Mandatory hygiene standards for tourism employees
The following hygiene standards are mandatory for all tourism employees in all sectors of the Palestinian tourism industry and regardless of their job position, employment status, work contract or position in a tourism business.
The standards are also applicable to all self-employed tourism service providers.
Hygiene
- Recognise all applicable general health and safety procedures for your job position or tourism sector as well as all general occupational safety and health regulations.
- Regularly and thoroughly wash hands with soap and water (minimum for 20 seconds) or clean hands with an alcohol-based (at least 60% alcohol or virucide) hand rub.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid handshaking.
- Follow good respiratory hygiene: covering mouth and nose with bent elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Business owners, managers, department heads and those in supervising positions are obliged to provide their employees with the appropriate level of PPE.
- This includes as a minimum a face mask, transparent face shield (if useful), gloves, soap and water, hand sanitizer, appropriate cleaning supplies.
- More PPE might be necessary according to the relevant standard operating procedures and guidelines.
- Self-employed business owners and service providers must assure that all required supplies, PPE, and utensils are present before carrying out any work or supplying any services.
- It is mandatory to always wear a face mask when dealing with visitors, tourists, clients, customers, colleagues, service providers and others in enclosed spaces and when physical distancing cannot be kept.
- It is recommended to change the face mask at least every 4-6 hours or whenever contamination is suspected.
- A transparent face shield instead of a face mask can be a more suitable choice when interacting with others.
- Gloves should only be used when needed: For handling cash, other peoples’ luggage or items, disposing trash, performing cleaning and disinfection, caring for someone with and without COVID-19 symptoms.
- PPE must be changed whenever potentially contagious items were handled or cleaning and maintenance activities were carried out.
- PPE must be used during any cleaning or sterilisation processes and make sure to wear sturdy shoes when handling detergents or disinfectant solutions.
- It is forbidden to carry out cleaning or sterilisation unless wearing closed shoes and long trousers.
Physical distancing
- Always maintain at least 1.5-metres distance between persons including visitors, tourists, clients, customers, colleagues, service providers and others.
Touching objects
- Whenever possible, avoid passing on or touching items or objects.
- After touching items or objects clean hands following hygiene standards and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Waste
- Avoid waste as much as possible.
- It is recommended to prepare two separate trash bins: One trash bin for general waste and one trash bin for contaminated waste including PPE.
- Clearly mark the trash bins for their respective use and use icons instead of text for better recognition, especially when dealing with foreigners.
- Dispose of PPE in a safe manner and make sure it is out of reach of others as used PPE might be contaminated.
