As we come to the end of the week before Freedom day on 19 July, we have some guidance (source gov.uk) that you may wish to share with your staff about staying safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Yesterday, Gov.uk updated their website for step 4 out of lockdown which comes into effect on 19 July named “Freedom-day”. However, we all know and appreciate that life will not return to normal overnight and that we are to “live with COVID-19”.
The Government guidance sets out “working safely during COVID-19” from 19 July.
The link to the full guidance is: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/offices-factories-and-labs and is applies to England. There is similar guidance available for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland directly from this link.
It is a comprehensive guidance and is non-statutory and covers not just the employees within your organisation but all customers, agency workers, contractors and other people (such as clients).
The guidance covers (which you can click on to via the link above)
1) Thinking about risk (Risk Assessment advice)
2) Who should go to work (includes guidance on protecting people who are at higher risk, equality in the workplace, and people who need to self- isolate)
3) Ventilation in the working environment (to mitigate the risk of aerosol spread of COVID-19 in enclosed spaces
4) Reducing contact for workers (workplaces and workstations)
5) Reducing risk for your customers, visitors and contractors
6) Cleaning the workplace (pre and post reopening of your workplace)
7) PPE (personal protective equipment) and face coverings
8) Workforce management (work-related travel, shift patterns and outbreaks, comms and training
9) Tests and Vaccinations (accessing testing)
Source: gov.uk This document has been prepared by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. BEIS consulted with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Public health is devolved in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This guidance should be considered alongside local public health and safety requirements and legislation in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. For advice to businesses in other parts of the UK please see guidance set by the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish government and the Welsh government.
This document is purely a guidance and is not to be read as legal advice. The team at Black Mountain are as always available to guide you through the forthcoming changes. Our advice is subject to Government updates/legislation changes/guidance.
