Roadmap Out of Covid-19 Lockdown Webinar


H&S implications

1/17/2021 12:00:00 AM

Roadmap out of third lockdown

The government is hopeful that most of the economy will be able to open before the end of June, subject to four steps set against four key tests: how the vaccine roll-out is going, how vaccination is affecting hospitalisations and deaths, that infection rates are staying low and that new variants are not undermining the other three criteria.

Each step is separated by five weeks and at the end of the fourth week the government will review data and if it is deemed right to do so, proceed to the next step. This is so affected businesses will have a week’s notice to make the necessary arrangements to re-open their workplace.

The starting point to transitioning into re-opening is to review your Covid risk assessment. It’s a document you should be familiar with as it underpins how to manage the risk of Covid transmission in the workplace. Like any risk assessment it must be suitable and sufficient which means it must reflect any changes you anticipate in the workplace and/or activities that will soon recommence. For example, do you anticipate all staff returning on the same day, or if you are a retailer do you expect heavy footfall? In this case the risk level will be higher.

In terms of documentation you should review your Covid policy and other arrangements such as wearing masks, working from home, vulnerable workers and your policy on vaccinations.

Share your documentation with staff and ensure the primary risk control measures remain unaltered – social distancing, good hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting, ensuring good ventilation and, where appropriate, the wearing of masks.

Fortunately, there is an abundance of guidance available from the government which you may be familiar with that will help you with the Covid control measures you should have in place. The guidance is not law, but if you decide not to follow it you will have to show that you are taking other, equally effective measures. That will be the stance should you, for example, have a spot check from the Health & Safety Executive, (H&SE). 

All the pre-planning and a thorough appraisal of the workplace will pay dividends. Your Covid risk assessment should be workable, drawing upon those control measures that follow the hierarchy set out in health and safety legislation. This legislation requires you to explore additional measures. For example, using screens or barriers to separate people from each other and staggering arrival and departure times to minimise contact.

One of the primary risk control measures is to maintain two metre’s social distancing where possible. Install clear signage to remind workers and visitors or customers of social distancing guidance and to avoid sharing workstations. Use floor tape and arrange one-way traffic through the workplace where possible.

Make sure that you are monitoring adherence to these measures. A simple walk about will let you know if you are achieving the right behaviours.

Working from home

The government insists that that workers should continue to work from home where possible. Many workers will have been working from home for twelve months and it may be a few more months before they return to the workplace. Therefore, you should re-visit your homeworker assessments to ensure they are still effective. It may be advisable to step up the frequency with which you communicate with them as a return to work looks more possible. Continuing to look after their physical and mental wellbeing is most important and should support your business’s values and behaviours.

Watch the recording.


Business insurance from Towergate

At Towergate we don’t just offer traditional insurance broking: we believe that prevention is better than cure. That is why we have our own risk management consultancy focusing on pre-loss mitigation and business continuity, and have developed our own business interruption calculator.

We engage actively with insurers and our clients to obtain protection for businesses of all sizes. Our wide range of covers help protect your organisation should the worst happen.

See our range of specialist business insurance or contact your local office.

We are passionate about tackling the unprecedented levels of underinsurance in the UK: watch our video on how to avoid this for your business.

Mark Brannon Cert CII, commercial, sales, broking and client directorAbout the author

Mark Brannon Cert CII is a respected industry leader with over 17 years’ industry experience in a variety of roles within the business insurance sector. He works across a wide spectrum of insurance product and policy development, delivery and optimisation for clients, including claims, insurer relationships, marketing and communications, and risk management.

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