Tánaiste Informs on Work Safely Protocol

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment Leo Varadkar T.D., published updated guidance to protect workers and help people return to work with restrictions loosening.

This Work Safely Protocol will lay out the range of measures required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces and are the most up-to-date public health advice. This is the second iteration of the Work Safely Protocol after the initial one published in May 2020.

The Protocol also contains links directing employers and employees to a range of Government Departments and Agencies where they can find relevant detailed information. It is a general document applicable to all sectors and sets out the minimum requirements to reduce COVID-19 spreading any further.

The Protocol details COVID-19 systems, ideal This is a collaborative effort being led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, the Health and Safety Authority, with more input from the Department of Health and the Health Services Executive.

Varadkar said “Our advice is still to continue to work from home where possible. However, with some sectors being able to reopen over the coming weeks, it is timely to update our protocol for workplaces to make sure that employers have clear guidance on how to keep their staff and customers safe”.
Speaking on the Protocol Varadkar mentioned that there is now real groundwork to follow in that there is a government-endorsed report on antigen testing and Varadkar stated many employers are already availing of it.

Work Safely Protocol and the Vaccine

Varadkar also said “We now have a vaccination program and are vaccinating approximately 270,000 people per week. Over a third of our adult population has had at least one dose now and we hope to have the vast majority of our adult population registered by the end of June”. He also noted that vaccinating yourself is voluntary and the documents also tell employers how to handle unvaccinated employees.

Damien English TD and Minister for Business, Employment and Retail said that “The updated Work Safely Protocol is an important tool-kit for employers in Ireland as Government efforts continue towards an orderly and safe reopening of the economy and society”. English acknowledged the struggle different industries have suffered under COVID and said “I am very optimistic about where our economy can go in the next couple of years, and I would like to thank businesses and workers for their ongoing efforts during these tough times”.

The Work Safely Protocol has been developed closely with employers and trade unions via the Labour Employer Economic Forum. Since May 2020, over 33,000 COVID-19 inspections regarding health measures and compliance have been carried out by different State Agencies, the main lead still being the Health and Safety Authority.