HSE is working with Telford & Wrekin Council to carry out spot checks and inspections on businesses in Telford to check they have COVID-secure measures in place.
To protect workers, visitors and customers, employers must make sure that business have put measures in place, and everyone is following them to manage the risks from coronavirus.
HSE will be calling and visiting businesses from all different sectors in the area to check they are following the government guidelines for a period of three weeks starting on February 1st.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for enforcement, said: “We will be talking to local businesses and visiting and inspecting sites in Stafford Park, Hortonwood and Halesfield to understand how they are managing risks in line with their specific business activity.
“Becoming COVID-secure needs to be the priority for all businesses. 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 COVID-secure. We advise employers to work with their employees when implementing changes, to help increase confidence with workers, customers and the local community.”
Being COVID-secure means businesses need to keep up to date with the latest guidance and put measures in place to manage the risk and protect workers, visitors and customers.
During the calls and visits, HSE provides advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers and visitors, but where businesses are not managing this, immediate action will be taken.
Angela Storey, Director of Transformation and Operational Services at HSE said: “Across the country we are working with local authorities, like Telford and Wrekin Council, to check businesses are COVID-secure and providing support and advice where needed.
“Our spot checks and inspections support the cross-government work in helping employers and employees at work during the pandemic.
“All workplaces are in scope for spot checks which means businesses of any size, in any sector can receive an unannounced check from HSE or an inspection from the local authority, to check they are COVID-secure.
“If you are contacted by the HSE or your local authority, please engage with us.
“By making sure that businesses have measures in place to manage the risks, we can benefit the health of local communities as well as support the local and national UK economy.”
Please ensure your workplace is safe by following the guidance on being COVID-secure. Further information on spot checks and inspections is available on our website.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. https://www.hse.gov.uk
2. HSE news releases are available at https://press.hse.gov.uk
3. For HSE’s working safely guidance see https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/index.htm