HSE Weekly Digest: COVID-19 Updates and all the Latest Health and Safety News

This bulletin has been provided to us by the HSE.

Welcome to the HSE Weekly Digest eBulletin

This week's digest contains the latest health and safety news and advice on coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as information on protecting new workers.

There are also links to our step-by-step guide and video to help employers manage risk in the workplace, while we have links to details of recent enforcement activity and our current job vacancies.

For all the latest updates visit our website.

Managing risks and risk assessment

For most low-risk businesses the steps you need to take to manage risks are straightforward.

Our step-by-step guide features a short video explaining what employers should do to manage risks in their workplace and protect their workers, and other people, from harm.

The web pages also include:

• advice on identifying hazards, controlling risks, recording findings, and reviewing controls
• a risk assessment template and examples of typical businesses' assessments
• details of more information and links on managing risk

HSE's Health and Safety Made Simple website outlines the basics for your business and offers guidance on the basic legal duties, whatever industry you work in.

COVID updates and guidance

HSE has published a range of coronavirus-related guidance and information, which you may find useful.

It includes:

• Making your workplace COVID-secure
  A step-by-step guide to ensuring your workplace is 'COVID-secure'.
• Legionella risks
  Building closure or reduced occupancy can increase the risks of Legionnaires’ disease.
• Restarting pressure systems
  Advice on the safe use of steam boilers, hydraulic systems, air compressors and other pressure equipment.

For all the latest information and advice visit our coronavirus microsite.

Protecting new workers

Workers are as likely to have an accident in the first six months at a workplace as they are during the whole of the rest of their working life.

People are at particular risk of injury when they are new as they may be unaware of existing or potential risks. Take a look at our advice to protect those new to a job, including six steps to protect new workers.

We also have guidance to help users and suppliers of agency/temporary workers, and those workers themselves, understand their health and safety responsibilities.