COVID-19: Advice to farmers and rural business owners on protecting vulnerable staff members

I would also like to draw attention to the risks to individuals in the age bracket 60-69 who, upon objective assessment, would appear are at significantly greater risk than those under 60. This is particularly the case where they have an underlying health issue or respiratory problems such asthma or Farmers Lung. Given the prevalence of these conditions in the rural community I feel that an employer’s duty extends to undertaking additional measures to ensure that you protect these individuals. There are many ways in which you can do this, but I would advise that you start with the following:

• Reissue medical questionnaires to be completed within 24 hours. These are then to be scrutinised to establish the existence and extent of any conditions
• Review all occupational health records to establish the presence of any such conditions
• Seek expert advice from an Occupational Health Practitioner where you are aware of such conditions
• Review your existing Risk Assessments – particularly CoSHH to ensure that exposure to any activity or substance which may aggravate such conditions is strictly regulated
• Conduct an individual Risk Assessment for any individual classified as high risk
• Hold regular team meetings, observing physical distancing recommendations, to update and consult with the team and to inform them of any temporary, emergency measures you may be seeking to introduce
• Consider offering psychological support to any individual that is required to self-isolate
• Consider excluding contractor staff other than where absolutely necessary and where contractor attendance is necessary, reinforce your procedures to minimise unnecessary contact between individuals.

These suggested measures are not exhaustive but are designed to enhance and develop your Risk Assessment processes during this critical period as part of sustaining your wider safety management system.

It is true to say, that none of us know how the virus will develop, or how severe the impact will be or how long that impact will be felt for, but it is entirely conceivable that it will be with us for many months, possibly recurring later in the year.