Acts Online
GT Shield

Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995)

Notices

National Bargaining Council For The Road Freight And Logistics Industry: Extension to Non-Parties of the Main Collective Amending Agreement

COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment Main Collective Agreement - Extension to non-parties

F. Health and Safety Measures

 

Every employer must implement the following health and safety measures:

 

(1) SYMPTOM SCREENING

 

1.1 Screen any worker, at the time that they report for work, to ascertain whether they have any of the observable symptoms associated with COVID-19, namely fever, cough, sore throat, redness of eyes or shortness of breath (or difficulty in breathing);
1.2 Request every worker to report whether they suffer from any of the following additional symptoms: body aches, loss of smell or loss of taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, weakness or tiredness; and
1.3 Require workers to immediately inform the employer if they experience any of the symptoms in sub-clauses 1.1 and 1.2 above while at work.
1.4 If an employee present with or report such symptoms and is not at work, the employee may not enter the workplace.
1.5 If the employee is already at work and present with or report such symptoms, the employer must:
• Isolate the employee must be isolated and arrangements made for their safe transport for a medical examination or testing and for self-isolation, in a manner that does not place other workers or members of the public at risk;
• assess the risk of transmission, disinfect the area and the worker's workstation, refer those workers who may be at risk for screening and take any other appropriate measure to prevent possible transmission.
1.6 Ensure employee is tested or referred for testing and placed on sick leave as per the BCEA
1.7 If there is evidence that the employee contracted COVID-19 at work, a claim must be submitted in terms of COID.
1.8 if an employee 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:
• The worker has undergone a medical evaluation confirming that the worker has been tested negative for COVID-19;
• the employer ensures that personal hygiene, wearing of masks, social distancing, and cough etiquette is strictly adhered to by the worker; and
• the employer closely monitors the worker for symptoms on return to work.

 

(2) SANITIZERS, DISINFECTANTS AND OTHER MEASURES

 

2.1 Employer must provide employees with sufficient quantities of hand sanitiser with at least 70% alcohol content.
2.2 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.
2.3 Ensure all work surfaces, equipment, shared equipment and common areas are disinfected regularly. Ensure biometric systems are COVID-19 proof or disable them.
2.4 Ensure there are adequate facilities for hand washing with paper towels for drying hands.

 

(3) CLOTH MASKS

 

3.1 Employees must be provided with at least two cloth masks to wear while at work or commuting.
3.2 Employees are required to wear mask at work.
3.3 Ensure that employees are property instructed as to how to use and care for the mask correctly.
3.4 Observe sectoral guidelines regarding the number of masks and replacing thereof where applicable.
3.5 All stakeholders must wear mask when entering the premises.

 

(4) MEASURES IN RESPECT OF WORKPLACES TO WHICH PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS

 

Depending on what is reasonably practicable given the nature of the workplace, every employer must—

4.1 arrange the workplace to ensure that there is a distance at least one and a half metres between workers and members of the public or between members of the public; or
4.2 put in place physical barriers or provide workers with face shields or visors;
4.3 if appropriate, undertake symptom screening measures of persons other than the employees entering the workplace with due regard to available technology and any guidelines issued by the Department of Health;
4.4 if appropriate, display notices advising persons other than employees entering the workplace of the precautions they are required to observe while in the workplace;
4.5 require members of the public, including suppliers, to wear masks when inside their premises.

 

(5) VENTILATION

 

Every employer must—

5.1 keep the workplace well ventilated by natural or mechanical means to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load;
5.2 ensure that filters are cleaned and replaced regularly,

 

(6) OTHER PPE

 

(1) Every employer must check regularly on the websites of the National Department of Health, National Institute of Communicable Diseases and the National Institute for Occupational Health 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.