Just before COVID 19 hit New Zealand earlier this month, I had signed up as a casual employee for seasonal work. So, as it happens, I am an essential worker. Who would have thought?
Its been interesting, from an H&S perspective, to see how the organisation has dealt with the new situation. In my opinion, it has done well. Physical distancing of 2 metres in the workplace, providing appropriate PPE, making sure everyone washes their hands, staggering the use of the washbasins, checking everyone’s temperate as they enter the factory, staggering the shifts, applying tape throughout the factory and café to keep people separate and making appropriate changes to work practices, amongst other things, seem like the right thing to do. And, after talking to the chap in charge, there is more to come.
I am going to make the following recommendations:
 Disinfect the login keyboard and finger ID reader after every employee - or have a staff member do it wearing rubber gloves
 Use the term ‘Physical Distance’, not ‘Social Distance’, as we still want people to connect socially, just not physically
 Provide workers with information on what to do at home from the Unite COVID 19 site
 Use COVID 19 site posters to replace the Australian Victorian Health posters to show solidarity with the rest of the country and with the campaign
 Have a board showing what the organisation has done, what it is going to do and what the workers need to do.
But I still have concerns, not so much with the organisation, but with the workers and what happens at home. When I get home, I strip off my work clothes and leave them in the garage. But do they? And are they keeping in their ‘bubble’?
Yesterday as I raced to my car after finishing work, I heard a guy behind me blow his nose (and not into a tissue) and then spit on to the ground. He had just worked the same long shift where personal health and hygiene had been a focus, but he didn’t make the connection to his behaviour once he left the factory.
And, what about the recently employed workers (the organisation is still employing)? Where are they coming from and what are they doing when they go home?
My partner, my dad and friends are questioning whether I should continue working there.
Me too!