Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
532. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if it will be ensured that all the requirements of the work safely protocol issued 20 November 2020 are implemented, with particular reference to the contents of section D3 (details supplied), in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42606/20]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy that my Department has implemented the requirements of the Work Safely Protocol in each of its buildings and in particular, the requirements of Section D3.
My Department has the following infection prevention and control arrangements in place which provide for physical distancing across its essential operations where staff are required to attend the workplace:
- No hand-shaking policy is in place;
- Attendance across office locations is maintained at a maximum of 30% occupancy to allow for physical distancing;
- Start, finish and break times are staggered;
- Staff are organised into different teams and pods to avoid cross-contamination;
- All canteen facilities have been reorganised to allow for 2 metre distancing;
- Signage is in place across all Department buildings to remind staff and visitors of Covid-19 control measures;
- Queue management systems are in place at our public offices;
- Appointment times are staggered to ensure physical distancing in our public offices;
- Meetings are conducted remotely;
- In certain operational areas where 2 metre distancing may be challenging, the Department has put in place clear plastic sneeze guards and screens and staff and visitors are provided with appropriate P.P.E.;
- The Department has introduced time limits to interactions in above areas;
- Staff wear face coverings when transiting through buildings and in common areas
- All COVID-19 control measures are regularly subjected to risk assessment by the Department’s Health and Safety Manager;
- Requests for additional staff to attend Department workplaces are subject to assessment and review by the Department’s COVID-19 Management Response Group to ascertain if the above control measures can be maintained at all times.
