Question #5
What are our obligations to the employees who are vulnerable to contracting COVID- 19 or have caregiving responsibilities when the schools are closed?
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (Cap. 509) (the “OSHO”), employers are required to as far as reasonably practicable, ensure the safety and health at work of all employees.
What an employer reasonably needs to provide to comply with the OSHO depends on the circumstances but if certain employees are known to be more vulnerable to Covid- 19, employers may wish to provide masks to them and minimise their exposure to other colleagues in the workplace or even consider allowing them to work from home.
