Revised Protocol Published to Help Employers & Workers Manage Return to Work Safely

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar T.D. today published the Transitional Protocol, a guidance document, setting out best practice for keeping the workplace safe to help employers and their employees return to work safely.

The Protocol has been revised following engagement with employer and employee representative groups.

On the 21st of January, the Government announced the relaxation of many public health measures, including the requirement on public health grounds, to work from home unless necessary to attend in person. The phased return to the physical workplace is now underway.

The Tánaiste said: “Firstly, I’d just like to thank all businesses and their staff for their phenomenal work to date in keeping themselves and customers safe during the pandemic.

“This Transitional Protocol has been developed in consultation with business representative groups and unions. It’s a guidance document and is designed to help, not to complicate.

“The emphasis on personal protective measures, including getting vaccinated and boosted, still stands, and it is still crucial that anyone with symptoms isolates and takes a test – either an antigen or PCR depending on their circumstances.

“Some of the guidance contained in this document is good advice regardless of Covid, the emphasis on providing good ventilation and air quality for example, and this will no doubt cut down on the transmission of other airborne viruses too, keeping everyone healthier. The same applies to hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.

“I know employers are speaking to their staff about future working arrangements. We have an opportunity to make remote and hybrid working a permanent fixture of Irish working life.

The principle should be that once the business is done and public services are not diminished in any way, it should be facilitated. When workers are in the workplace, this document gives guidance on how to keep them safe.”

Damien English TD, Minister for Business, Employment and Retail said: “The phased return to the physical workplace over the next number of weeks marks another major milestone for many workers in Ireland and in our recovery from the pandemic. The new protocol offers reassurance to workers and employers that they can do it safely.

“It is great to see people being able to return to the office once more. However, it does remain important that everyone continues to play their part in limiting transmission of the virus and those employers and workers continue to remain vigilant and support good practices for a safe working environment.

“To this end, the Health and Safety Authority’s Contact Centre which assisted greatly in the continued safe operation of workplaces during the height of the pandemic for many workers remains available to employers and employees to raise any queries or concerns.”

The Health and Safety Authority’s Contact Centre remains available to employers and employees to raise queries or concerns, see Workplace Contact Unit – Health and Safety Authority (hsa.ie)

More Information can be found here.