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Jo(h)nnies - Be Good
The two Jo(h)nnies, Agnew of the GGF and Vanstone of Certass, have told Installers they should behave wisely and in accordance with guidance as...
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A Guide To Working Safely & A Guide To Reporting In Work Covid Deaths
The HSE is adamant that where people can work safely, they should continue to work and has provided some simple guidelines - and some handy links to where you should report a work-related Covid-19 death.
The Health & Safety Executive have produced some simple guidelines for keeping businesses open and in-work activities during the coronavirus outbreak.
The HSE is however constantly reviewing the fast-moving situation with partners across government to support the national effort to tackle Covid-19.
TheInstaller.pro will provide any important updates as soon as they are issued. To ensure you receive these, follow us on these channels.
Social distancing
While social distancing is fundamentally a public health measure introduced to reduce the spread of infection, the HSE recognises the concerns raised on social distancing within the workplace and are in contact with trade unions.
Where HSE identifies employers who are not taking action to comply with the relevant Public Health England guidance to control risks, eg employers not taking appropriate action to socially distance or ensure workers in the shielded category can follow the NHS advice to self-isolate for the period specified, the Executive will consider taking a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks. These actions include the provision of specific advice to employers through to issuing enforcement notices to help secure improvements with the PHE guidance.
Important to carry on
Keep your business open. With the exception of some non-essential shops and public venues, the HSE is not asking any other businesses to close – indeed it is important for business to carry on.
Employers should take every possible step to facilitate their employees working from home. Where it is not be possible to work from home they can still travel for work purposes, provided they are not showing coronavirus symptoms and neither they nor any of thier household are self-isolating.
Two metre rule
Employers who have people in their offices or onsite should ensure that employees are able, where possible, to follow Public Health England guidelines on social distancing (including, where possible, maintaining a 2 metre distance from others); and hygiene (washing their hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds).
In-work activity
All workers are encouraged to keep working and should be working from home if they can.
If workers are travelling to their workplace, they will still need to observe the social distancing guidance whilst they are travelling, as far as is practical. Social distancing means staying.
Work carried out in people’s homes
Work carried out in people’s homes, for example by tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms.
Again, it will be important to ensure that PHE guidelines, including maintaining a two-metre distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety.
No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repairs - and where the tradesperson is willing to do so.
No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.
RIDDOR reporting of Covid-19
You must only make a report under RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) when:
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An unintended incident at work has led to someone’s possible or actual exposure to coronavirus. This must be reported as a dangerous occurrence.
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A worker has been diagnosed as having Covid-19 and there is reasonable evidence that it was caused by exposure at work. This must be reported as a case of disease.
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A worker dies as a result of occupational exposure to coronavirus.
What to report
If something happens at work which results in (or could result in) the release or escape of coronavirus you must report this as a dangerous occurrence. An example of a dangerous occurrence would be someone who has been in close contact with colleagues who has subsequently shown Covid-19 symptoms.
Read about RIDDOR regulation 7, Schedule 2 – Section 10 on legislation.gov.uk
Cases of disease - exposure to a biological agent
If there is reasonable evidence that someone diagnosed with Covid-19 was likely exposed because of their work you must report this as an exposure to a biological agent using the case of disease report.
Read about RIDDOR regulation 9 (b) on legislation.gov.uk
Work related fatalities
If a worker dies as a result of exposure to coronavirus from their work and this is confirmed as the likely cause of death by a registered medical practitioner, then you must report this as a death due to exposure to a biological agent using the ‘case of disease’ report form. You must report workplace fatalities to HSE by the quickest practicable means without delay and send a report of that fatality within 10 days of the incident.
Read about RIDDOR regulation 6 (2) on legislation.gov.uk
Make a RIDDOR report online
Find out more about what you must report
Report a case of disease - exposure to a biological agent
Report a work-related fatality due to exposure to a biological agent
Picture: Safe social distancing is possible whilst staying in work.
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
24th April 2020