Sanitary protocol at work: end of the mask in the company

[Mis à jour le 3 mars 2022 à 17h07] The mask is no longer mandatory in business from March 14, announced Jean Castex on the 1 p.m. news of TF1 this Thursday, March 3. More generally, the company protocol, published on the Ministry of Labor website has been update February 16, 2022.Teleworking has been relaxed since February 2, 2022: it will no longer be compulsory but strongly recommended when possible, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced during a press conference on January 20. Mask, barrier gestures, ventilation, canteen, moments of conviviality… Here are the rules in force.

Is the mask still compulsory in the workplace?

Guest of 1 p.m. on TF1 this Wednesday March 3, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that from March 14. the wearing of the mask will be “lifted everywhere, including classes“. Logically, it is lifted in companies. On the other hand, it will remain required in public transport and in health establishments.

What rules for teleworking?

Since February 2, 2022, the use of teleworking has been recommended: employers set, within the framework of local social dialogue, the procedures for using teleworking, ensuring that links are maintained within the work collective and the prevention of risks related to the isolation of employees working from home. PFor positions that allow it, telework must be favored for at least 3 days per week. When the organization of work and the situation of the employees allow it, this number can be increased to 4 days per week.can we read on Public Service website.

Telework will no longer be mandatory but highly recommended.

For the Public Service: For positions that allow it, the use of teleworking is no longer mandatory but strongly recommended. In addition, when teleworking is not possible, separation systems between employees or between employees and other people present in the workplace (customers, service providers) such as transparent screens can be put in place by the employer to certain workstations (e.g. reception, open-space).

Can we have face-to-face meetings?

Yes, even if theMeetings by audio or videoconference remain to be preferred. When they are held face-to-face, participants must respect barrier gestures, aeration and ventilation measures in the premises as well as the rules of physical distancing. The employer can define a ” gauge “specifying the number of people who can be present simultaneously in the same enclosed space so that the rules of distancing can be respected.

Are farewells allowed?

The moments of conviviality bringing together face-to-face employees in a professional setting can be organized in strict compliance with barrier gestures:

• Aeration and ventilation measures
• Rules of physical distance between people: 2 meters

What rules in the canteen?

The health protocol has issued new rules for collective catering. In company canteens or restaurants.

• When the mask is not worn: the distance between each person at the table must be 2m.
• Guests should not not be face to face.
• The 8 m rule² per employee in the canteens is reinstated, as in March 2021.

Is the vaccine compulsory in the company?

The last protocol emphasizes the importance of vaccination in the workplace. Employers must encourage the vaccination of their employees by allowing them to be absent during working hours. Absences for employees and trainees do not lead to a reduction in remuneration and are assimilated to effective working time. Leave of absence may be granted to an employee who wishes to accompany a minor or protected adult to be vaccinated. Employers can ask the employee for confirmation of the vaccination appointment or proof of vaccination. Furthermore, the protocol recalls the obligation to vaccinate for carers and workers in health and medico-social establishments and services. Employers must monitor compliance with this obligation. People with medical contraindications must present a medical certificate. Vaccination can be done by occupational medicine.

For whom is the vaccination pass compulsory?

Professionals working in establishments open to the public (in the places, establishments, services or events listed in article 1 of the law relating to the management of the health crisis of August 5, 2021) are, since January 24, 2022, subject to the obligation to present a vaccination pass. Since October 16, 2021, the personnel of health and medico-social establishments and services, subject to the vaccination obligation, must justify, to their employer, that they have a complete vaccination schedule or that they are not subject to it due to a medical contraindication or recovery after infection with Covid-19. Persons who intervene in the aforementioned places, establishments, services or events are not subject to this obligation if they intervene outside spaces accessible to the public or outside opening hours to the public or in the event of urgent interventions or for activities Delivery. When a worker subject to the obligation to present a pass does not present the supporting documents to his employer, he may, with the agreement of his employer, take days off or RTT. Otherwise, the employer notifies him by any means, suspension of his employment contract. An interview takes place at the end of the 3rd day following the suspension in order to examine with the person concerned, the means of regularizing his situation, for example by proposing to him to be assigned to another position or to work remotely when c ‘is possible.

What barrier gestures in business?

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water (access to which must be facilitated with the provision of single-use towels) or by hydro-alcoholic friction
• Systematically cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing into your elbow
• Blow your nose in a single-use tissue to be disposed of immediately in a non-manual opening trash can
• Avoid touching your face, especially your nose, mouth and eyes or touching your mask – Do not shake hands or kiss each other in greeting, do not hug
• Regularly ventilate closed rooms with mechanical or natural ventilation or ensure an adequate supply of fresh air through the ventilation system that is regularly checked and complies with regulations. It is necessary to ventilate the premises by natural ventilation preferably (open doors and windows) at all times if the conditions allow it and at least 10 min every hour.
• Facilitate the measurement of CO2 in the event of difficulty in guaranteeing the quality of the air, in order to alert the occupants of the need to ventilate or limit the occupation of the premises.
• Respect a physical distance ofat least 1 meter
• Wear the distance to two meters when the mask cannot be worn

What rules for a vulnerable person?

Vulnerable employees can benefit from reinforced protection measures:

• isolation of the workstation (provision of an individual office or installation of material protections);
• respect for reinforced barrier gestures;
• absence or limitation of workstation sharing;
• reinforced cleaning and disinfection of the workstation and affected surfaces;
• adaptation of arrival and departure times to avoid rush hours in transport;

Vulnerable employees particularly at risk when teleworking is not an option, can be in partial activity or receive derogatory daily allowances until July 31, 2022 later.

What rules for a symptomatic person?

In the presence of a symptomatic person (including fever and/or cough, difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing, loss of taste and smell), iit is necessary:

1. Isolate the symptomatic person in a dedicated and ventilated room by immediately applying barrier gestures, keeping a reasonable distance from them (at least one meter) with the wearing of a surgical mask.
2. Mobilize the establishment’s dedicated healthcare professional, a lifeguard/work first aider trained in Covid risk or the Covid referent, depending on the local organisation. Provide him with a mask before his intervention.
3. If there are no signs of seriousness, contact the occupational physician or ask the person to contact their attending physician for medical advice. If confirmation of the absence of signs of seriousness, organize his return home by avoiding public transport and equipped with a surgical mask.
4. If a screening capacity by antigen test exists in the company, a test can be carried out immediately by an authorized professional wearing the appropriate protective equipment. If there is no possibility to perform the test on site, the person should be asked to perform a diagnostic test as soon as possible, ideally on the same day.
5. After taking care of the person, contact the occupational health service and follow its instructions, including cleaning and disinfecting the workstation and monitoring employees who have been in contact with the case.
6. If the Covid case is confirmed, the identification and management of contacts will be organized by level 1 and 2 “contact-tracing” actors (doctor taking charge of the case and Health Insurance platforms). Contacts assessed as “at risk” according to the definition of Public Health France7 will be taken care of and placed in quarantine.

What rules for a positive case?

Anyone showing symptoms must be asked by their employer not to go to their place of work. People who show symptoms of Covid-19 must isolate themselves at home, as soon as symptoms appear, and carry out a screening test as soon as possible. If they are unable to continue working from home, they are asked to se declare on the declare.ameli.fr website, which allows them to benefit from the payment of daily allowances without a waiting period as soon as the symptoms are declared, subject to carrying out a PCR test within 48 hours.

As well as a positive person, any person in contact with a person with Covid-19 who has been contacted by the health insurance services as part of the “contact tracing“(contact tracing) must not go to their place of work, must isolate themselves and carry out a screening test as soon as possible. These people can request a work stoppage to isolate themselves without a waiting period.

Sources:

– NATIONAL PROTOCOL TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF COMPANY EMPLOYEES IN THE FACE OF THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC, June 29, 2021, updated on January 3, 2022 Ministry of Labour, Employment and Integration.

– Preventive measures in the company against Covid-19, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Integration.

– Work and Covid-19: what are the rules? and Evolution of health rules in the workplace, Service-public.fr

– Companies: the health rules of the protocol are changing, October 21, 2020 Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information, Service-public.fr