Weekly Digest: Festive Health and Safety Updates and Information from HSE

This bulletin has been provided to us by the HSE.

This week's digest has links to guidance to ensure your business is COVID-secure this festive period. We also debunk some common seasonal health and safety myths.

You will find information on preparing your business so you are ready for the end of the UK transition period, as well as the latest enforcement headlines and our latest job vacancies.

For all the latest updates visit our website.

Make sure your business is COVID-secure this Christmas period

During the festive period, when businesses are completing orders in time for Christmas, it’s really important to continue to make sure workplaces are COVID-secure and workers are following the measures in place.

Our COVID-secure website will help businesses keep up to date with the latest guidance, have measures in place to manage the risk from coronavirus, and protect workers, visitors and customers.

To check businesses are following the guidance, HSE will continue to carry out spot checks and inspections by calling and visiting businesses in the run up to Christmas.

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

It includes information on:

• social distancing
• drivers' welfare at delivery and collection sites
• cleaning and hygiene

Make sure your business is prepared as the transition period ends

Businesses need to ensure they are prepared for the end of the transition period.

Whatever the outcome of the trade negotiations, there will be changes for businesses from 1 January 2021 and there are actions your business can take now.

To find out what changes your business needs to make, visit our Brexit website where we have guidance on:

• chemicals
• equipment and machinery
• civil explosives

There is further information available on GOV.UK.

Christmas health and safety myths exposed

Health and safety is often wrongly cited as a reason for preventing pretty harmless activities from going ahead during the Christmas period.

Our website clears up common festive misconceptions such as:

• You cannot clear snow and ice from pavements yourself
• Health and safety prevents people putting coins in Christmas puddings
• Indoor Christmas lights need a portable appliance test (PAT) every year

See our full list of Christmas myths here.