Corona plan fundamental education could be better
Advisors who have examined the corona sector plan for primary education see that two important things are missing. They advise involving the company doctor in the discussion about protecting vulnerable employees. In addition, a corona module must be included in the risk inventory and evaluation that every school must have.
picture: type tank
This is apparent from the occupational hygiene advice that was drawn up on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The ministry called in specialists for advice on all corona plans in the sectors. On June 15, education minister Dennis Wiersma the sector plan for basic education to the House of Representatives. The advice for primary and secondary education states: 'The sector plan does not state that prevention measures for general public health go hand in hand with occupational health care in combating the corona epidemic.'
Company doctor and risks
For example, the advice is not to discuss concerns of employees in education with the school management, but to engage a company doctor for this. “That keeps it much more neutral,” says Peter van Balen, consultant labour, safety and health at PreventPartner, who contributed to the advice. “You take the pressure off the vulnerable employee, but also the manager who may have other priorities in order to complete the roster. A company doctor can help show schools what is and is not possible.”
You take the pressure off the vulnerable employee, but also on the manager who may have other priorities
Wiersma has announced that schools should remain open as much as possible during a new corona wave because of their essential function. “It means that we will no longer get into lockdowns so quickly and it will become more of a regular process,” says Van Balen. “That is why it is good to record this in the sector plan. That is something that can be improved, although education is not at all unique in this.”
In addition, there must be a special supplement about corona in the risk inventory and evaluation of schools (RI&E). Such an inventory is already mandatory, but schools must expand it with the subject of corona. In the inventories, schools look at the risks to the health and safety of their employees. This is laid down in the Working Conditions Act.
Van Balen: “An RI&E helps to inventory risks in a structured way and to keep employees upright. Everything you invest in health and safety, you get back. This also differs per school: what do you do about ventilation, what walking routes are there, suppose there is hybrid education, then you know where everything is needed. You make sure it's ready in advance. Schools also make a budget, such an RI&E is something dynamic and should be constantly improved.”
You get back everything you invest in safety and health
The sector plan for basic education already contains a short sentence about the RI&E, says AOb-policy officer Marcel Koning: “But, it would have been obvious to include this much more clearly. And that there is a very clear link with the Working Conditions Act. For example, it could have been added to the point about the script. It is customization. It is important if the RI&E has been adjusted to actually carry out this. So if it says: we keep our distance, do this if necessary.”
Koning, together with the labor market platform Voion - in which employers and unions from secondary education come together - are working on a checklist that helps to put their RI&E in order and to take measures to prevent infections. This checklist will soon be available for primary, secondary and secondary vocational education.
the bobbin
Earlier on said AOb-chairman Tamar van Gelder has already said that the educational staff are 'lost' again in the event of a new corona wave. 'The sector plan contains a lot of words, but the measures are far too non-committal or even completely absent,' says Van Gelder. The basic principle of the plan is that education should continue to run as long as possible. 'I can certainly agree with that,' says Van Gelder, 'as long as it is done as safely as possible.' The AOb has been insisting for some time that ventilation must be in order, education staff should be given priority in new rounds of vaccinations and a Additional insurance should receive if they become incapacitated for work.
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