Managing COVID-19 in the Workplace

(New Prescriptions and the Way Forward)

1 Day interactive online course

27 May 2022 (08:30 - 16:00) Interactive Online Course

Online Booking form

Click here to download registration forms for 27 May 2022 (08:30 - 16:00) Interactive Online Course

Course content

Module 1:  Background and scope of guidance 

• Introduction and background to COVID-19

• The fundamentals of COVID-19 (routes and modes of transmission, signs, symptoms, incubation period, variants, and mutations)

Module 2:  Update on the latest laws and prescriptions pertaining to the management of COVID-19 

• Termination of the National State of Disaster

• New prescriptions and directives pertaining to COVID-19

Module 3:  COVID-19 employer, employee, and third-party obligations 

• COVID-19 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act

• The general duties of employers towards employees and other persons

• Responsibilities of employees

Module 4:  New Code of Practice for Managing Exposure to SARS-COV-2 in the Workplace, 2022 

• Introductory provisions (Introduction, the purpose of this code, interpretation, application)

• Risk assessment and plan (Risk assessment and plan, contents of risk assessment and plan)

• Administrative measures (Notification of workers, symptom reporting and isolation of workers, ventilation, specific PPE, vaccination of employees, small businesses, worker obligations, refusal to work, no deduction from employee’s remuneration, monitoring and enforcing the Code, limited application to mines, mining areas and works)

Module 5:  OHS Act – Newly amended Hazardous Biological Agents Regulations, 2022 

• Classification of Covid-19 (now classified as a group 3 Hazardous Biological Agent)

• Explanation of the newly amended Hazardous Biological Agents Regulations relating to the management of Covid-19 for the workplace.

Module 6:  National Health Act - amendments to the Regulations relating to the surveillance and the control of notifiable medical conditions (proposed permanent long-term replacement to South Africa’s state of disaster COVID regulations)

a) National Health Act - proposed amendments to the Regulations relating to the surveillance and the control of notifiable medical conditions (out for public comment) 

• Refusal of medical examination, prophylaxis, treatment, isolation, quarantine, and protocols in public areas and gatherings

• Isolation or quarantine of persons, Isolation of symptomatic and asymptomatic persons, repeat testing

• Designation of quarantine facilities, criteria for self-quarantine, self-isolation, and contact tracing

• General measures to contain the spread of notifiable medical conditions that can spread through droplets or aerosol

• Persons entering and exiting the Republic

• Aircraft crew on international travel, vessel crew, local air travel, cross border freight operators

• Control measures for public places and gatherings

• Compliance officers 

b) National Health Act – newly published amendments to the Regulations relating to the surveillance and the control of notifiable medical conditions (published on 4 May 2022)

• Wearing of face masks to contain the spread of COVID-19

• Regulation of gatherings to contain the spread of COVID-19

• Regulation of persons entering the country to contain the spread of COVID-19

• Amendment of Annexure A to the Regulations

Module 7:  Environmental cleaning, disinfection and decontamination of the workplace 

• Routine cleaning and disinfecting of the workplace

• Decontamination and deep cleaning procedures for possible infected work areas

• Decontamination of company transport vehicles

• Prescribed use of hazardous chemical agents for cleaning, disinfection and decontamination of the workplace

Module 8:  Processing of COVID-19 claims 

• Criteria, diagnosis impairment for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

• Benefits, claims procedure, documentation, and submissions of COVID-19 claims

Module 9:  COVID-19 - Health and Safety Representatives and Committee’s Involvement 

• The role of health and safety representatives and committees in the management of COVID-19

Module 10:  Recording and Investigation of COVID-19 Related Cases 

• Record keeping requirements

• Prescribed investigation for COVID-19 incidents

Background: 

• The National State of Disaster, which mainly regulated Covid-19 in South Africa was officially terminated on the 4th of April 2022. With the termination, all the Regulations and Directions made under the Disaster Management Act were repealed with immediate effect, with the exception of a few transitional measures.

• The Covid-19 pandemic would however be managed in terms of the National Health Act. Draft health regulations have been published for public comment and once this closes on April 16 and comments have been considered, the new regulation will be finalised and promulgated. The intention is that these regulations will replace the Covid-19 control measures that were in place and published under the Disaster Management Act.

• On the 15^th of March, the minister of Employment and Labour published a Code of Practice for the Managing Exposure to SARS-COV-2 in the Workplace, 2022. The purpose of this Code is to guide employers and employees in managing exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the workplace.

• The Department of Employment and Labour has also listed SARS CoV2 (Covid-19) as a group 3 hazardous biological agent (HBA) under South Africa’s Hazardous Biological Agents regulations. The newly amended regulations are applicable to every employer or self-employed person at a workplace where exposure to an HBA (i.e., Covid-19) may occur.

Purpose of the course: 

• This course was written to update and assist employers with the latest COVID-19 requirements for workplaces.

• It provides attendees with critical information to manage COVID-19 effectively after the termination of the National State of Disaster.

• It contributes towards providing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment thus ensuring workplace compliance with statutory requirements.

The course will be useful for: 

• COVID-19 compliance officers,

• Health and safety practitioners,

• The CEO/ Managing Director,

• Directors - Section 16(2) appointees,

• Compliance officers and security officers,

• Human resource managers,

• Managers and supervisors,

• Health and safety representatives and committee members,

• Union representatives,

• Any person interested in being COVID-19 compliant.

Price:

• Price per delegate: Interactive Online Course R 2440-00 

• Price include course material and certificates. 

For further information contact:

• Deidre on (012) 666 8284 / 083 556 9407

• Fax: (086) 547 2636

• mail [email protected]

Online Booking form

Click here to download registration forms for 27 May 2022 (08:30 - 16:00) Interactive Online Course