Individual risk assessment

[Ludon]

Hi there everyone

Will be returning to school next week for work. Have asthma but it is mild, stable and controlled. Anyone else have experiences of an individual risk assessment before returning to work? I have been asked to consider what extra precautions I need to take more than the usual that all colleagues take/follow. Will be working with a small bubble of children- primary age. Thank you.

[Cheetahstar88]

Do you have access to occupational health? They should help you decide the safest way to be in school. Current advise is still to stay 2m away from someone you don't live with and if you have to get closer than 2m, you need to wear a mask.. which I believe your not allowed to do in a school. Not sure it would be safe for you to return yet?

[Poobah]

Ideally this should be an occupational health assessment carried out by a qualified practitioner. The school will have access to occupational health services via HR. It's not ideal to ask the employee to come up with "ideas" for adjustments to the workplace as this doesn't meet legal requirements on the employer and could miss an important option for safety.

Risk Assessments are insufficient to address specific health issues in respect of Covid-19 as they are usually carried out by a staff member or manager who has been on a short course. Risk Assessments are used for general health and safety in the workplace rather than specific health issues covered by the Equality Act 2010.

Have a chat with HR and ask that they seek advice from occupational health who will probably have protocols already for asthmatics in the school environment with specific adjustments for Covid-19.

All the best.

[Griffon]

The single most important risk factor with corona virus is age .