COVID-secure and HSE enforcement

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it will be carrying out further spot inspections at businesses in areas with the highest coronavirus infection rates as it continues its efforts to halt the spread of the virus. This means that HSE inspectors will be dropping in on businesses and putting employers on the spot in Oldham to ensure all workplaces are COVID-secure as coronavirus cases continue to rise in the borough.

COVID-secure and HSE enforcement – the inspectors will be providing advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers, but where some employers are not managing this, the HSE will take immediate action.

This immediate action can range from:

• the provision of specific advice
• issuing enforcement notices
• stopping certain work practices until they are made safe
• where businesses fail to comply, this could lead to prosecution.

Sally Nicholson, HSE head of operations, North West, said:

While the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to grow in Oldham, we are urgently talking to local businesses to understand how they are managing risks in line with their specific business activity.

Employers have a legal duty to protect their workers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk of coronavirus.

While most businesses are following the guidelines, some are failing in their duty and neglecting to maintain things like social distancing measures and handwashing and hygiene procedures that are crucial in stopping the spread of the virus.

Becoming COVID-secure is crucial for all businesses to tackle the rise in infection cases in the area and we will take action against workplaces that fail their duty.