As we continue the roadmap out of lock down and more businesses re-open, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working with local authorities to carry out spot checks and inspections on local businesses.
The reopening of the economy means that the opportunity for COVID to spread is increased substantially, so it is critical that businesses shouldn’t become complacent. They still need to have COVID-secure measures in place.
The HSE is calling and visiting all types of businesses, in all areas, to check the measures they’ve put in place to manage the risk from coronavirus, are in line with the current guidance. This includes businesses that have continued to operate throughout the pandemic, those that have recently reopened and those due to open in the coming weeks.
During spot checks and inspections, guidance is provided, and advice given where required, but where businesses aren’t managing the risk, action will be taken. This can range from the provision of specific advice, issuing enforcement notices and stopping certain work practices until they are made safe. Where businesses fail to comply, this could lead to prosecution.
The COVID-secure measures businesses should have in place include:
- Risk assessment: every workplace should have a COVID risk assessment.
- Social distancing: where possible you should keep people two metres apart. If this is not viable, keeping one metre apart with risk mitigation, such as screens, is acceptable.
- Cleaning, hygiene and handwashing: keeping your workplace clean reduces the potential for coronavirus to spread. It is a critical part of making and keeping your business COVID-secure.
- Ventilation and air conditioning: can help reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.
- Talk to workers: provide information about providing support and maintaining control measures.
- Working from home: provide the equipment they need, keep in regular contact and discuss their wellbeing.
- Vulnerable workers: talk to staff, provide information and consider the risk to workers who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus – putting controls in place to reduce that risk.
If you need further help or advice about making your workplace COVID-19 secure, please get in touch with our Health & Safety team.
Further information can be found at:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/regulating-health-and-safety/spot-inspections.htm
