HSE spot checks to make sure businesses are COVID-secure

We are working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to contact businesses in Babergh and Mid Suffolk to make sure they are COVID-secure.

All businesses are in scope for spot checks which means businesses of any size, in any sector can receive an unannounced check.

During the checks HSE will provide advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers, customers and visitors. This is to understand how they are managing risks in line with their specific business activity.

Making sure that businesses have measures in place to manage the risks, can benefit the health of the local community. As well as support the local and national UK economy.

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.

This includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus, by making business adjustments.

HSE advise employers to work with their employees when implementing changes, to help increase confidence with workers, customers and the local community.

Where some businesses are not managing this, we will work with HSE take immediate action. This can range from specific advice, issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe. Where businesses fail to comply, this could lead to prosecution.

HSE and local authority inspectors are finding some common issues across a range of sectors that 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.

We are also working alongside local public health authorities to help with understanding any patterns in confirmed local coronavirus cases.

For further information on how to manage the risk of coronavirus in different business sectors please read the Government guidance.