Spot checks aiming to keep businesses on top of safety
CHARNWOOD Borough Council is working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure businesses are Covid-secure.
Spot checks are being carried out at businesses, with advice and guidance being provided on how to manage risk and protect workers, customers and visitors.
Immediate action is being taken where firms are not complying.
This can range from the provision of specific advice, issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe and, where businesses fail to comply, this could lead to prosecution.
The HSE is also working alongside public health authorities to develop understanding of patterns in detected coronavirus cases in the area.
Being Covid-secure means that businesses need to put adjustments in place to manage the risk and protect workers and others from coronavirus.
Councillor Shona Rattray, lead member for regulatory services at Charnwood Borough Council, said: “Local businesses in and around Charnwood are being contacted to understand how they are managing risks in line with their specific business activity.
“Being Covid-secure needs to be the priority for all businesses in Charnwood, 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.
“This means making business adjustments to become Covidsecure.
“We advise employers to work with their employees when implementing changes, to help increase confidence with workers, customers and the local community.”
Common issues that the HSE and local authority inspectors are finding include failing to provide arrangements for monitoring, supervising and maintaining social distancing, and failing to introduce an adequate cleaning regime particularly at busy times of the day.
Cllr Rattray said: “All businesses are eligible for spot checks which means businesses of any size, in any sector can receive an unannounced check to ensure they are Covidsecure.
“By making sure that businesses have measures in place to manage the risks, we can benefit the health of the local community as well as support the local and national UK economy.”
■ For the latest information and safer business guidance, visit www. gov.uk/coronavirus.