The Prevention and Safety Authority in Sharjah issued a guideline on “Health, Safety, Professionalism and Return to Office Work” in light of the spread of infectious diseases and epidemics, and as a precautionary measure to address the emerging corona virus (Covid-19).
The engineer, Lamia Al Noman, Director of the Support Services Department at the authority, revealed that the guide came based on the efforts made by the Emirate of Sharjah in order to maintain the safety of community members in the facilities, where it determines the minimum safety requirements to protect from the spread of infectious diseases, and the duties that must be followed From officials and workers of institutions to reach a safe society.
She added that the authority issued its guide to follow-up and directing Sheikh Eng. Khaled bin Saqr Al Qasimi, head of the authority, which includes awareness-raising, preventive and precautionary procedures, conducting sterilization and disinfection operations, procedures for human resources departments and all departments, while the second part of the guide includes procedures related to employees, before returning For the workplace, and while returning to the official working hours, with a part related to psychological support for the responsible party and employees as well.
She stated that one of the most important awareness-raising measures included in the guide is the use of social media and e-mail to spread awareness among workers and members of society, organize training courses to raise the level of public awareness, and publish advice from the medical and competent authorities in the country, regarding infectious diseases.
It emphasized the necessity of taking preventive and precautionary measures with regard to returning to workplaces; From examining the temperatures for the employer’s visitors by security guards, using cameras and devices and registering them upon entry, specifying distances of no less than two meters between individuals to enter the facility, and alerting employees and auditors to adhere to personal protective procedures and equipment; Of a face mask, gloves and hand sanitizer, with an emphasis on the importance of washing hands continuously, and providing rooms to isolate the injured or suspected of being infected.
She pointed out that among the preventive and precautionary measures also, identifying all those in contact with cases that prove that she was infected with the virus, conducting tests for them, determining the parking points for the auditors, specifying central points to receive the transactions, as well as spacing in the case of using places to eat meals, taking into account the physical spacing, and closing kitchens and tools Common, such as coffee machines and water coolers, and closing prayer rooms until further notice.
She continued: There are other requirements that must be paid attention to, such as ensuring that all public places are cleaned continuously, seating places and elevators, door and corridor handles, air conditioning and lighting controls, windows and walls, meeting rooms, etc., with emphasis on periodic examination, in coordination with Ministry of Health and Community Protection. Al-Noman said: Among the instructions that must be followed are rescheduling of attendance and departure times, working on the shift system, applying strict policies to prevent travel, identifying employees excluded from the decision to work in offices, each according to his specialization and the nature of his work, and arranging the position of sitting inside offices, and continuing to hold meetings Through social media, reducing the number of visitors as much as possible, and forming a hotline team to respond to inquiries.

Encouraging the employee
Lamia Al-Noman stated that among the important things that the guide focused on was the psychological aspect of the matter, the necessity of encouraging the employee returning to his work, providing moral support to him, listening and seeking to meet the needs of the employees returning to work, and providing a line of psychological consultations through coordination with medical insurance companies Whether for office employees, or quarantined in their homes, and to promote a culture of positivity, with officials constantly communicating with employees, and coordinating to provide workshops and courses that broadcast positivity to employees.
She added that among the psychological matters also for the employee, full confidence that government agencies will take all necessary measures to ensure the health of employees and visitors.