Weekly Digest: Latest COVID-19 health and safety at work advice and guidance

This bulletin has been provided to us by the HSE.

This week's digest contains advice and guidance on protecting homeworkers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We also have information on spot check inspections during the national lockdown.

There are also links to a survey as we look for feedback from those who drive at work and details of HSE's recent enforcement activity.

For all the latest updates visit our website.

Protect homeworkers during the coronavirus pandemic

If you have people working from home as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, HSE has advice for employers to follow.

Issues you should consider include:

• lone working without supervision
• working with display screen equipment (DSE)
• keeping in touch to recognise signs of stress and mental health problems

Read our advice on how to deal with these issues.

It should also be noted that employers must provide and pay for eye tests for any employees that are display screen equipment (DSE) users – workers who use DSE daily, for an hour or more at a time.

HSE spot checks and inspections continue during national lockdown

With the increase in the number of coronavirus cases and the national lockdown restrictions now in place, all businesses that continue to operate must ensure their workplace is COVID-secure.

To protect workers, visitors and customers, employers must make sure that everyone is following the measures that have been put in place to manage the risks from coronavirus.

During lockdown, HSE will continue to carry out spot checks and inspections on businesses and will be increasing the number of calls and visits to check COVID-secure measures have been implemented in accordance with government guidance.

During the calls and visits, HSE provides advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers and visitors, but where businesses are not managing this, we will take immediate action.

Please ensure your workplace is safe by following the guidance on being COVID-secure. Further information on spot checks and inspections is available on our website.

COVID updates and guidance

HSE has published a range of coronavirus-related guidance and information, which you may find useful.

It includes:

• Vulnerable workers
  How to protect workers in high-risk groups, clinically extremely vulnerable people and pregnant workers.
• First aid
  Requirements in non-healthcare settings during the outbreak, as well as first aid cover and qualifications at this time.
• RIDDOR reporting of COVID-19
  Guidance on on when you should make a RIDDOR report of COVID-19

For all the latest information and advice visit our coronavirus site.

You can also get advice and find out the national lockdown rules in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.