Covid 19 Risk Assesment

Likelihood

Consequences

Risk Rating

1 – Very Unlikely

1 – Insignificant

1 – 4 Acceptable

2 – Unlikely

2 – Minor

5 – 9 Adequate

3 – Fairly Likely

3 – Moderate

10 – 16 Tolerable

4 – Likely

4 – Major

17 – 25 Unacceptable

5 – Very Likely

5 – Catastrophic

Task Description

COVID-19 Return to work

People Affected

Employees / Contractors / Visitors / New and Expectant Mothers / Young Persons

Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Employees

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·         These employees have been strongly advised not to work outside of their home environment.

·         Refer to the current advice on who is in the ‘Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Employees’ group.

·         Regular updates to be communicated electronically to all employees.

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Clinically Vulnerable Employees

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·         These employees have been advised to take extra care in observing social distancing and these employees should be helped to work from home in their current role or an alternative role.

·         Where a ‘Clinically Vulnerable Employee’ cannot work from home, you need to offer the option of the safest available on-site role, which will allow them to stay 2m away from other employees, individuals.

·         Refer to the current advice on who is in the ‘Clinically Vulnerable Employee’ group.

·         If for any reason they have to spend time with any other person within 2m, you need to assess whether this is an acceptable level of risk.

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Employees with Protected Characteristics

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·         As with any workplace risk assessment for employees with protected characteristics i.e. expectant mothers, you will need to look at their specific duties and whether you can ensure their safety in line with the above measures.

·         Where this is not possible, expectant mothers are entitled to suspension on full pay if a suitable role cannot be found for them.

·         You will also need to consider those employees who live with a ‘Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Person’.

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Employees Who Need to Self-isolate

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·         Ensure that employees who are advised to stay at home, do not physically come into work.  This includes individuals who have symptoms or COVID-19 as well as those who live in a household with someone who has symptoms.

·         Where it is possible ensure employees can work from home whilst self-isolating.

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Managing Wellbeing

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·         Employers may also want to review how they can support their employees on broader issues, such as bereavement support and general anxiety about the ongoing situation.

·         Where work-related issues present themselves, the HSE’s published Stress Management Standards should be followed.

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Children

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·         Only children who are symptom free or have completed the required isolation period should attend.

·         If a child develops a fever and/or cough – parents will be required to collect their child/children immediately and follow the guidance on isolation.

·         All employees and students who are attending an education or childcare setting will have access to a test if they display symptoms of COVID-19 and are encouraged to get tested in this scenario.

·         Where a child, young person or employee test is negative, they can return to their setting and the fellow household members can end their self-isolation.

·         Where a child, young person or employee test is positive, the rest of their bubble will be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days.

·         As per the government guidance, parents do not need to take temperatures of children prior to arrival to the nursery, however we will check temperatures on arrivals. However, all parents must use common sense and ensure that if children or family members develop symptoms, the Government guidance is followed regarding isolation (7 days for the person affected and 14 days for the family member).

·         If a child develops symptoms whilst in the nursery, where possible they will be isolated in a designated room or they will be kept 2 meters apart from other children. The room will be ventilated, the employee who is caring for the child will wear PPE (gloves, apron, and a face mask).

·         RIDDOR to be informed when notified of a confirmed case.

·         Lunches to carry on as routine.

·         Keep tables 2m distance, where possible and eat outdoors where possible.

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Supplies

·         The Manager will do a stock check each week to ensure we have adequate level of PPE.

·         In the event PPE is difficult to get hold of due to shortages we will speak to the Local Authority for support immediately.

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Premises,

Building & Resources

·         The Manager will be designated as a key worker, therefore in the event there is a food shortage, the Manager will be able to go for priority shopping.

·         Whilst remaining open during the COVID-19 outbreak, we have maintained our regular health and safety checks each day.

·         Keep windows open where possible to ensure ventilation.

·         Children should not be permitted to bring items from home into the setting unless essential for their wellbeing.

·         If children do bring an item into the nursery, the items should be appropriately cleaned upon arrival.

·         All resources required for play and learning experiences for children should be regularly washed and/or sterilized.

·         Stationary, phones and any items that are used in each room should not be mixed between rooms.

·         It is imperative that employees wipe their stationary before using the item.

·         If stationary is borrowed from another room, please wipe before use.

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Hygiene and Health & Safety

PPE

·         Government guidance is that PPE is not required for general use in early years settings to protect against COVID-19 transmission.

·         PPE should continue to be worn as normal for nappy changing and the administration of first aid.

·         As noted above, in the event of a child developing symptoms, the employee with this child may wear a mask, it must be reinforced that ALL “superhero’s wear masks.”

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Hygiene and Health & Safety

Risk assessment

·         All activity should be risk assessed and due consideration given to any adaptations to usual practice.

·         It is expected that would include, but not be limited, to the suspension of learning experiences involving materials which are not easily washable such as malleable materials and the suspension of the sharing of food and utensils.

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Hygiene and Health & Safety

Laundry

·         All items within the setting requiring laundering must be washed in line with NHS laundry guidelines.

·         Do not use the drier, clothes to be hung on drying racks outdoors. This will allow for more wash cycles throughout the day.

·         If soiled, all potentially contaminated linen should be washed at the highest possible temperature recommended for that fabric. The combination of temperature (when more than 40C), detergent action and dilution effect during the wash and rinse steps, will contribute to the process of soil removal and disinfection for the washed item.

·         Items such as towels, flannels and bedding must not be shared by children.

·         Children must not bring in their own soft toys and toys into the nursery, unless adverse emotional harm to the child.

·         Parents to send in a sealed bag with washed, clean clothes for their child. Dirty clothes will be given back at the end of the day. The whole bag returned at the end of the week.

·         Employee clothing must be washed at home, at a highest temperature the clothing allows. Ensure that clothing is changed into and out of each day. Use a separate bag to store the clothing.

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Hygiene and Health & Safety

Waste disposal

·         All waste must be disposed of in a hygienic and safe manner and nothing should be left in the rooms overnight.

·         In the event PPE is used for a child or employee with a confirmed case of COVID-19, the waste must be double bagged and disposed of in the normal waste after 72 hours.

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Hygiene and Health & Safety

Cleaning

·         Every evening all toys must be sterilised.

·         Rotate toys to provide variety for children. Do not have all toys accessible all day.

·         High touch areas must be wiped every 2 hours using anti-bacterial sprays provided.

·         Aprons and gloves must continue to be used for intimate care and disposed of immediately.

·         Communal area, touch points and hand washing facilities must be cleaned and sanitized regularly.

·         Children’s toilets must be wiped with anti-bacterial sprays after every use.

·         Kitchen cleaning will continue to follow rigorous cleaning processes All staff must ensure following use of the kitchen, they wipe areas that have been touched.

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Hygiene and Health & Safety

Hand Washing

·         All children and employees must wash their hands upon arrival at the nursery, for 20 seconds following the NHS guidance.

·         Hand washing will be done more than regularly than normal and where necessary hand sanitiser will be used.

·         Hand sanitiser is available at entry to the premises.

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Travel

Travel associated with setting operations

·         Wherever possible employees and parents should travel to the nursery alone, using their own transport.

·         Employees should attempt to drive to the nursery and use the car park, try to limit public transport.

·         If using public transport, please follow govt advice on wearing a mask.

·         Parents should be encouraged to ensure they do not leave travel accessories including buggies, car seats, scooters on the premises, but rather in external buggy areas if necessary.

·         Outings from the setting into the local community will be restricted and will be kept under review.

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Visitors

·         Attendance to the premises should be restricted to children and employees as far as practically possible.

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Parents

Physical Distancing

·         Parents must always work with the nursery and understand that if their child develops symptoms, immediate collection will be required and adhering to the isolation period will be necessary.

·         Only parents who are symptom free and or have completed the required isolation periods will be able to drop off or collect their child.

·         Aim to limit drop off and pick up to 1 parent per family.

·         Parents must form an orderly queue outside of the front door, keeping a safe distance of 2 meters from any other parents/children.  Follow markings.

·         When parents are waiting to drop off or collect their child, physical distancing should be maintained.

·         If a settling session is needed, parents will be allowed to enter the nursery if not doing so would
cause a child distress. Parent will be required to follow strict hygiene throughout the visit.

·         External activity providers will not be permitted.

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Employees

Training

·         All employees will attend training to understand the strict operating procedures that must always be followed.

·         Operational diaries must note times of cleaning high touch areas.

·         Emergency revisions to the EYFS have been implemented which provides some flexibility on ratios and qualifications to make this feasible.

·         Therefore, it may be at times, lone working will be needed to avoid mixing cohorts. It is important that the Manager is aware of this and a door is open, as well as a phone is present in the room to “get help” if needed.

·         Social distancing must be maintained during lunch.

·         No more than two employees using the kitchen at any one time. It is advisable to have lunch outdoors.

·         Employees should avoid physical contact with each other including handshakes, hugs etc.

·         Confidential conversations will take place in the office with the windows open.

·         Where possible, during meetings and training, reasonable steps to be taken to do this in the largest space possible. However, during the day if confidential conversations must take place, we will need to do this in the office, with the windows open and maintaining a safe distance.

·         It is advisable to arrive at the nursery at least 10 mins before your shift to change into your uniform and at the end of the day to change back into your own clothes. The uniform must be washed and dried at home, at the maximum temperature of the material, separate to other household linen, to then enable you to wear it the next day.

·         As per the employee handbook, we expect employees to maintain strict personal hygiene e.g.: nails cut short.

·         Wherever possible employees should remain with the small group of children, the ‘bubble’ of children who they are allocated to and not meet other groups.

·         This may not always be practical; therefore, a judgement needs to be used and safety of children always is paramount. If mixing cohorts and employees, please ensure prior to this action, all hands are washed and toys as well as high touch areas are wiped.

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Employees

Physical distancing/ grouping

·         Consideration should be given to limiting the number of employees in the nursery at any one time to only those required to care for the expected occupancy levels on any given day.

·         Employees should return home directly after work, maintain govt adv re: social distancing and key worker letters available if required to get priority shopping.

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Employees

Attendance

·         Employees should only attend the nursery if they are symptom free.

·         Employees have access through the Govt for testing and so this can be undertaken if required. Upon testing negative, the employee can return immediately. If positive, the isolation guidance must be followed. See GOVT website for testing.

·         Employees who are clinically extremely vulnerable and advised to shield for 12 weeks will need to provide their NHS or GP letter for confirmation to remain on furlough.

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Wellbeing and education

•   Children should be supported in age appropriate ways to understand the steps they can take to keep themselves safe including regular hand washing and sneezing into a tissue.

•   Hand washing must be done much more regularly (every 2 hours) and following the NHS protocol.  This must take place for 20 secs and immediately upon entry to the building.

•   Children will continue to be supported emotionally and a re-settling process will take place for each child. Parents will be asked to fill in an updated “all about me” to enable the early years practitioners to settle the children in and manage their routines.

•   Babies will continue to be cuddled to support their emotional wellbeing; however, this will be done holding the child at chest height.

•   Practitioners will continue to provide intimate care and be extra vigilant ensuring hands and faces are regularly wiped, toys are disinfected each evening and high touch areas such as chairs/tables/toys/doors are wiped every 2 hours with anti-bacterial wipes.

•   We will continue to do our best to follow the EYFS for all children, however, our main priority will be to settle the children back into nursery life and maintain the highest possible hygiene procedures.

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Children

Physical distancing/ grouping

•   All reasonable attempts will be made to ensure that babies, toddlers, and preschoolers will remain in their groups (bubbles) throughout the day.

•   This may not always be practical throughout the day depending on ratios. In the event groups need to be mixed, toys and high touch areas must be wiped using the anti-bacterial wipes provided.  

•   Care routines including provision of meals, nappy changing, and toileting should be within the space allocated to each ‘bubble’ wherever possible. Employees will continue to wear gloves and aprons throughout this, with disposal of these items immediately after use.

•   The kitchen will have a maximum of two people at any one time. Window must always be open. Kitchen cleaning processes must continue to be followed.

•   Outdoor spaces should be used by different ‘bubbles’ at different times of the day.

•   All outdoor equipment must be wiped by the group at the end of their play and prior to another group entering the garden. Babies must go directly to the baby garden and this space will only be accessible to babies.

•   Preschool and toddlers will continue to maximize outdoor play, they can rotate their bubbles between mud garden and main garden. Outdoor toys need to be limited to those that can be cleaned prior to groups swapping. Remove Sand.

•   During sleep times, attempt to keep cots and sleeping mats at a safe walking distance.

•   Ensure that bedding is washed for toddlers and babies at the end of every day. It is important to ensure that bedding for children is not mixed whilst in use. If soiled, all potentially contaminated linen should be washed at the highest possible temperature recommended for that fabric.

•   The combination of temperature (when more than 40oC), detergent action and dilution effect during the wash and rinse steps, will contribute to the process of soil removal and disinfection for the washed item.

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Accident, Security and Other Incidents

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·         In the event of an emergency i.e. accident, fire or break-in, you do not have to stay 2m apart as this would be unsafe to do so.

·         Where any person is involved in the provision of assistance to others, particular attention should be made to sanitation measures immediately afterwards, this includes washing of hands.

Face Coverings

·         Hands need to be washed thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before putting a face covering on, and after removing it.

·         When wearing a face covering, avoid touching your face or face covering, as you could contaminate them with germs from your hands.

·         Change the face covering if it becomes damp or if they have touched it.

·         Continue to wash your hands regularly.

·         Change and wash your face covering daily.

·         Where the material is washable, it should be washed in line with manufacturer’s instructions. If it is not washable, dispose of it carefully in your usual waste.

·         Practise social distancing wherever possible.

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Food Preparation

·         Access to the kitchen for employees needs to be as few as possible.

·         Limited interaction between the kitchen employees and other employees, especially on breaks.

·         Consider teams working shifts to limit interaction between employees.

·         Where possible keep workstations 2m apart, if you can, consider moving equipment i.e. sinks, hobs and ovens.

·         Where possible install cleanable panel to separate workstations in larger kitchens.

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Recontamination

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·         Employees who suspect they may be unwell are required to stay away from work and follow normal sickness absence reporting procedures.

·         Dedicated personnel to manage the crisis.

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Assessors Name:

Rebecca Siegel / Phillippa Munns

Date of Assessment:

June 2020

Approved By:

Wirehouse

Date of Review

June 2021