INDUSTRYNEWS
EMPLOYERS MUST CONTINUE TO MANAGE THE
COVID-19 RISK TO WORKERS AS LOCKDOWN
EASES SAYS BRITISH SAFETY COUNCIL
“One metre-plus ok, two metres better” says British Safety Council chief executive
» THE BRITISH SAFETY COUNCIL HAS
responded to the government’s plans to
further ease lockdown restrictions from 4
July, reminding employers that they have a
duty of care to their staff. The prime minister,
Boris Johnson, today announced that from
4 July pubs and restaurants will re-open,
as well as hairdressers, hotels and bed and
breakfasts, cinemas, museums and galleries.
The government is today publishing new
guidance on how businesses can reduce the
risk by taking certain steps to protect workers
and customers. These include avoiding
face-to-face seating, reducing the number of
people inside, improving ventilation, changing
shift patterns and increasing face coverings,
including mandatory face coverings on public
transport.
In the course of his statement in the
House of Commons the prime minister
said: “At every stage, caution will remain our
watchword and each step will be conditional
and reversible”. A key change announced
today is a revision of guidance on social
distancing from two metres to “one metre
plus”. The prime minister said that “where it
is possible to keep two metres apart people
should”.
Speaking today from his home the chief
executive of the British Safety Council said:
“I know that many people will welcome
the relaxation of the lockdown rules today
which will mean they can more easily see
their friends, and from 4 July visit their local
pub or restaurant – subject to the necessary
precautions. Throughout the coronavirus
crisis we have been working to support our
members and others to adapt how they work
and to make sure their workers and customers
are safe. The same principles must now apply
to hospitality and leisure businesses, reducing
risk as far as is practicable and talking through
the necessary changes with employees so that
the whole team is acting to keep everyone
safe.”
He went on to say:
“Covid-19 has obviously not gone away, it
remains a risk and it is right that employers,
who have a duty of care to their staff, do
everything they can to protect them as they get
ready to re-open in July. The prime minister
has said that caution is the “government’s
watchword”, and I hope that it is. The
precautionary principle is at the heart of
health and safety management – by planning,
acting and checking processes we can reduce
the risk and keep people safe.
When asked about the decision to revise
the two-metre rule Mr Robinson said:
“The scientific advice coming from the
Health and Safety Executive has not changed –
the risk of transmission is significantly higher
the closer people are to one another and it
is still recommended that people keep two
metres apart where they can – as the prime
minister has said. Where social distancing
is not always possible, such as on public
transport, then face coverings can mitigate
risk. Like the prime minister, I hope people
will apply common sense, and that means
taking into account the very real risk that
remains, even as the lockdown ends.”
ABOUT THE BRITISH
SAFETY COUNCIL
The British Safety Council believes that noone
should be injured or made ill through
their work.
Since its foundation in 1957, the British
Safety Council has campaigned tirelessly to
protect workers from accidents, hazards
and unsafe conditions, and played a decisive
role in the political process that has led to
the adoption of landmark safety legislation
in the UK. Its members in more than 60
countries are committed to protecting
and improving the wellbeing of workers,
believing that a healthy and safe work
environment is also good for business.
As part of its charitable work, the British
Safety Council leads health and safety
networking forums for all sectors, facilitates
and promotes best practice in Britain
and overseas. It also offers a range of
services and products, including training,
qualifications, publications, audits and
awards. The British Safety Council works
closely with organisations, charities and
individuals who share its vision of ensuring
that every worker goes home at the end of
the day as healthy as they were when they
went to work.
www.britsafe.org
6 » AUG 2020 » CLEARVIEW-UK.COM