OBEY RULES OR WE’LL SHUT YOU
Hsapowers Handshakes to close down ban & contact all businesses logs essential
CORONA CRISIS: FIRMS WARNED
Businessman Pat Phelan
ICTU’S Patricia King support businesses and workers across all sectors to return to work safely following Covid-19 closures. “Obviously, specific sectors may need to introduce additional safeguards but this document sets the minimum measures. “Some aspects will vary from workplace to workplace – what’s practical in a small shop will be different to what’s needed in a large factory.”
While the guidelines have been brought in to support firms, the minister said public health must be paramount at all times.
The HSA is developing an inspection regime and will be carrying out checks to ensure compliance.
Ms Humphreys warned: “The protocol is mandatory and the HSA will be in charge of its oversight and enforcement.
“Where needed, HSA inspectors will be able to take appropriate enforcement action.
“This means that if a business doesn’t co-operate and comply with the public health guidelines, after being asked to make improvements, the HSA will be able to order them to shut down the workplace.”
And Ms Humphreys said the HSA will work with smaller businesses for “maximum safety” for whom the new protocols might prove challenging.
The protocols were welcomed by union and business representatives yesterday.
General Secretary of Irish Congress of Trade Unions Patricia King insisted the national guidelines are “an essential weapon in the battle against this lethal virus”.
She added: “These are not discretionary. They are a set of directive actions that every employer and worker, contractor and customer has an absolute duty to adhere to.”
However, distancing guidelines may be challenging for some businesses such as salons, pubs and restaurants.
CEO of Chambers Ireland Ian Talbot said: “Nobody said this was going to be easy. We will need to keep reviewing this protocol, and will need to hear from sectors how it may be adapted sensibly to facilitate them.”
IBEC chief Danny Mccoy said there is now light at the end of the tunnel for firms – but the scars of Covid-19 will remain for a long time.
He added “the numbers might not match the past”. Mr Mccoy said: “I think people are going to have to have new business models and in the case of their margins, are probably going to have to change.
“And so society is going to have to appreciate that it’s going to be more expensive to provide the services.”
news@irishmirror.ie
Rules are essential weapon in fight with this virus PATRICIA KING YESTERDAY