Don’t sacrifice safety for health
Don’t create problems. Alexander Tsavalos (T), the head of the HSE’s Local Authority and Safety Unit, was speaking at a Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) event. His key point was: “There’s the potential that in trying to deal with the COVID-19 risk you might inadvertently create another risk in the workplace.”
Warning. The CIEH is the membership organisation for many safety inspectors working for local authorities, so if you receive a visit from one, expect to be grilled not only about your coronavirus measures but also any knock-on negative impacts on safety.
What to consider? If you’re heading back to the workplace, you will need to make some adjustments to comply with the government’s coronavirus guidance (see The next step ). This could range from displaying signs that warn staff to maintain social distancing, to more significant changes. For example, you may have to consider implementing a one-way system, moving desks and workstations, installing plastic screens and more. This is where the problems of coronavirus compromising “normal” safety could come into play.
What problems? For example, if fire doors are kept open, or escape routes are blocked to create one-way routes, it could reduce fire safety standards, or prevent occupants from safely evacuating the premises in the event of a fire.
Tip. If you wish to keep doors open, you will need devices that close them if the alarm is activated - not wooden door stops. A simpler and cheaper option is to increase cleaning frequency on door handles rather than taking appropriate steps to keep them open.
Tip. Use our coronavirus compliance audit document to identify what steps you have taken to protect your staff and to make sure they’re in line with the government’s guidance (see The next step ).
For a link to the government guidance and for a coronavirus compliance audit, visit http://tipsandadvice-healthandsafety.co.uk/download (HS 18.21.01).
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