- Information obligations
Employers are no longer required to display information leaflets on COVID-related safety measures at the entrance and in the most visible places of the company's premises.
On the other hand, employers are still required to inform those accessing the company's premises on: (i) the risk of catching COVID; (ii) the obligation to comply with all preventive measures ordered by public health authorities and at company level, by listing the measures; (iii) the obligation to inform the employer and to avoid entering the company's premises in the event one has COVID-19 symptoms.
- Access to the workplace
Even those who have been in contact in the last 14 days with individuals who tested positive for COVID can now access the workplace. The same is true for anyone who has tested positive for COVID and has been positive for more than 21 days. Nevertheless, employers can still measure their employees' temperature upon entry.
- External suppliers (service agreements)
Contractors must still immediately inform their principals in the event of one of their employees tests positive for COVID. In turn, principals must provide their contractors with adequate information on the content of the company protocol in place on COVID matters.
All other obligations that were previously enforced on contractors have now been canceled.
- Cleaning and hygiene measures
Employers are still required to: (i) adopt measures allowing constant air exchange; (ii) ensure daily cleaning and periodic sanitization of tools and workplace, especially in case an employee tests positive for COVID-19; (iii) provide employees with proper hand sanitizers.
- Facemasks
The new protocol no longer calls for the obligation to wear a facemask at work but it strongly recommends doing so, especially in closed environments, spaces open to the public or where it is not possible to guarantee interpersonal distancing. Nevertheless, the protocol still requires employers to make FFP2-type facemasks available to their employees.
In the light of the above, it will be up to the employer - together with the company doctor - to (i) identify specific areas of risk within the company's premises, even with reference to specific groups of employees; and (ii) eventually update the company Risk Assessment Document (DVR) arranging for the adoption of personal protection equipment, which may be necessary to prevent COVID-19 contagion (e.g., FFP2-type facemasks).
- Management of commons spaces
Employers are still required to: (i) limit the number of people present in common areas; (ii) ensure adequate ventilation; (iii) provide for an organization of spaces that guarantees suitable hygienic conditions; (iv) carry out daily cleaning and periodic sanitization of canteens and the keyboards of beverage and snack dispensers.
In addition, it is still recommended to stagger entry and exit times to avoid bigger groups of employees.
- Management of symptomatic people
In case an individual appears to have COVID symptoms, he/she must immediately inform the employer, be separated from other workforce and be provided with an FFP2-type facemask.
- Medical surveillance
The protection of fragile employees requires exceptional medical surveillance. For these employees, who had COVID and were hospitalized, the company doctor will carry out a specific check-up to ensure that they are able to return to work, regardless of the actual duration of sick leave.
- Smart working and fragile employees
The protocol reiterates that smart working represents a useful tool to limit the spread of COVID-19, especially among fragile employees. For these employees, the employer must establish, after consulting with the company doctor, specific precautionary and organizational measures.
- Update of the Protocol
The current protocol will be updated again before 31 October 2022.
