More changes ahead for service sectors – what employers have to do
Photo: Eeva Anundi
The coronavirus rules have been relaxed, requiring new assessments of the safety of customer service work and actions to ensure this.
As customers return, employers must assess the impact of the changing situation on employees’ occupational safety. Working environment expert Merja Vihersalo has listed the ways in which service sector workplaces must ensure safety in customer service work.
1. Risk assessment
Risks must be assessed carefully and working practices adapted based on this assessment. During coronavirus, this means that, depending on their work, staff must have the appropriate protective equipment. In service sectors this could mean things like protective plexiglass screens at checkouts, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, face masks and respiratory protective equipment. Washing hands is the most important means of protection.
Customer numbers can be limited and movement round premises controlled so as to reduce face-to-face contacts. Shift planning can also help to limit the number of contacts.
2. Good induction training
Employees must be given proper induction training on the new ways of working and implementation of these is to be monitored. Work must be organised so as to enable compliance with the new working practices. If necessary, employees in risk groups are to be transferred to different tasks based on an occupational health care evaluation.
3. Guidance for customers
Customers are to be instructed to act so that employees’ occupational safety can be guaranteed in all circumstances.
Read more on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic here.