NFDC News Release – New Forest businesses to be spot-checked in latest environmental health visits
New Forest District Council’s (NFDC) environmental health team are working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to contact businesses in the district to offer latest guidance and advice, and to check they have COVID-secure measures in place.
Being COVID-secure means that businesses need to put adjustments in place to manage the risk and protect workers and others from coronavirus. This includes supervising and maintaining social distancing, and good cleaning regimes.
This latest round of spot checks, starting next week (8 March 2021), follows the ongoing support and advice NFDC’s team have been giving local business. Joanne McClay, from the Environmental Health Team, said “Our goal in this is to work with our businesses who have had, and are still having, a tough time. We have been advising cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and other workplaces and having ongoing conversations to understand and help them manage the risks based on their specific business activity.”
In many cases the provision of advice is enough to ensure the workplace operates safely but where necessary the team could take further formal action to ensure the business is compliant. Joanne said, “During the checks we provide advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers, customers and visitors. If we find a business that is not managing the risk, we will take action.”
More details are available from the NFDC website: https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/1295/Guidance-on-coronavirus-safety-for-businesses
For further information on how to manage the risk of coronavirus in different business sectors please read the government guidance at gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
It is a legal duty for businesses to protect their workers and others from harm.
If you have concerns that Covid-secure measures are not being met by businesses, we would recommend you raise this with the manager of the business at the time and contact eandr@nfdc.gov.uk or call 02380 285230 if you are not satisfied with the response.