Coronaviruses (CoV) refer to a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

On 7 January 2020, ‘Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed as the causative agent of ‘Coronavirus Disease 2019’ or COVID-19. The majority of the case-patients initially identified were dealers and vendors at a seafood, poultry and live wildlife market in China. Since then, the virus has spread to more than 100 countries, including South Africa.

CoVs are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

In a Media Statement released by the South African Government on 17 March 2020, the Department of Employment and Labour unveiled guidelines to deal with COVID-19 at workplaces and appealed to employers to review and update current risk assessments, taking into account the new hazards posed by exposure to COVID-19.

Further to the above statement, the Department of Employment and Labour issued directives in terms of Section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act (57 of 2002) that requires individual businesses or workplaces to have COVID-19 risk assessments and management plans in place, and conduct worker education on COVID-19 and relevant protection measures.

AirCHECK can help your business to manage the COVID-19 risk by offering the following:

• Complete COVID-19 Risk Assessment with a Management Plan, which not only complies with the requirement of the Department of Employment and Labour, but will also assist you to continue your business, whilst reducing the risk of a workplace outbreak.
• Advisory service on the best options for implementing engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment controls, including the selection of sanitizers, decontaminating agents and the correct respirator for a given occupational category.
• On-site training for your management and employees on COVID-19 control measures, as required in terms of Regulation 4 of the Regulations for Hazardous Biological Agents, OHSAct (85 of 1993), albeit only small groups under controlled conditions.
• Training material and brochures that can assist you to comply with the requirements of Regulation 4 of the Regulations for Hazardous Biological Agents, OHSAct (85 of 1993), should you wish to present the material in-house.