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Social distancing in the workplace
Social distancing should form part of your business’s risk assessment and is one of the steps needed to make your workplace COVID-secure.
We have published information to help you put measures in place in your workplace to monitor, supervise and maintain social distancing. You must ensure that workers and other people visiting your workplace understand and comply with the measures.
Where possible you should keep people 2m apart. If this is not viable, keeping 1m apart with risk mitigation is acceptable.
In the UK some rules such as social distancing may be different in each of the devolved nations. However, HSE regulates in all these countries. You should check the public health guidance for the country you are in:
Spot Inspections in Bolton and Trafford
Both Bolton and Trafford have had local lockdown measures imposed as the number of COVID-19 cases rise. To ensure businesses are following the COVID-secure guidelines, HSE inspectors are carrying out spot inspections on local businesses.
HSE is calling and visiting businesses in both areas to provide advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers. Where employers are not managing this, HSE will take immediate action.
All businesses are in scope for inspections. Any size of business, in any sector can receive an unannounced inspection. If you are contacted, you must cooperate and engage with our inspectors.
Read more about the approach we are taking and what we are discovering from our inspections in Bolton and Trafford in our press release.
Test and trace update from Department for Health and Social Care
Below is an update on the latest guidance and materials for NHS Test and Trace.
'Hands. Face. Space' campaign
The government has launched the new ‘Hands. Face. Space’ campaign which seeks to remind the public of 3 crucial behaviours we all need to adopt in order to stop the spread of coronavirus and protect each other.
For more information, watch the government video.
New measures to suppress the virus
From 18 September, it will be mandatory for certain businesses to have a system to collect NHS Test and Trace data, and keep this for 21 days. Core COVID-19 Secure requirements will be mandated for hospitality businesses.
The government has also published simplified COVID-19 Secure guidance.
Employer guidance testing
Alongside the NHS Test and Trace service, the government is aware that some employers may want to introduce their own internal testing programmes.
The government has published guidance for employers and third-party healthcare providers on voluntary testing in the workplace, to ensure all new private testing programmes are:
- as reliable and effective as possible
- developed in accordance with legal obligations and best practice
Contact tracing arrangements for workplaces in Wales and Scotland
Guidance is also available outlining the COVID-19 contact tracing arrangements for workplaces in Scotland and Wales.
Published on Friday 11th September 2020