Telford & Wrekin Council Working with the HSE to make sure Businesses are COVID-Secure
Telford & Wrekin Council is to become the first local authority in the country to work with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in a joint pilot project to check that businesses have COVID19 secure measures in place. We are sure that this will be rolled out to other local authorities soon!
Checks in Stafford Park, Hortonwood and Halesfield will begin from Monday 1st February 2021. Businesses will be given advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers, customers, and visitors. Where some businesses are found to not be managing this effectively immediate 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.
Being COVID-secure means that businesses need to put adjustments in place to manage the risk and protect workers and others from coronavirus. For further information on how to manage the risk of coronavirus in different business sectors please read the government guidance.
It is a legal duty for businesses to protect their workers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus. Section 7 of the HSWA puts a duty upon employees to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts and omissions at work. Your business needs to make the adjustments to become COVID-secure.
Ensure that as a business you have a risk assessment in place, you keep a contact log for people in the business, restrict visitors, remind employees about social distancing particularly at breaktimes. Introduce a cleaning regime, particularly at busy times of the day and keep a note of areas cleaned. Provide hand sanitiser (Anti-bacterial Gel) and remind employees to wash hands regularly.
Public protection updates, visit https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20713/public_protection_-_covid-19_service_updates
For the latest information and safer business guidance from the Government, visit www.gov.uk
For HSE’s working safely guidance see https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/index.htm
FSB for guidance for small businesses and the self employed. FSB
Check out our HSE / COVID blog here.
Contact us should you require further assistance.
