

Employers who are unable to provide shuttle services cannot

force employees to go back to work and should not resume
operations.

2. Before entering the workplace

 a) Wear facemasks

Employers shall provide appropriate face masks for employees

to be worn at all times except when eating or drinking. Washable
cloth masks are allowed but shall be worn with additional filters
such as tissue papers inside the masks.

 b) Answer daily symptoms questionnaire

 It includes checking and recording of temperature. Submit to the
guard or assigned safety officer before entering.

 c) Assign isolation area and clinic personnel for:

People with a temperature higher than 37.50, even after a 5-

minute rest and showing health concerning results from the
questionnaire.

 d) Provide appropriate medical supplies:

o i. PPEs to clinic personnel which may include by not

limited to face masks, goggles/face shields, and gloves;
o ii. Provide spray alcohol or sanitizers at the entrance;
o iii. Provide disinfectant footbaths at the entrance if
practicable; and
o iv. Disinfection of all equipment or vehicles entering the
operational area;
 e) Physical distancing

Assign roving officers to monitor and require physical distancing

of a minimum of 1-meter for long lines outside the office or store
premises.

3. Inside the workplace

 a) Disinfection

For all work areas and frequently handled objects such as

doorknobs and handles at least once every (two) hour.
 b) Washroom and toilets

Ensure regular disinfection and enough supply of clean water

and soap.

 c) Frequent hand washing

Encourage employees to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and

mouth with unwashed hands.

 d) Provide sanitizers

Ensure sanitizers are placed in corridors, conference areas,

elevators, and other areas where employees usually pass.

 e) Practice social distancing

All employees should practice physical distancing of a minimum

of 1-meter radius space (side, back, and front) between other
workers.

 f) During and after eating:

o i. Recommend eating in individual work area. If not

possible, employers shall ensure physical distancing is
implemented in dining areas with one worker per table and
1-meter distance per worker;
o ii. Discourage talking to co-workers with masks off while
eating;
o iii. Require cleaning and disinfecting of able and chairs
after every use of the area, and before as well as at the
end of the workday;
 o iv. Canteens and kitchens should be cleaned and
disinfected regularly; and
o v. Observe proper waste disposal.

C. MINIMIZE CONTACT RATE

1. Alternative work arrangement

Use work-hour shifts, work from home (WFH), where feasible and
work rotation may be implemented. Most at-risk workers and
vulnerable groups shall be allowed to work from home.

2. Meetings

Discourage face-to-face meetings and interaction between

employees and clients are but if necessary, shall be kept to
minimum number participants and masks shall be worn at all times
and not removed. Videoconferencing shall be utilized for lengthy
meetings.

3. Workstation

The layout should be designed to allow single direction movement

in aisles, corridors, or walkways.

4. Enclosed areas

Maintain physical distancing of 1 meter by limiting the number of

people inside an enclosed space such as elevators. Use stairs as
an alternative and if there are more than two stairways, use one
stairway exclusively for going up and another one exclusively for
going down.

5. Utilize online systems

Use videoconferencing to assist client needs from offices.

6. Assign roving officers

For monitoring of physical distancing and observance of minimum

health protocols.

D. ON REDUCING THE RISK OF INFECTION FROM COVID-19

1. If an employee is suspected of having COVID-19:

 a. Isolation

The worker shall be put in the isolation area and never remove
his/her mask.

 b. PPEs

Clinic personnel attending to the employees should wear

appropriate PPEs.

 c. Transport to hospital

Clinic personnel may require the transport of the COVID-19

suspect worker to the nearest hospital.
  d. Use company protocols

There should be company protocols for the transport of

suspected COVID-19 cases and for PCR testing.

 e. Public health authorities

Notify the concerned authorities about the employees showing

symptoms of COVID-19.

 f. Contact tracing

Conduct contact tracing in coordination with the DOH and LGUs

for employees exposed to COVID-19.

 g. Decontamination of the workplace:

o i. Appropriate disinfection shall take place in the

workplace (e.g. chlorine bleaching solution and 1:100
phenol-based disinfectant);
o ii. Work shall only resume 24 hours after disinfection;
o iii. Employees present in the work area with the suspect
COVID-19 worker shall undergo 14 days home quarantine
with specific instructions from the clinic staff on monitoring
symptoms and possible next steps; and
o iv. If suspect COVID-19 worker tested negative, co-
workers can report back to work.

2. If a worker is sick or has a fever but is not suspected of

COVID-19 (diseases that are related to not lungs or respiratory
tract)
The employer must advise the worker to take the following safety
measures to avoid the spread of communicable diseases:

 a. Stay at home and avoid crowds;

 b. Take adequate rest and drink plenty of liquids;
 c. Practice personal hygiene; and
 d. Seek appropriate medical care if symptoms persist.

3. COVID-19 Hotline and Call Centers

Employers shall put up a hotline for employers to report any

possible COVID-19 symptoms and to monitor the condition of
suspected employees.

E. COVID-19 TESTING

1. Procurement of Testing Kits

 a. It is up to the employers if they choose to test their

employees for COVID-19; and
 b. Employers are responsible in procuring the testing kits.

2. Testing Protocols

DOH Protocols shall be followed for the testing of employees and

interpretation of results in accordance with:

 a. DOH Department Memorandum No. 2020-0180: Revised

Interim Guidelines on Expanded Testing for COVID-19
 b. DOH Administrative Order No. 2020-0014: Guidelines in
Securing a License to Operate a COVID-19 Testing Laboratory
in the Philippines
3. Company Policy

There should be a company policy on COVID-19 testing agreed

upon by employers and workers in compliance with the DOH
protocols.

Employers have a crucial role in protecting their workers and these

guidelines provided a clear direction on how they can do that in the
workplace. Some companies have shown significant efforts in
caring and providing for their people. Some may still choose to give
other work arrangement options such as work from home which has
its advantages and there are ways on how employees can stay
productive even in this kind of setup. Whatever the strategy may be,
now is certainly the time for companies and employers to prove that
they will continue to put their employees’ health and safety first.

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