- Messages
- 23,622
- Name
- Toby
- Edit My Images
- No
I don't know what line of work you are in and industries/services are all affected in different ways. There are some industries that can make things safe but there are certain industries where changes could potentially be made to let some of their work force return to work in a safe manner at a reduced company output. The issue is some companies will resist making changes to how they work where they can because the furlough scheme is available and its an easier route to take. I know of some companies/suppliers that we work with that completely shut up shop when they could potentially adapt their ways of working and have stayed open on a reduced service. Other companies have really stepped up and been really supportive whilst making it as safe as possible.
Its the adapting to new ways or doing things differently that I can see will be the sticking point for many companies. Some companies don't want to change from the way they have always done things as its what they know. Some of course can't make any changes that will allow them to reopen safely and thats where the furlough scheme should be used. Its a tough decision/choice to make.
I'm a chiropractor which means obviously I can't socially distance in my line of work as it's hand on. However I already drafted protocols last week for a return to work and I'm 'happy' that risks are extremely minimal. One practitioner working at a time, no reception staff (practioners will do their own reception), one patient in clinic at a time, one door in one door out. Practitioners in full PPE, patients given a disposable mask and asked to sanitise hands on entering the premises. Benches, door handles etc etc all sanitised after each patient.
I've had to turn people away who are on the front line and not been able to work due to bad backs, it would be nice to be able to treat these people at least.Whilst I agree with this its not something that can be applied across the board as every case is very different. I work in the water industry and if we had shut up shop the whole country would be pretty screwed very quickly without water or sewage services! The same goes for other key worker activities like electricity, gas or internet- the general public would have been very annoyed if they didn't have any of them.
This story was on GMB this morning, and it was sad but also made my blood boil that there are people in the world that can do such atrocities. I hope they find them and treat it as murder or at least manslaughter.I do believe no one in any higher risk group through age, underlying health conditions or other risk factors should be put at risk by being forced to go to work. There was a sad article where a London transport worker was spat on and she's sadly died as she had underlying health conditions. If you ask me she shouldn't have been at work but then the person who did it should be charged with a criminal offence and quickly be taken through the courts as an example to others who may be stupid to do the same thing.
That's it, it's weighing up risks. As I said earlier, I will actually be safer in my workplace than going to the supermarket, going to the petrol station, and probably even walking my dog.Thats the thing you can't fully remove all risks in anything (just look at driving yet we all see that as part of normal life) only take sensible precautions to mitigate those risks. I've had anxiety about going out onsite even though I've carried on working all the way through lockdown. I think the fear will cause even more deaths than the virus in the end. I've read about people who have had heart attacks or strokes yet won't go to hospital as they are worried about catching COVID-19 there.
Its the ones that won't go to work because they feel it will put them at risk doing that but don't mine trying to meet every man and their dog outside of work whilst taking zero precautions that I can't understand. Only you can make the right choice about whats right for yourself.