HSE launches new Covid-19 guides for employers

The Health and Safety Executive has launched a series of guides to help employers re-open their premises safely as lockdown eases.

The guidance is aimed at all employers and those who are self-employed and work with or near other people.

They explain how employers can protect people from coronavirus (COVID-19) in the workplace, for example by putting in place social distancing measures, staggering shifts and providing additional handwashing facilities.

Download the guides

• Working Safely During the Coronavirus Outbreak
• Talking With Your Workers About Preventing Coronavirus

Key points

Assessing risk: As an employer, you must protect people from harm. This includes taking reasonable steps to protect your workers and others from coronavirus. This is called a risk assessment and it’ll help you manage risk and protect people. You must identify what work activity or situations might cause transmission of the virus; think about who could be at risk; decide how likely it is that someone could be exposed; act to remove the activity or situation, or if this isn’t possible, control the risk. If you have fewer than five employees, you don’t have to write anything down, but it might help if you do.

Who should go to work?: Empoyers are being told to think about where and how your work is carried out, consider if there are jobs and tasks that can be changed to reduce risk and identifying everyone in your business who can work from home, stating that if they can, they should. The guides also mention who employers should keep in regular contact with people working from home, making sure they discuss their wellbeing and help them to feel they are still part of the workforce.

Legal support for employers

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