There are additions to the COVID-19 Regulations with regards to what is expected from Employers that were issued by the Department of Employment and Labour in a Notice on the New Consolidated COVID-19 Regulations on 1 October 2020.

What are the additions to the COVID-19 Regulations?

1.Submit documentation

2. Weekly report submissions

3. Isolation and sick leave

Submit Documentation to Department of Labour

All Employers who employ more than 50 employees now need to submit a record of the company risk assessment, together with a written COVID-19 Health & Safety policy regarding the protection of workers from COVID-19. This must be submitted to the Department of Employment and Labour by the 21st October 2020.

(All clients where we assisted with compliance files, these are already in your file and needs to now be forwarded as below.)
These documents must be submitted to Chief Provincial Inspector, information can be found: http://www.labour.gov.za/About-Us/Ministry/Pages/IES0320-7398.aspx

Weekly Report Submissions

All Employers with more than 50 employees must submit weekly reports to the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) Reports must be submitted before Tuesday (for the previous week) on a weekly basis, with the week starting on a Sunday.

Manual templates or to register for online service, can be found here: https://www.nioh.ac.za/covid-19/occupational-health-surveillance-system-ohss-business-portal

Submitted data, that will be requested will include:

  • Infected employees
  • Vulnerable employees
  • Employees who have returned to work following COVID-19 infection
  • Symptom screening of employees

Go to:   https://www.samedical.org/files/covid19/doctor_resource/NDOH_Workplace-Data-Submission-Guideline_19Aug20.pdf , for the NDOH Guidelines on workplace data submission.

Isolation and Sick Leave

The isolation period for employees who test positive for COVID-19 has been reduced from 14 day to 10 days. Employees can return to work after their isolation providing that the recovered employee wear a surgical mask for 21 days from date of diagnosis.

Employers are to closely monitor the employee for symptoms and that all the other COVID-19 regulations are strictly adhered to with regards to social distancing, sanitizing and cough etiquette.
HSP Group has an offering of Free COVID-19 Posters for download and use in your company.

Employees in isolation must remain in quarantine for 10 days and placed on sick leave or should sick leave cycle be exhausted, ill health benefits should be applied for.

Employees who refuse to work due to serious risk of contracting COVID-19 in the work place must enter into dispute resolution procedures which have been introduced.

If you find yourself overwhelmed with all of the COVID-19 regulations, let HSP Group partner with you and assist you through this all.

It is our passion!