The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned businesses to make sure they’re COVID-secure, as more businesses re-open.
HSE said its inspectors are out and about, putting employers on the spot and checking that they are complying with health and safety law. Being COVID-secure means being adaptable to the current guidance and putting measures in place to control the risk of coronavirus to protect workers and others.
There are five practical steps that businesses can take to do that:
- Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment in line with HSE guidance;
- Develop increased cleaning, hand washing and hygiene procedures;
- Take all reasonable steps to help people work from home;
- Maintain two-metre social distancing where possible; and
- Where people cannot be two-metre apart, manage transmission risk.
Philip White, director of regulation at HSE said: “Becoming COVID-secure should be the priority for all businesses. By law, employers have a duty to protect workers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus. It’s important that workers are aware of the measures that will be put in place to help them work safely.
“Ensuring workplaces are COVID-secure will not only reassure and increase confidence with workers, but also customers, partners and the local community. Nobody wants lockdown measures to be reversed and the Government has made clear that it will not hesitate to do so if the virus is not properly controlled.”