The next step

Coronavirus health and safety

[Policy]

The HSE's additional advice

[Weblink]

Update your coronavirus policy

The benefits

Having a Coronavirus Health and Safety Policy will ensure that your management arrangements for controlling the risk of transmission are very clear (see The next step ). Our template outlines your rules, procedures and management actions in relation to the pandemic. You can use it to communicate your intentions and expectations to staff and managers. It will also be useful as evidence should you need to demonstrate your diligence to enforcement officers, insurers, unions, etc. Our coronavirus policy begins with a general statement confirming your commitment to protecting staff and others from the transmission of the virus. This is followed by a summary of the key legislation applicable.

Tip. Tailor the policy to suit your own business by referring to sector-specific guidelines.

Well managed

Section three covers “Management arrangements” beginning with an explanation of the risk assessments which you’ll undertake. These include a specific risk assessment on the subject of coronavirus and individual assessments for more vulnerable staff where applicable. This is an area of legislation and guidance which changes rapidly, therefore the policy confirms that you’ll undertake a regular review of official information and as a result will revise and update your procedures.

Note. Although workplaces are opening up again we expect some principles to remain for a while, such as avoiding face-to-face meetings where possible. The policy therefore states that you’ll use homeworking and video conferencing where it’s reasonable to do so.

Open or not?

After the initial management details there’s a subsection titled “Where work at our premises can take place” . Here we’ve summarised the cleaning arrangements that you have in place, including any special deep-cleaning measures. In early 2021 the HSE issued additional advice on the importance of good ventilation (see The next step ). We’ve therefore included a commitment to implement that guidance alongside a weblink to ensure you can locate it. Our policy also describes the procedures for managing staff sick pay, risk assessments, dormant buildings, supply shortages and undertaking meetings.

Tip. As workplace coronavirus testing and vaccination programmes have become more commonplace, if you’ve decided to implement such a scheme you’ll require a separate policy on the subject. Tip. Each premises will need to maintain a register in case it’s needed for “test and trace” purposes. Ensure that you have a suitable process for this, adapting to changes in the requirements as they arise.

Making it personal

The fourth part of our policy covers “Employee responsibilities” and highlights the specific steps staff and contractors must take to minimise the spread of the disease. Here we’ve included a reminder that staff who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable should inform their line manager.

For a coronavirus health and safety policy and the HSE’s additional advice, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk , Download Zone, year 19, issue 15.