Overcoming challenges of the new norm post MCO

A webinar titled “Risk of Covid-19 Outbreak: The Challenge of New Norm after MCO” was co-organised by Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) and Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS) of Kampar Campus on 27 June 2020, via Microsoft Teams.

The webinar, which was moderated by FEGT academic staff Ts Dr Leong Kah Hon, served as a learning and sharing platform for participants to enhance their understanding of the industrial practices that will continue to be practised after the Movement Control Order (MCO). Participants learnt that these practices were important to help industries adapt to the new normal life and to assist the Ministry of Health in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.

Invited speaker, Tan Chuew Wen, who is an industry advisory panel (IAP) member of UTAR and is the current Compliance Manager in Malaysia-Rhenus Logistics Sdn Bhd shared her experience when she assisted in establishing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Management of Employers and Employees for Covid-19 pandemic at the workplace. The sharing session discussed various topics on MCO, such as actions taken by employers and employees and topics related to workplace, such as workplace protection; protection of employee; emergency response protocol; mandatory daily to weekly reporting; and contact tracing.

She further explained about the workplace conditions that companies should abide. Companies had to reduce the number of employees to a minimum level or at least 50% during the MCO phase as stated in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) approval letter for the respective industries. “Companies were required to create a work-from-home system for employees to fulfil the demand and need of the domestic market for the products, submit to MITI the list of employees involved during MCO and ensure limited movement of employees, including their journey from workplace to home. Since Malaysia has entered RMCO, manpower capacity management is dependent on the respective company's discretion. However, from one of the Prime Minister's speeches, a flexible workplace arrangement is recommended to reduce infection risk,” said Tan.

Other safety measures include temperature checks, prohibition on the entrance of visitors or staff with a body temperature above 37.5°C, and the need for companies to provide hand sanitizers at all entrances, as well as the mandatory use of face masks by all employees involved.

“Sanitisation and cleaning processes should also be carried out three times a day, especially in the common areas, and factory buses must be disinfected every time before use. Companies are also required to establish and implement best-practices guidelines on social distancing, and companies are responsible for the full cost of disinfection,” explained Tan.

When explaining the actions to be taken by employers, Tan mentioned that employers must identify relevant employees; whether they are healthy or ill, or if they have travelled overseas, the need for quarantine and health declaration forms.

“Employers need to communicate with employees about the pandemic and explain to them about the preventive measures practised. They must also enforce hygiene practices in the workplace and conduct daily screenings or temperature checks, and the records must be kept for at least three months. Daily supervision of employees’ health status is also important in informing them on safety precautions and in assessing employees’ mental health. Employers can also monitor their employees through their sick leaves to evaluate the reason for their absence from work,” advised Tan.

She added, “As employees, they are responsible for their own health, safety and well-being, and one of the best ways is to maintain good personal hygiene including frequent hand washing, respiratory etiquette practice and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when required. Employees also need to practice social distancing in their workplace, avoid sharing food and use contact tracing applications (apps). Besides, no-handshake policy and the procurement of screening equipment are essential in the workplace. Furthermore, identifying the nearest healthcare facilities from the workplace is as important as ensuring the availability of hand sanitizers at the entrances of premises.”

Additional actions to be taken at the workplace, as mentioned by the speakers, are to ensure the implementation of all health and safety measures, proper living arrangements of employees, preventive measures on transportation, and to ensure the access to hand washing including the setting up of mobile sinks, regular cleaning work site, proper disposal of waste in accordance to SOPs, alternate work arrangement processes and good maintenance of workplace facilities.

She also advised participants to use reliable thermometers when conducting temperature checks. For workplace disinfection, she advised to use PPE because some cleaning agents can cause skin irritation. PPE for cleaning includes rubber gloves, masks, plastic aprons, rubber boots, goggle or face shields and long-sleeved gowns.

Towards the end of her sharing, she reminded participants on the need for everyone to follow the guidelines and SOPs outlined by their employers and government, in order to effectively break the chain of Covid-19 pandemic. “One should always avoid crowded areas, confined spaces, and close conversations, also known as the 3Cs, and instead we should practice the 3Ws, which are to wash our hands frequently, to wear our masks, and to warn others,” advised Tan.