Without a beard or jewelry, among the measures to return to the 'New Normality'

Mexico City.- The Government of Mexico published the technical guidelines for health safety in the workplace, so that micro, small, and medium-sized companies can restart activities without compromising the health of workers.

The guidelines will be in force as of their publication and until the health emergency is declared over, indicated the Government in the document detailing said rules.

As part of these guidelines, companies are provided with lists of health security measures, which they must comply with.

"The checklists of measures summarize the Health Security Protocol prepared by companies and industries for a safe return to work," the document reads.

"Likewise, the lists are a tool that helps workplaces to assess their degree of progress and their return actions, as well as to correctly implement and evaluate the measures adopted before and during the restart of activities".

He explained that these are prepared so that micro, small, medium and large companies can easily identify the measures that are applicable to them.

The following are the actions that organizations must comply with to return to their activities.

In work entry and exit areas

Micro, small, medium and large companies

-Have access protocols with a sanitary filter that includes taking the body temperature of workers during entry and exit from the company.

If this is not possible, determine the body temperature upon leaving the facilities before employees finish their shift.

-Have guidelines for the control of visits, suppliers and contractors in terms of hygiene, healthy distance, mandatory use of face masks that must be followed when entering, staying and leaving the place.

All areas of work

Medium and large companies

-They must facilitate teleworking for people who, due to their health conditions, age, pregnancy or lactation, warrant it.

-Work meetings are preferably held by phone or videoconference, otherwise, healthy distance, respiratory hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of the place, tables, chairs and objects of common use are taken care of, before and after each meeting .

-They will limit the holding of social events.

-They must have daily cleaning and disinfection protocols for areas, surfaces and objects that are in contact with and of common use, which includes washing with soap and water, and disinfecting with a 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution or another certified for eliminate SARS-CoV-2.

-Have mechanisms for supervision or verification of compliance with the healthy distance guidelines (technological, visual, documentary, etc.) that workers must follow.

-Supervise that the soap and water solutions are not mixed with any other chemical product.

- Supervise that the sodium hypochlorite solution is prepared daily and that it is not mixed with any other chemical substance; In the event of having reactive strips for the determination of the sodium hypochlorite concentration in ppm, the solution may be stored as long as it is ensured that its concentration is not reduced by more than 10 percent.

-Take care that the 70 percent gel alcohol dispensers have the necessary amounts per work shift.

-Check that disposable paper towel dispensers always have this material.

-Have a sufficient number of containers (garbage cans) at various points to throw away used or mistreated face masks.

-Promote and communicate good respiratory hygiene in the workplace, such as covering the mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

-Recommend the worker to prioritize mobility options (transfer from home to work and vice versa) that guarantee interpersonal distance, promoting the mandatory use of face masks and eye or facial protection during the journey.

- Avoid wearing jewelry, ties, beards and mustaches because they are reservoirs of viruses and other microorganisms (fomites).

-That workers do not share cell phones, kitchen utensils, PPE, stationery, pens, etc.

-Establish guidelines so that workers maintain a social distance of at least 1.5 meters with their colleagues, and in those places where it is not feasible, the mandatory use of face masks and eye or facial protection must be made.

Medium and large

-If teleworking is not possible, have staggered entry times, modification of shifts, flexible hours or another action that avoids large concentrations of workers in the facilities at certain times and work spaces.

-In cafeterias or dining rooms, cashiers, kitchen staff, and waiters must have their hair tied up and face masks.

-If there are no physical barriers, staggered hours are implemented in the dining room, lockers, dressing rooms, cafeterias, etc., to avoid crowding of workers.

-In the event that the company has transportation for its workers, measures have been considered that minimize the risk of exposure, such as: cleaning and disinfection of the unit before boarding the workers, determination of body temperature before boarding to the bus (in the event that a worker with a temperature equal to or greater than 37.5 °C is identified, they will not be allowed to get on, they will be asked to return home, their data will be recorded to communicate it to the human resources and medical service area of the company, who will later contact you to give health care instructions), workers are given hand sanitizer when boarding the transport and the mandatory use of face masks and eye or facial protection during the journey is referred to.

-The code of ethics will establish Non-Discrimination guidelines for people who have had COVID-19 or have lived with a family member who has or has had it.

-Local or international travel will be restricted, in case it is necessary to travel, comply with preventive measures before, during and after the trip.

-Promote through communications (written, digital or printed) frequent hand washing, respiratory hygiene, healthy distance, etc.