Frankfurt am Main – The situation is clear: The risk of contracting the coronavirus is ever-present in Germany. “Whether on the factory floor, in the field, or in the office: We must ensure that employees in the workplace are adequately protected against the risk of infection. For IG Metall, occupational health and safety is the top priority. Compliance with health and safety standards is also a prerequisite for the ramp-up of currently shut-down operations or the return from working from home,” said Jörg Hofmann, President of IG Metall, on Wednesday in Frankfurt.
IG Metall has now compiled a key points paper outlining the measures necessary for infection control in the workplace, which is designed to help works councils implement them. These measures—in this order of priority—include technical measures such as partition walls or social distancing markings; organizational measures such as staggered work and break times; and personal measures, such as personal protective equipment.
Combining different measures is particularly effective due to the greater level of protection it provides. However: “Even the best measures will not have the desired effect if employees are not sufficiently involved,” cautioned Hans-Jürgen Urban, executive board member of IG Metall responsible for work organization and occupational health and safety. “Systematic and adequate training is the key to successful prevention. This should also include the commute to and from work.”
When it comes to occupational safety and health, the primary responsibility lies with employers. As stipulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, they must provide the necessary resources and tools for prevention. “Employers are responsible for organizing work and using technical resources in such a way that social distancing and hygiene requirements are met. The works council plays a crucial role in this regard. It has the right to take the initiative and can demand protective measures and develop solutions together with the employees,” said Urban.
IG Metall pushed for uniform nationwide health and safety standards very early on. Hofmann: “Last week, the Federal Ministry of Labor presented binding occupational safety standards that incorporate recommendations from IG Metall. With its key points on COVID-19 prevention in the workplace, IG Metall is providing concrete guidance based on the government’s paper for the industries within its organizational scope.”
About the paper “The Most Important Points on COVID-19 Protection in the Workplace”
Further information and press photos of Jörg Hofmann
Further information and press photos of Dr. Hans-Jürgen Urban
