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Covid-19 workplace safety toolkit
Businesses across Tower Hamlets have invested in their workplaces to make them as safe as possible.
As the pandemic continues, it is important that workplaces continue to follow some simple steps to help keep staff and visitors safe.
- Ventilate your space – ventilate and let fresh air inside
- Wear a face covering – especially if you are around people outside your household
- Wash your hands regularly – for at least 20 seconds
This toolkit provides more information and resources to help support business in the borough. It includes:
How to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19
Risk assessment
Carrying out risk assessments to make sure that your workplace is safe should be part of your normal routine, no matter how many people you employ or how many visitors you see.
The spread of Covid-19 means there are clearly now more factors to consider.
Follow this guide from the Health and Safety Executive to assess the risks in your workplace.
Self-isolation and testing
Covid-19 testing for the general public has now ended under the government's Living with Covid policy. Lateral flow tests are available for purchase from pharmacies and online.
The NHS advises that if a person feels unwell, has symptoms of Covid-19 or has tested positive, to stay at home for at least five days.
If your staff are returning from abroad, you should make sure they check the latest guidance to find out if they need to self-isolate before returning to work.
You should give staff the support they need to self-isolate.
Ensure you plan for the possibility of staff self-isolating as part of your business continuity plans.
To protect your staff, you should also make sure that visitors do not enter your workplace if they have Covid-19 symptoms.
Social distancing
Introduce ways to support staff and visitors to socially distance. You may want to introduce a one way system to guide people around the building. You may also want to mark the ground or use other signs, or objects, to create space between people.
Hand hygiene
Ensure that staff and visitors wash their hands frequently and thoroughly or use alcohol hand sanitiser (minimum 70 per cent alcohol content) if hand washing facilities are not available. Provide alcohol hand sanitiser for visitors at the entrance and exit to the building.
Face coverings
If required, make sure visitors and staff wear a face covering. It is vital that these are worn correctly for them to be effective. A face covering should cover your nose and mouth while allowing you to breathe comfortably.
Clear messaging
Display clear messaging that promotes hand washing, social distancing, and wearing a face covering (if your business still requires this).
We have provided a poster in two different sizes that you can download and print for use in your workplace:
Further business support
Covid-19 has not only created a public health crisis, it has also led to an economic one. Businesses are facing an unprecedented challenge.
There are a number of national and local programmes that have been introduced to provide financial and other assistance. Find out more about support you may be eligible for.
Information in Bengali
We are lucky to be one of London's most diverse boroughs with a number of businesses owned and managed by those from the Black, Asian and multi-ethnic communities.
In particular, we have a significant number of Bangladeshi-owned businesses where the working language may not be English. The following resources have been translated to make sure that language isn't a barrier to keeping your workplace safe.
Self-isolation advice
Wear a face covering advice
