COVID PROTECT SHEME
The COVID-19 pandemic has radically transformed the way people live and work throughout the globe.
Whilst Global Authorities, Governments, organizations, employers and workers are all individually instrumental in protecting human lives during a pandemic, multi level cooperation and coordinated action is required to simultaneously ensure safety, business continuity, and uninterrupted operations.
1Cert COVID-PROTECT verification scheme, aims to ensure that measures are taken at company level to improve workplace safety and prevent workers exposure to unnecessary risks directly related to the new coronavirus. That administrative and organizational controls are in place such as specific policies, procedures and good practices, that adequate engineering controls are implemented where appropriate such as improvements in ventilation, inclusion of physical barriers, isolation rooms and remote working, and that affirmative action is taken to assess and mitigate internal and external infection risks.
The safety of all parties, risk mitigation at organizational level and business continuity is the essence of 1Cert COVID-PROTECT.
ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS
1Cert COVID-PROTECT assessment is implemented as a tool to evaluate organizational ability to mitigate risk of infection and spread of COVID-19 at the workplace and maintain business continuity in case of confirmed infection within the organization, supplier, or customer community with whom there is direct contact.
Successful implementation of 1Cert COVID-PROTECT requirements depends strongly on the cooperation between employers, supervisors, and workers to make positive changes within the organization that will in turn improve resistance of infection and increase preparedness and responsiveness to COVID-19.
By effectively implementing the 1Cert COVID-PROTECT scheme, the organization will be able to:
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take effective action to protect workers and those they have contacted from COVID-19 related risks,
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demonstrate ability to address and mitigate risks related to COVID-19 using a systematic approach; and
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demonstrate operational effectiveness and adaptation to change that ensures business continuity and continuous supply of product.
1Cert COVID-PROTECT assesses organizational capability in the following areas:
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Policy planning and organization.
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Risk assessment, management and communication.
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Prevention and mitigation of infection risk,
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Arrangements for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases
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Arrangements for business continuity and operational improvement
BENEFITS
1Cert COVID-PROTECT assessment leads to a third-party independent verification that the organization
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takes affirmative action to protect all employees from COVID-19 and similar coronavirus infection,
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helps the organization address and mitigate risk from other communicable diseases such as common cold, and reduce absence due to seasonal or other illness,
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addresses the well being of other relevant interested parties (customers, suppliers, visitors, general public),
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has a system in place to rapidly respond to sudden operating restrictions,
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addresses economic sustainability and business continuity,
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instils confidence for delivery of product/service free of infectious agents,
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complies with relative regulatory and statutory requirements,
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effectively communicates with Government and relevant Authorities in a timely manner,
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has access to resources and information material related to COVID-19,
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continuously improves its effectiveness to deal with a possible pandemic outbreak