This bulletin has been provided to us by the HSE.
This week's digest contains advice for employers on protecting homeworkers during the coronavirus pandemic and recent enforcement activity.
Protecting home workers during the pandemic
The government says you can only leave your home for work if you cannot reasonably work from home.
See the latest guidelines on GOV.UK.
It is for an employer to decide whether it is appropriate or possible for people to work from home. These steps include considering those at higher risk from COVID-19, and consulting with their workforce on what jobs they can do at home.
If you have people working from home as a result of the pandemic, HSE has advice for employers to protect home workers.
You should take every possible step to facilitate your employees working from home, including providing support and suitable equipment to enable remote working. Issues you should consider include:
- lone working without supervision
- working with display screen equipment (DSE) - see our short video and CIEHF's infographic
- keeping in touch to recognise signs of stress and mental health problems
Read our advice on how to protect home workers.
Construction firms fined due to unsafe removal of asbestos
A construction company and a property management company have both been fined after failing to manage asbestos safely during a refurbishment of a former office block in Stockport.
An investigation by HSE found that an asbestos survey identified the presence of asbestos containing materials, but was not passed on by the property management company prior to work being carried out. Read the press release for full details.
Other recent press releases include:
Published on Thursday 18th February 2021