On 1 October 2020 the Minister of Employment and Labour published a new consolidated COVID-19 Direction on Occupational Health and Safety in the Workplace (Revised OHS Direction). The Revised OHS Direction replaces the Direction that was published on 4 June 2020.
The Revised OHS Direction takes into account recent developments communicated by the National Department of Health (NDoH). This is in light of new information about the virus from sources like the World Health Organisation.
The Revised OHS Direction aims to assist the NDoH in its collation and analysis of workplace data to prevent the escalation of the pandemic. The Revised OHS Direction accordingly places additional obligations upon employers whose employees have returned to work.
These obligations supplement the health and safety measures already required by the previous Direction, and generally in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
