As the current pandemic drags on, UK companies are reviewing their workplace health and safety responsibilities and want to know what steps they should take to keep their employees safe, healthy, and comfortable.
The UK government announced a four-step plan on February 22, 2021 intended to ease restrictions so people can return to a more normal way of life.
With the economy expected to reopen soon, employers should continue to follow appropriate regulatory recommendations for safe work practices and take efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, such as:
- adequate ventilation
- regular cleaning
- proper hand hygiene
- social distancing
Work-from-from-home policies have become increasingly popular with employees, and employers are receiving requests to allow their staff to work remotely even after restrictions are lifted. Legally speaking, employers have the same obligations toward remote workers as for their office workers, but they have concerns regarding the lack of control over the work environment.
The safety of the home office setting and the mental health of the employees are the two most significant risks associated with remote work. Employers must carry out a risk assessment to understand the dangers their remote workers may be exposed to and make a plan regarding how they intend to address these dangers.
Metal health risks must also be evaluated and controlled. This entails keeping an eye on employee mental health for signs of increasing stress, isolation, and loneliness, which can occur as a result of long-term remote work.
Bringing Employees Back to Work Safely
As the government is starting to ease restrictions and people are coming back to work, businesses must complete COVID risk assessments, which include identifying work activities or settings that increase the exposure to the novel coronavirus and risk of transmission, determining who would be at higher risk, how likely they are to be exposed and taking steps to reduce the risk. Some employees are more likely to have a negative outcome if they become infected, and this should be considered in the risk assessment.
Employers can take the following precautions:
- increase the number of handwashing stations
- use visible signs and notices to urge personnel to wash their hands
- establish a strategy for restocking the handwashing and sanitizing stations
- set up monitoring and supervision to ensure that people follow the safety procedures.
- stagger shift times
- implement social distancing measures
Social distancing measures involve:
- marking work areas with floor tape or paint
- putting up signs reminding employees and visitors to maintain a 2-meter distance
- making adjustments to allow people to work side-by-side instead of face-to-face
- allow only necessary trips within and between buildings and sites.
Social distancing should be included in your risk assessment and is one of the measures required to make your workplace COVID-secure. Guidelines depend on the industry, and you can find specific instructions for construction sites, factories, offices and other types of working environments on the official HSE website.
The UK government, as well as Scotland and Wales, have launched a number of public health initiatives to reduce the spread of the virus, including testing, tracking, tracing, and vaccination.
Additionally, the government has extended health and safety protection for workers through The Employment Rights Act 1996 (Protection from Detriment in Health and Safety Cases) (Amendment) Order 2021, which will take effect on May 31.
The order states that workers who leave or refuse to return to their workplace will not be subjected to a detriment if their motivation is that they reasonably believe their working environment puts them in immediate or serious danger.
As COVID-19 poses an immediate or serious danger, the question will be whether or not the workers’ fears are justified, and the government stipulates that the progress in reducing transmission rates through vaccination is not a justification for employers to disregard safety measures.
Statistics Show a Decrease in Work-Related Fatalities in 2019/2020
According to the latest figures from the HSE, work-related fatalities in the UK are decreasing, their rate being about half of what it was only two decades ago. However, some industries continue to report high fatality rates. These metrics enable the HSE to determine where investigative and enforcement resources should be allocated.
The primary causes of fatal accidents are still falling from a height, being hit by a moving or falling object and being hit by a moving vehicle.
As technology progresses, accidents should decrease further, especially now that there are viable alternatives to working at height and enhanced safety standards.
Safety measures must be regularly informed and enforced in higher-risk areas rather than simply being referenced in a policy or process. This boosts morale, trust, and productivity while also reducing the rate of accidents and compensation claims. Prioritizing health and safety communicates to employees that their employer cares about their well-being and encourages them to stay with the company, lowering turnover rates.
Employees with health problems are more likely to take time off or quit if they believe their jobs are negatively affecting their health. According to government statistics, around 25% of UK employees have a physical health condition, and 12.5% have a mental health condition. For a third of them, the condition is long-term and half report that their health problems interfere with their work.
Despite the fact that their current working environment was not the source of their health difficulties, the employer has a responsibility to take precautions to avoid worsening pre-existing medical conditions or injuries.
This means that UK companies must take reasonable precautions to ensure that their employees’ health is not jeopardized while they are at work. Health and safety regulation are set in place to protect both employers and employees from the consequences of occupational accidents, injuries, illnesses and other forms of harm.
While it does necessitate some resources, adhering to health and safety regulations and maintaining a safe work environment saves a company money in the long run by lowering absenteeism, turnover, and the risk of financial repercussions.
Furthermore, employees who believe their well-being is valued report higher job satisfaction and productivity than those who believe it is a low priority.
