Peterborough businesses to be spot checked to ensure they are COVID safe

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working alongside Peterborough City Council to ensure the business community is operating in a COVID safe way. This is a national scheme with Councils participating up and down the Country.

During these checks, businesses will be provided with advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers, customers and visitors.

However, where businesses are not managing this process effectively, immediate action will be taken. This can range from offering advice, issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe and, where businesses continue to fail to comply, prosecution.

HSE and local authority inspectors are finding some common issues. These have included failing to provide arrangements for monitoring, supervising and maintaining social distancing, and failing to introduce an adequate cleaning regime particularly at busy times of the day.

Dr Liz Robin, Director of Public Health for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, said: “We cannot be complacent and the challenge to prevent the spread of the virus is now more important than ever.

“Being COVID-secure is a priority for all businesses and I know how many local employers are working very hard to achieve this. We welcome these spot checks to help us keep the virus under control in Peterborough. It is a legal duty for businesses to protect their workers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus.”

Cllr Irene Walsh Cabinet Member for Communities at Peterborough City Council, said: “Businesses need to be ready for spot checks, which means businesses of any size, in any sector can receive an unannounced check to ensure they are COVID-secure.

“By making sure that businesses have measures in place to manage the risks, we can protect the health of the people in our city as well as supporting the local and national UK economy. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but for now, let’s keep working together to stop Covid in its tracks.”