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Every day there is more and more information becoming available around essential services and what that means for your business.
The NZ government has now released the free phone number and have set up an email address to help anyone who is unsure. If you need more details, we recommend you get in touch with them on either 0508 377 388 or email essential@mbie.govt.nz
Essential services
If your business is an essential service, there will be alternate ways of working put into place to help protect workers and employees. This includes shift-based working, staggered meal breaks, flexible leave arrangements and physical distancing.
Not sure how this all works? We’ve put together a list of key steps you can implement to ensure the safety of you and your teams.
Guidelines for essential works
Physical distancing
Physical distancing means keeping yourself out of any situation where you come into face-to-face contact with others closer than 2 metres away.
This is about physical distance – not social distancing. We recommend that you should keep in touch with friends and family via the phone, or online.
Stagger lunch breaks and team meetings
In order to maintain physical distancing, it’s important that events such as lunch breaks or team meetings are managed differently. Staggering lunch breaks will help to minimise the contact you have with others, as well as holding team meetings over the phone, or via a video call, or even out in the open air, as long as you maintain the 2m distance.
Alternative ways to wash hands
There are alternate ways in which we can keep our hands clean to stop the spread of COVID-19, without the use of hand sanitiser ( which is seemingly hard to get hold of!). Whether you’re based in one place or on the move, we recommend that you always carry the following items which will allow you to wash your hands, wherever you are.
- Bucket or bowl
- Bottles of water
- Any type of soap
- Single use paper towels
Avoid sharing items with others- from PPE, hand tools, machinery to knives and forks.
As well as avoiding contact with each other, it’s important that we minimise sharing different types of items with each other, as this can contribute to the spread of COVID-19. We recommend that you only use your own PPE, hand tools, machinery and cutlery. If you are not able to do so, it’s important that you clean the surfaces of any tools or machinery with disinfectant.
Track people on and off site, including couriers and deliveries
Put measures in place so that in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in your workplace, you have a documented list of everyone who may also have been exposed to the virus. This can be done by ensuring everyone who enters and leaves the workplace has signed in and out. If you receive deliveries or couriers, set up a designated location for items to be delivered. Make sure that everyone who enters the workplace is feeling well, and has washed their hands.
Segregation of trades on site
Planning the way you work a little differently can make all the difference. If you are working around other trades or people not in your business, it’s important that you plan the work to be done so you are not in each other’s work space or even better, limit to one trade at a time on site. If you are working closely with others, remember to maintain a 2m distance.
Supporting those in isolation or who are unwell
Other than those in essential services, we will all soon be in isolation so it’s important that in times like this, we stick together and remember to support and be kind to one another.
Keeping in touch with friends and family either over the phone or via video call is a great way to stay connected. Make sure you also stay healthy by eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising.
As always, the wellbeing of our customers is our number one priority, so if you have any further questions, or would like to talk to us, please pick up the phone and call us on 0800 555 339.
