In response to the Corona Virus outbreak The Play Inspection company are putting measures in place to ensure they play their part in preventing the spread of the disease, these measures are put together with the current advice from the World Health Organization NHS and the Government.
The following advice has been circulated to all staff including play inspectors currently carrying out visits:
- Wash hands often with soap, especially before eating or handling food, after toilet visits, after using public transport. Use a sanitizer gel if soap and water are not available. Hand washing PDF documents have been circulated to all staff.
- Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitizer gel.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Keep everyone updated via email or telephone on ANY travel outside of the UK and if you have travelled check with the Play Inspection Company before commencing any work for us.
Our staff have been made aware of the symptoms to look out for both in themselves and their close contacts including family and friends. The symptoms they have been made aware of are as follows (from the NHS website):
Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. We have not been made aware of anyone suffering these above illnesses that work for the Play Inspection Company. If they have any of the abo ve symptoms, they are to call the office to inform a member of staff and are then to dial 111 and take their advice. Then inform the office on the advice they have been given. The Play Inspection Company will then act
accordingly relevant to the advice.
Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. We have not been made aware of anyone suffering these above illnesses that work for the Play Inspection Company. If they have any of the abo ve symptoms, they are to call the office to inform a member of staff and are then to dial 111 and take their advice. Then inform the office on the advice they have been given. The Play Inspection Company will then act
accordingly relevant to the advice.
The Play Inspection Company are putting measures in place to ensure those that are asked or choose to self isolate are able to carry out duties at home and are keen to support staff who feel this is the best option for them. The phones and emails can be forwarded to enable staff to ensure business continuation.
For Inspectors working outside, the same advice has been provided with regard to symptoms and self isolation and where possible protective gloves should be worn to minimize the likelihood of coming into contact with the virus whilst undertaking inspections.
Whilst we will strive to maintain service levels at 100%, we cannot absolutely guarantee it will be possible to do so when the pandemic reaches it ’s peak over the next few months as our staff and inspectors require specialist skills to undertake their tasks on a day to day basis.
At The Play Inspection Company we understand the pressures on the NHS at times like these and we are following the guidance on the Government website about the role the public can play in supporting this.
Everyone can help support the UK’s response by:
- Following public health authorities’ advice, for example on hand washing
- Reducing the impact and spread of misinformation by relying on information from trusted sources, such as that on www.nhs.uk, www.nhsinform.scot, www.publichealth.hscni.net, https://gov.wales/coronavirus-covid-19 and www.gov.uk
- Checking and following the latest FCO travel advice when travelling and planning to travel
- Ensuring you and your family’s vaccinations are up to date as this will help reduce the pressure on the NHS/HSCNI through reducing vaccine-preventable diseases
- Checking on elderly or vulnerable family, friends and neighbours
- Using NHS 111 (or NHS 24 in Scotland or NHS Direct Wales) (including online, where possible), pharmacies and GPs responsibly, and go to the hospital only when you really need to. This is further explained on the NHS website: When to go to A&E and Choose Well Wales
- Being understanding of the pressures the health and social care systems may be under, and receptive to changes that may be needed to the provision of care to you and your family.
- Accepting that the advice for managing COVID-19 for most people will be self-isolation at home and simple over-the-counter medicines
- Checking for new advice as the situation changes
The phased response that the government are currently putting in place will be respected by all that are working at the Play Inspection Company. Currently we can help to delay and contain by doing all the above.
We are checking these websites daily and will be following any updates from the following websites and will act and respond immediately to any changes that are enforced:
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
