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Free Sports Attendance Software for Contact Tracing

On June 5th, the Irish government announced a revised roadmap for reopening society and business. The Phase 2 announcement revealed that outdoor sports training can recommence with strict social distancing in place. Groups of up to 15, including trainers and coaches, may return to non-contact outdoor training (but not matches) while maintaining social distancing at all times. This is good news for players of outdoor sports such as soccer, rugby, hurling, camogie and gaelic football.

The Challenge

This news also comes with a huge challenge for coaches and sports compliance officers. Training sessions will no longer include practice or ‘friendly’ matches for some time. With no physical contact amongst players allowed, extra attention and detail will be required to how training sessions are conducted. In games like rugby, which is primarily a physical contact sport, you can see where that challenge presents itself.

Sports Contact Tracing Software

At Blocworx, we recognise the important benefits of physical activity and sports for both physical and mental health. Sport Ireland Outdoors report that sports have numerous benefits for both participants and the local economy. These include mental health wellbeing, physical health, active citizenship, education & life-long learning and reducing crime & anti-social behaviours. The study suggests physical activity promotes general mental health status and physical health, combating diseases like stroke, heart attack & cancer. Moreover, sports promote integration & inclusion, volunteering, interpersonal development, education motivation and achievements and prosocial behaviours. Each of these are important for children, young adults and all age groups.

Blocworx Sports Attendance Platform for Contact Tracing

Blocworx have designed a free piece of software exclusively for coaches, clubs, schools, and sporting organisations. The platform assists in compliance with the latest government regulations surrounding outdoor training sessions. These requirements will attempt to limit the spread of Covid-19 virus during training practices and assist in contact tracing.

The solution includes a questionnaire for screening players before each training session and allows the compliance officer to track attendance of each player. There is also a visitors log which is designed for other people coming and going who may not necessarily be individuals who are training.

Simply input your training details and your information is stored for easy access and reference. In the event of a Covid-19 outbreak, simply generate excel reports of your attendance history directly from the platform.

If you’re a coach, compliance officer or team manager get in touch with Blocworx today. Simply, email Blocworx at info@blocworx.com or enquire through our website contact us form. Blocworx sales team will be happy to provide your with your own login of the system.

Author

Isobel Hogan, Marketing Executive at Blocworx

Categories
Blog

Covid-19: How to prepare your business to Return To Work Safely

Return To Work Protocol Blocworx

The publication of the National Return to Work Safely Protocol marks an important milestone in restarting the Irish economy. This document is a result of collaborative work by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health. The document contains practical guidelines for the safety of workers and the people they serve. They must be protected as staff migrate back to workplaces after working remotely. The Protocol provides guidance that can be applied across all industry sectors, providing a framework on which to build your return to work planning.

Returning to work

In May this year, the Irish government also announced the ‘roadmap for reopening society and business’ setting out a phased timetable for a return to workplaces across the economy, with some specific plans in sectors like healthcare, education, libraries and cultural institutions. To re-open doors and stay operating, businesses will need to adhere to the Return to Work Safely Protocol or risk being closed.

As employers make plans to return to the workplace, they’ll also need to carefully gauge how employees feel and what would make them comfortable. Additionally, as businesses reopen, they’ll want to do the same with their customers.

If your business is in a position to resume trading or if you can begin operating from your premises, now is the time to implement plans to ensure a smooth return to the workplace.

Return To Work

Key requirements in the Protocol

  • Each workplace will appoint at least one lead worker representative, who will work with the employer to ensure that COVID-19 measures are strictly adhered to in the workplace.
  • Employers will issue a ‘Return To Work’ form for workers to complete at least three days in advance of returning to work.
  • Before a workplace reopens, there will be COVID-19 induction training for all workers to make sure that they are up to speed on the Public Health Advice and Guidance.
  • Employers are also required to update their safety plans before reopening, in consultation with, and with the agreement of, workers.
  • The plan should include measures relevant to COVID-19, for example, social distancing, the provision of hand sanitisers, tissues and clinical waste bags, clear procedures around hand washing and respiratory/cough etiquette, and ensuring proper ventilation on site.
  • Employers will keep a log of any group work in order to facilitate contact tracing.
  • Employers are required to put a response plan in place, outlining details of how they will deal with a suspected case of COVID-19 in the workplace, to include a designated manager in charge.
  • If a worker displays any symptoms of the virus during work hours, the designated manager must direct that person to a designated isolation area, along a designated route, all the time maintaining a 2 metre distance, and arrange for that person to remain in isolation before arranging for them to be transported home, or to a medical facility, avoiding public transport.
  • The employer must also carry out a full risk assessment of the incident to see what, if any, further action needs to be taken.
  • Breaks and rest periods should be organised so as to facilitate social distancing.
  • In settings where 2 metre separation is not possible, alternative protective measures such as installation of physical barriers/plastic sneeze guards should be put in place.

Take the next step

This is a challenging and unprecedented time for companies. There is no list of correct steps on how to navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic. Employers should not hesitate to make the necessary changes to their control measures or business practices. They should continuously review and update these, noting what works for them and what does not.

To help businesses and employers return to work and get back to business, Blocworx created the Return to Work Protocol system, a digital tracking solution that allows businesses to track workplace and employee activity in accordance with health and safety requirements.

The Return To Work Protocol is designed to address the extensive list of guidelines outlined above in the Return To Work Safely Protocol, so you can run your business with confidence. Track on mobile, tablet or desktop Temperature Checking, Employee Activity, Escalations & Contact Policies, Cleaning Checks, Inventory Supplies of hygiene products and Self-Assessment by employees. Collect your workplace data by simply answering pre-populated questions to achieve compliance with the latest health and safety standards. In the event of a business inspection or audit you can easily generate reports of your data directly from the system.

If you’d like try out the platform, sign up for your free 14-day trial today. If you’d like to speak directly with Blocworx sales team for more information email info@blocworx.com. A member of our team will be happy to answer your questions.

Author

Isobel Hogan, Marketing Executive at Blocworx