As companies look to bring more employees back to the workplace, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched the ‘Work Right’ campaign.
The aim of this campaign is to ensure that every business is COVID-secureand every worker is protected. To achieve this, the HSE will be stepping up its spot checks on businesses, including remote inspections via the telephone.
The COVID-secureguidance has been available to businesses for a number of months now and most businesses should be compliant.
However, there are five basic, pragmatic steps that all businesses can take to ensure the workplace is safe and compliant. These are:
- Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment in line with the HSE guidance
- Develop cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures
- Help people to work from home, if necessary
- Maintain two-metre social distancing, where possible
- Where people cannot be two metres apart, manage transmission risk
Further guidance on COVID-secure measures can be found on the GOV.UK website by clicking here. Employers should read this guidance carefully and implement any changes that are required.
The HSE said it will be conducting workplace checks at every opportunity. Businesses can expect to be put on the spot and asked to provide evidence of the measures they have put in place to deal with the risks posed by the Coronavirus.
The HSE has said it will take enforcement action against employers that are not following current guidelines. This includes:
- the provision of specific guidance
- issuing enforcement notices
- stopping certain work practices until they are made safe
- prosecution for non-compliance.
Further details of the HSE’s ‘Work Right’ campaign, including a useful video, can be found by clicking here.
