We’ve been told today we can go back to work but only to see urgent cases. I’ve got loads of PPE (not stuff the NHS needs) and done a full risk assessment but I’m not sure whether I want to go back or not. Unfortunately the decision is also financial and I’m not sure there’d be enough income and I’d be better off on furlough. Need to do some serious thinking over the next few days.
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.
Pretty simple, if you can afford to, stay home. Your life is worth more than a few quid.
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.
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.
In the water industry we have had to adapt by turning to home working for office staff pretty much overnight, reducing the number of people that may come into contact with each other on sites and reducing services to essential activities whilst we review what we can do safely. We are lucky that a lot of operational work is carried out in the outdoors rather than in enclosed spaces like factories, but our huge offices have been pretty much closed down which I never thought I'd see. There was a point a few weeks back where we hit 3000+ remote working and the IT system was still pretty stable. Thats an amazing feat in itself as neither the remote working system or the company structure was ever design to have that many of the company working remotely at the same time. I'm lucky in that my role that I can home work but I'm also still out onsite doing essential work which does include meeting people. If I'm meeting others then we do it safely and probably better than the current guidelines of meeting others 1 on 1 outside your household as its mostly outdoors and we have PPE on. I know not all people are lucky to be in the same position as myself regarding working environment.
But there isn't zero guidance, it's there it's just that some would rather pretend it isn't there (er...masks? Look it up, watch the DIY vid like I did) and instead take note of Twitter or Facebook. No matter who's PM they can't do a risk assessment for every workplace in the country including how the workforce get there and home again and the fact is that no matter what the government do they're going to be whinged at and critisised by some. Some will be deserved but some will just be mindless noise.
I think one thing we have learned is that some seem to have zero common sense and actually some are just Darwin Awards waiting to happen. Street Parties? Group Hugs? You couldn't make this up. Some people have no sense at all and some are just selfish and many will need their arses wiping over this so sadly I think whoever is PM/the government they need to treat the population as the brain dead twits that some clearly are and really lay the law down. That'll be unpopular and expensive but it'll fulfil the PM's role to "protect the public" from C19 at least.
I'm not the government's biggest fan through all but to be fair to them they have started to put together guidance on how implement safe work spaces for different businesses:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-guidance-launched-to-help-get-brits-safely-back-to-work
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Company's will have to do some of the legwork themselves but I agree guidance for the general public needs to be short, concise and easy to follow. Its needs to be written taking into account of the lowest denominator where the British public is concerned as sadly in Britain if you make something idiot proof you just get a better class of idiot!
There are some people that are being stupid about the virus. I saw it at the weekend with the VE street parties in our village and talking to others at work this week. Thankfully it seems to be a small minority but thats still enough. The irony of VE celebrations whilst that generation is fighting for their lives in care homes across the country wasn't lost on me.
Regarding face covering and face mask lots of people don't seem to understand the different between the two and their application. Thats a worrying concern for me as face covering for the general public relies on 100% adherence as one person covering their face protects others rather than themselves. It only takes one idiot to ruin it for everyone. The other thing that annoys me is everyone thats wearing dust mask with one way valves in them. They might as well not wear a mask as the valve open when you breathe out (i.e. the main reason why the general public should cover their faces!).
Sorry that's bit of rant! Tomorrow I may charge the A9's battery and at least turn it on as I've not used the camera since before lockdown
