This Government Notice was repealed on 2020-06-04 by Consolidated COVID-19 Direction on Health and Safety in the Workplace.
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Related documents
South Africa
Disaster Management Act, 2002
COVID-19 Occupational Health and Safety measures in workplaces COVID-19 (C19 OHS), 2020
Government Notice 479 of 2020
- Published in Government Gazette 43257 on 29 April 2020
- Assented to on 28 April 2020
- Commenced on 29 April 2020
- [This is the version of this document from 29 April 2020.]
- [Repealed by Consolidated COVID-19 Direction on Health and Safety in the Workplace (Government Notice R639 of 2020) on 4 June 2020]
Preamble
1.
On 17 March 2020, the Department of Employment and Labour issued guidelines for employers to deal with COVID-19 at workplaces.[1] The Department of Employment and Labour appealed to employers to use the prescriptions of the OHSA in particular the Hazardous Biological Agents Regulations governing workplaces in relation to Coronavirus Disease 2019 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.[1]http://www.labour.gov.za/DocumentCenter/Publications/Occupational%20Health%20and%20Safety/COVID19%20Guideline%20Mar2020.pdf2.
In the period since the issuing of the guidelines, a clearer picture has emerged about COVID-19 and the nature of the hazard and risk in the workplace and the precautions that should be taken to minimise the risk. The purpose of these directives is to stipulate measures that must be taken by employers in order to protect the health and safety of workers and members of the public who enter their workplaces or are exposed to their working activities.3.
These directive seek to ensure that the measures taken by employers under OHSA are consistent with the overall national strategies and policies to minimise the spread of COVID-19.4.
The OHSA, read with its regulations and incorporated standards, requires the employer to provide and maintain as far as is reasonably practicable a working environment that is safe and without risks to the health of workers and to take such steps as may be reasonably practicable to eliminate or mitigate the hazard or potential hazard.5.
The OHSA further requires employers, to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that all persons who may be directly affected by their activities (such as customers, clients or contractors and their workers who enter their workplace or come into contact with their employees) are not exposed to hazards to their health or safety. This obligation also applies to self-employed persons (for example, plumbers or electricians) whose working activities bring them into contact with members of the public.6.
For the purposes of OHSA in the workplaces to which this Directive applies, the identifiable hazard relating to COVID-19 is that workers face is the transmission by an infected person to workers in the workplace. In workplaces to which the public has access, the hazard includes transmission of the virus by members of the public. Each situation requires special measures to be implemented by employers in order to prevent the transmission of the virus.7.
Although OHSA requires employers to review and update risk assessments on a regular basis, the new hazard posed by COVID-19 is clearly identifiable and the basic measures to eliminate or minimise the risk are now well known.[2] The object of conducting or updating a risk assessment in respect of COVID-19 is to provide specific focus on COVID-19 and adapt the measures required by this Directive to specific working environments taking into account the Risk Assessment Guides published online by the National Department of Health.[2]These basic measures may be further refined in the sector guidelines or in amendments to the direction as the science on the transmission of the disease progresses.8.
This Directive is based on infection transmission prevention and specific occupational hygiene practices that focus on the need for employers to implement measures to mitigate or eliminate the transmission of the virus in the workplace.9.
This Directive recognises that there are sector specific measures that need to be taken into account and accordingly provides for sector guidelines to supplement this Directive.10.
This Directive does not reduce the existing obligations of the employer in terms of OHSA nor prevent an employer from implementing more stringent measures in order to prevent the spread of the virus.11. Definitions
In this Directive, unless the context indicates otherwise -"BCEA" means the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (Act No. 75 of 1997);"COVID-19" means Coronavirus Disease 2019;"Disaster Management Act" means the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002);"OHSA" means the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993);"PPE" means personal protective equipment;"virus" means the SARS-CoV-2 virus;"worker" means any person who works in an employer’s workplace including an employee of the employer or contractor, a self-employed person or volunteer[3];"workplace" means any premises or place where a person performs work.[3]The distinction between 'worker' and 'employee' in the Direction is used to ensure that all persons who in work in a workplace are protected and to locate the responsibility in respect of certain obligations imposed on the employer in respect of its employees such as an application for illness benefits or worker's compensation.Application
12.
Subject to clause 13, this Directive applies to employers and workers in respect of-13.
This Directive does not apply to workplaces-14.
Subject to the employer’s obligations under OHSA to conduct a risk assessment, employers with less than 10 employees need only apply the measures set out in clause 40 of this Directive.15. Period of application
This Directive remains in force for as long as the declaration of a national disaster published in Government Gazette 43096 on 15 March 2020 remains in force.16. Administrative measures
Every employer must establish the following administrative measures:16.1It must undertake a risk assessment to give effect to the minimum measures required by this Directive taking into account the specific circumstances of the workplace.16.2If the employer employs more than 500 employees, that employer must submit a record of its risk assessment together with a written policy concerning the protection of the health and safety of its employees from COVID-19 as contemplated in section 7(1) of OHSA to-16.2.1Its health and safety committee established in terms of section 19 of OHSA; and16.2.2The Department of Employment and Labour.[4]16.3It must notify all workers of the contents of this Directive and the manner in which it intends to implement it;16.4It must notify its employees that if they are sick or have symptoms associated with the COVID-19 that they must not come to work and to take paid sick leave in terms of section 22 of the BCEA;16.5It must appoint a manager to address employee or workplace representative concerns and to keep them informed and, in any workplace in which an health and safety committee has been elected, consult with that committee on the nature of the hazard in that workplace and the measures that need to be taken;16.6It must ensure that the measures required by this Directive and its risk assessment plan are strictly complied with through monitoring and supervision;16.7It must, as far as practicable, minimize the number of workers on at the workplace at any given time through rotation, staggered working hours, shift systems, remote working arrangements or similar measures in order to achieve social distancing, as contemplated in clause 17;16.8It must take measures to minimize contact between workers as well as between workers and members of the public;16.9It must provide workers with information that raises awareness in any form or manner, including where reasonably practicable leaflets and notices placed in conspicuous places in the workplace informing workers of the dangers of the virus, the manner of its transmission, the measures to prevent transmission such as personal hygiene, social distancing, use of masks, cough etiquette and where to go for screening or testing if presenting with the symptoms;16.10If a worker has been diagnosed with COVID-19, an employer must-16.10.1inform the Department of Health[5] and the Department of Employment and Labour; and16.10.2investigate the cause including any control failure and review its risk assessment to ensure that the necessary controls and PPE requirements are in place; and16.11it must give administrative support to any contact-tracing measures implemented by the Department of Health.[4]Submission must be made to the Provincial Chief Inspector at http://www.labour.gov.za/AboutUs/Ministry/Pages/IES0320-7398.aspx.[5]Report may be made to the COVID-19 hotline: 0800 02 9999.Social distancing measures
17.
Every employer must arrange the workplace to ensure minimal contact between workers and as far as practicable ensure that there is a minimum of one and a half metres between workers while they are working, for example, at their workstations. Depending on the circumstances of the workplace or the nature of the sector, the minimum distance may need to be longer. Reducing the number of workers present in the workplace at any time in terms of clause 16.5 may assist in achieving the required social distancing.18.
If it is not practicable to arrange work stations to be spaced at least one and a half metres apart, the employer must-19.
Every employer must ensure that social distancing measures are implemented through supervision both in the workplace and in the common areas outside the immediate workplace through queue control or within the workplace such as canteens and lavatories. These measures may include dividing the workforce into groups or staggering break-times to avoid the concentration of workers in common areas.20. Health and safety measures
Every employer must implement the following health and safety measures.Symptom screening[6]
[6]For more specific guidelines see: Department of Health "Guidelines for symptom monitoring and management of essential workers for COVID-19 related infection”.21.
Every employer must take measures to-22.
Employers must comply with any guidelines issued by the the National Department of Health in consultation with the Department in respect of-23.
If a worker presents with those symptoms, or advises the employer of these symptoms, the employer must -24.
If a worker has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and isolated in accordance with the Department of Health Guidelines, an employer may only allow a worker to return to work on the following conditions:24.1The worker has undergone a medical evaluation confirming that the worker has been tested negative for COVID-19;24.2the employer ensures that personal hygiene, wearing of masks, social distancing, and cough etiquette is strictly adhered to by the worker; and24.3the employer closely monitors the worker for symptoms on return to work.Sanitizers, disinfectants and other measures
25.
For the purposes of these clauses, a hand sanitizer must be one that has at least 70% alcohol content and is in accordance with the recommendations of the Department of Health.26.
Every employer must, free of charge, ensure that -27.
If a worker interacts with the public, the employer must provide the worker with sufficient supplies of hand-sanitizer at that worker's workstation for both the worker and the person with whom the worker is interacting.28.
Every employer must take measures to ensure that-29.
The employer must ensure that-29.1there are adequate facilities for the washing of hands with soap and clean water;29.2only paper towels are provided to dry hands after washing - the use of fabric toweling is prohibited;29.3the workers are required to wash their hands and sanitize their hands regularly while at work;29.4the workers interacting with the public are instructed to sanitize their hands between each interaction with public;29.5surfaces that workers and members of the public come into contact with are routinely cleaned and disinfected.Cloth masks
30.
The main benefit of everyone wearing a cloth mask is to reduce the amount of virus droplets being coughed up by those with the infection and transmitted to others and to surfaces that others may touch. Since some persons with the virus may not have symptoms or may not know they have it, the Department of Health requires that all persons wear cloth masks when in a public place.31.
For the reasons underlying the Department of Health's requirement, every employer must -32.
The number and replaceability of cloth masks that must be provided to an employee or required of other workers must be determined in accordance with any sectoral guideline and in the light of the employee or worker's conditions of work, in particular, where these may result in the mask becoming wet or soiled.33.
Every employer must ensure that workers are informed, instructed, trained and instructed as to the correct use of cloth masks.34.
An employer must make appropriate arrangements for the washing, drying and ironing of cloth masks in accordance with the Guidelines referred in clause 31.1 recommendations.35.
The general requirement for workers to wear masks does not derogate from the fact that, where a risk assessment indicates that PPE is required, those categories of workers must be provided with the accredited PPE in accordance with Department of Health guidelines.Measures in respect of workplaces to which public have access
36.
The principal purpose of the measures contained in the following clause is to protect workers from being exposed to the virus through their interaction with the public and to protect members of the public from being exposed to virus through their interaction with workers or other persons present in such a workplace.37.
Depending on what is reasonably practicable given the nature of the workplace, every employer must-38. Ventilation
Every employer must -39. Other PPE
Every employer must check regularly on the websites of the National Department of Health[9], National Institute of Communicable Diseases[10] and the National Institute for Occupational Health[11] whether any additional PPE is required or recommended in any guidelines given the nature of the workplace or the nature of a worker’s duties.[9]http://www.health.gov.za/.[10]https://www.nicd.ac.za/.[11]http://www.nioh.ac.za/.40. Small businesses
Employers with less than 10 employees must take the following measures:41. Worker obligations
In addition to the obligations of employees under the OHSA, every worker is obliged to comply with measures introduced by their employer as required by this Directive.Monitoring and enforcing the Directive
42.
An inspector designated in terms of section 28 of OHSA may perform any of the functions in section 29 of OHSA and exercise any of the powers listed in section 30 of OHSA in order to monitor compliance with this Directive.43.
In so far as any contravention of this Directive constitutes a contravention of an obligation or prohibition under OHSA, the offences and penalties provided for in section 38 of OHSA apply.44.
An inspector, contemplated in clause 42, may for the purpose of promoting, monitoring and enforcing compliance with the OHSA, advise employees and employers of their rights and obligations in terms of this Directive in accordance with section 64 of the BCEA.Sectoral guidelines
45.
The Chief Inspector appointed in terms of section 27 the OHSA must facilitate the development of sector specific guidelines to supplement this Directive by engaging with the social partners through the offices of the National Economic Development and Labour Advisory Council.46.
The sector specific guidelines must follow the template attached as Annexure A.History of this document
04 June 2020
29 April 2020 this version
Commenced
28 April 2020
Assented to