Keeping the workplace “safe” is a responsibility for every employer in the U.K. and this applies in the same way to PA employers.

We recognise that the workplace is also someone’s home, so the lines and duties can be a bit more complex.  We’ve offered the following guidance in the hope it will help.

This list is not exhaustive and you should consider what other things you can do to protect you and your employees when they are at their place of work:

1. Follow the Government guidelines on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), a downloadable poster is available from Health Protection Scotland; and this includes
2. Having equipment available for ALL people in the home to regularly wash their hands using soap and water;
3. ALL people in the home using masks while the PA’s are on duty;
4. ALL people in the home using gloves while the PA’s are on duty;
5. Regularly using anti-bacterial wipes to wipe down surfaces.

This can seem very strange as it is also your home but it is vitally important that you protect both yourself and your PA’s while they are at work and following the Government guidelines is extremely important for doing that.

If your PA becomes exposed to Covid-19 (Corona virus) when at their place of work, you are required to report this in line with RIDDOR.

This will include telling the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) what infection control and staff protection measures were in place, so whilst we appreciate these guidelines may seem uncomfortable and unnatural in your own home, you must remember that when your PA’s are working, this is a place of work and you should do all you can to protect them and yourselves by following these guidelines.

When PA’s are not present, you can then remove all protective clothing.