News that more than 600 workers at meat processing plants in the south have now contracted the covid-19 virus, is illustrative of the dangers posed by the disease.
The new Return to Work Safely Protocol (downloadable from the gov.ie website) is a must read for all employers, even those who have continued to operate as essential services during the initial lockdown phase.
Protocols for the UK are also available online and are downloadable from the DEFRA website. The world of work is one which has radically changed and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
The health and well-being of workers has always been important - but now the emphasis on that is even more, as the novel viral disease imperils workers, their families and anyone they come into contact with.
The new protocols in both jurisdictions will add new layers of admin headache and other practical problems for employers, but the outcomes of not enforcing the new rules will no doubt be serious.
