The unprecedented impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is being felt by organisations of all sizes across the vast majority of sectors. In such unique and extraordinary circumstances, it is vital that your business responds quickly yet carefully to meet rapidly changing requirements. Among various measures, this means implementing and continuously updating an effective COVID-19 policy.
Looking ahead, you should also be prepared to update policies, procedures, risk assessments and other documents to encompass the requirements for a future pandemic. The development of a comprehensive pandemic policy is highly recommended – and almost certain to become mandatory in the post COVID-19 world.
Developing a Pandemic Policy to Meet New Requirements
Preparations and contingencies for the novel coronavirus pandemic need to begin now, if they haven’t already. As all aspects of society accept the challenge of flattening the curve on COVID-19, the onus simultaneously rests on your business to get ahead of the curve on meeting new requirements.
As well as having an overarching pandemic policy, it is very important for ALL businesses to plan for a potential coronavirus outbreak in the workplaces or communities where your organisation operates. Equally, for businesses wanting to remain compliant to ISO standards, it is essential to perform a specific and detailed COVID-19 risk assessment as part of updating your Management System to reflect the latest requirements.
If your business is ISO Certified you will need to incorporate new COVID-19 requirements into your:
- Risk assessment documentation
- Policies and procedures – including SWMS
- Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Plan
- Business Continuity Plan
- Emergency Management Plan
- Current and future business decisions and actions
What if you’re not ISO Certified? To comply with industry standards and remain competitive, every business should strongly consider incorporating COVID-19 requirements into its plans, policies and procedures regardless of its ISO Certification status. That said, ISO Compliance will prove a serious advantage when it comes to keeping contracts and winning new business both immediately and in the aftermath of this pandemic crisis.
Specialist OHS Consulting
At ICS Consulting, our specialist OHS consultants are qualified to review and amend your documents to incorporate these new requirements. We engage industry experts who can assess the various risks within your operations and recommend appropriate courses of action for compliance.
Preparing for Future Challenges
To proactively protect your business in the event of future challenges such as flood, fire and the spread of a virus, Integrated Compliance Solutions can also help you develop a Business Continuity Plan and Emergency Management Plan.
It’s worth considering that moving forward, such measures will almost certainly become a requirement for all government work and allow your business to be considered for many large corporate and commercial property tenders.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.
At Integrated Compliance Solutions, our consultants also specialise in compliance management software. Contact us to find out more about how digital IMS could benefit your business.