New Delhi, Apr 21 (KNN) Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the MSME units.

The objectives of the SOPs are to prevent transmission of COVID-19 amongst the employees and workers of MSMEs while ensuring continuity of businesses so that livelihoods are not impacted.

The ministry has said that all areas in the premises including Entrance Gate of building, office; Cafeteria and canteens; Meeting rooms, open areas available; verandah/ entrance gate of site, rooms in the building etc; Equipment and lifts; Washroom, toilet, sink, water points etc; Walls/ all other surfaces shall be disinfected completely.

The ministry has asked to arrange a special transportation facility for workers coming from outside, without any dependency on the public transport system. These vehicles should be allowed to work only with 30-40 per cent passenger capacity.

All vehicles and machinery entering the premise should be disinfected by spray mandatorily.

All Provision for hand wash and sanitizer preferably with touch free mechanism will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas. Sufficient quantities of all the items should be available.

Mandatory thermal scanning of everyone entering and exiting the work place to be done while there should be strict ban of Gutka, Tobacco etc. and spitting should be strictly prohibited.

In order to maintain social distancing, the ministry asked units to maintain a gap one hour between the shifts.

''Work places shall have a gap of one hour between shifts and will stagger the lunch breaks of staff, to ensure social distancing, Large gatherings or meetings of 10 or more people to be discouraged, Seating at least 6 feet away from others on job sites and in gatherings, meetings and training sessions, Not more than 2/4 persons (depending on size) will be allowed to travel in lifts or hoists, Use of staircase for climbing should be encouraged, there should be total ban on non-essential visitors at sites,'' Ministry suggested in its brochure.

The ministry further said that medical insurance for the workers to be made mandatory and hospitals/clinics in the nearby areas, which are authorized to treat COVID-19 patients, should be identified and list should be available at work place all the times.

The ministry has also asked workers to continuously wear masks in the workplace and should maintain at least 1 metre gap from each other

''Workers should take separate lunch break to avoid contact, Workers should regularly wash hands with soaps and use alcohol-based sanitizers, If any worker develops symptoms or falls sick, it must be reported to the nearest health authorities immediately,'' ministry suggested.

Eventually, the ministry also asked the workers and their families must download ‘Aarogya Setu’ app for protection against corona virus.