(Read time 4 minutes)
With the restrictions of Covid-19 beginning to lift in some areas the importance of doing your part as an employer remains. It is easy for standards to lower in such a time period, so to keep on top of health and safety regulations in the workplace it is important to give it the attention it needs, this will help to prevent employees from loosening their standards too greatly and too quickly and keep your business and the country on track to fully opening up again.
Working from home
It is advised for workers to continue to work from home where possible. As an employer, you still have the same health and safety responsibilities and should be taking the time to ensure workers are kept in the loop and are healthy and safe.
Working from home for most means working alone and without supervision. Not having the same support they would have available if they were in the office can cause work-related stress and affect the individual's mental health, which evidently no company should settle for. If you are unsure of your responsibilities speaking to an expert is a good place to start.
One of the more apparent health and safety actions to have been carried over to employees working from home is the use of DSE (Display Screen Equipment), in an office environment this is fairly easy to keep a handle of but at home, every employee's working environment is unique and, in some cases, specialised DSE equipment should be provided (keyboards, mouse, riser, ergonomic chair).
In most cases employees will be able to try their own ways to create their own preferred work environment, however, it is important to make employees aware of the steps they can be taking; poor DSE management can cause aches and pains and reduce productivity, etc.
Returning to work?
Dependent on your location and industry, more and more businesses that aren’t able to operate away from the place of work (can’t work from home) are opening up. Although this is great and has been long-awaited, the threat of another outbreak can’t be ignored and it is in the business’s best interests to be fully compliant to avoid any future loss of business.
Maintain social distancing for everyone visiting your workplace (employees and others) and keep the workplace clean, coronavirus and other germs can transfer from people to surfaces and can be passed on to others who touch the same surfaces, keeping a clean workplace and frequent handwashing reduce the chances of this happening, keeping you COVID-secure (Get a risk assessment).
Better Safety is a UK-based health and safety specialist company, we have been helping companies like yours be compliant with the law and to stay safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. If you do not feel 100% confident you are doing everything you need to be doing and to the standard necessary then get in touch with Better Safety today and speak to one of our experts.
The call is free, we focus on your companies best interests, only making suggestions if truly to your companies benefit.
Sectors we support include:
Manufacturing and Engineering.
Hospitality, including restaurants, hotels, and pubs.
Office environments.
Healthcare, including domiciliary and accommodation.
Medical, including dentists, GP, allied medical services.
Construction, including facilities management.
Retail, including clothing stores and other brick & motor stores.