Businesses to get spot checks for covid safety

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Businesses to get spot checks for covid safety

Spot checks on Gosport businesses will be carried out from next week (19 April) to make sure they have covid-secure measures in place.

The checks, some by phone but others during unannounced visits, will be made by officers working for Gosport Borough Council and the national Health and Safety Executive.

The work is part of a programme of inspections being run all over the country by the HSE, working with local councils.

During the checks officers will provide advice and guidance to businesses to help them manage risk and protect workers, customers and visitors. Where some businesses are not managing this, action may be needed. This can range from giving specific advice to issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe or, where businesses fail to comply, prosecution.

Ian Rickman, head of environmental health for Gosport Borough Council, said: “Being covid-secure needs to be the priority for all businesses, and we’re working with the HSE to help them follow the rules.

“It’s a legal duty for them to protect their workers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus.

“Businesses of any size, in any sector, might get a call or a visit to ensure they are covid-secure. By making sure that businesses have measures in place to manage the risks, we can benefit the health of the local community as well as support the local and national UK economy.”

Gosport Borough Council and Fareham Borough Council share a joint environmental health service and will be working on similar operations with the HSE.

For more information on how to manage the risk of coronavirus, businesses can check the government guidance.

See more information on the spot checks programme.

Source: Gosport Borough Council