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September/October Issue 63 - Flipbook - Page 12


NEWS
COVID SPOT CHECKS AND INSPECTIONS ON BUSINESSES CONTINUE AS
LOCKDOWN MEASURES EASE
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.
We are continuing to work
closely with local authorities,
assisting them in their targeting
of premises in the sectors they
regulate such as hospitality and
retail.
During
spot
checks
and
inspections, we provide guidance
and advice 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.
12
The COVID-secure measures
businesses should have in place
include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Risk assessment: every
workplace should have a
COVID risk assessment.
Update it to reflect any
changes in legislation or
guidance that may impact
your work activity.
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.
Angela Storey, Director of
Transformation and Operational
Services at HSE, said: “As we
come out of lockdown, we are
continuing to work with local
authorities to check businesses
are COVID-secure and providing
guidance and advice where
needed.
“Our spot checks and inspections
support the cross-government
work in helping employers and
employees that have worked
throughout the pandemic and
those returning as lockdown
measures ease. All workplaces
are in scope for spot checks
which means businesses of any
size, in any sector can receive
an unannounced check from
HSE or an inspection from the
local authority, to check they are
COVID-secure.
“If you are contacted by the HSE
or your local authority, please
engage with us. By checking
businesses have measures in
place to manage the risks, we
can benefit the health of local
communities as well as support
the local and national UK
economy.”
Please ensure your workplace is
safe by following the guidance
on being COVID-secure. Further
information on spot checks and
inspections is available on our
website.
Source: HSE.gov.uk.