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Luton Borough Council

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  3. Information on coronavirus
  4. Advice for businesses

Guidance on health and safety

 

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Guidance for safety in the work place

The government has published simplified COVID-19 secure guidance.

Staying COVID-19 secure poster

This poster should be displayed for employees and members of the public to see confirmation that procedures are in place.

Visit the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website for more information on coronavirus prevention in the workplace. You can also email [email protected] for information and advice on social distancing, food safety and health and safety.
 

Guidance to ensure safe reopening of businesses and venues

Please read the UK Government guidance on closing certain businesses and venues in England.

Staff in indoor settings

  • pubs, bars and restaurants must operate table-service only, except for takeaways
  • hospitality venues must close at 10pm (which means closing, not last orders), the same will apply to takeaways, although deliveries can continue
  • the requirement to wear face coverings will be extended to include retail staff and staff and customers in indoor hospitality, except when seated at a table to eat or drink
  • covid-19 secure guidelines will become legal obligations in retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors

It is compulsory for retail, leisure and hospitality staff to wear a face covering in areas that are open to the public and where they come or are likely to come within close contact of a member of the public. This includes:

  • shops
  • supermarkets
  • bars
  • pubs
  • restaurants
  • cafes
  • banks
  • estate agents
  • post offices
  • public areas of hotels and hostels

It does not apply to back of house, kitchens or office areas of hospitality premises. Staff working in any of these areas will only have to put on a mask if they move into public customer facing areas of the business.

A visor does not count as a face covering - a face covering is something which safely covers the nose and mouth and must securely fit round the side of the face.

Employers are subject to legal obligations to protect their staff under existing legislation. This includes taking appropriate steps to provide a safe working environment, which may include providing face coverings where appropriate, alongside other mitigation such as perspex screens to separate workers from the public.

For recommendations and requirements in specific settings, please check the government’s workplace settings guidance below:

Luton re-openin​g information pack

Includes prevention advice, links to guidance and what to do if your work place has a case or outbreak.
 
Luton re-opening information pack

Reporting outbreaks of coronavirus

Early outbreak management information has been created to make sure that people who run businesses or organisations:
  • know how to recognise and report an incident of coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • are aware of measures local health protection teams may advise in order to contain it
This information is contained within ‘action cards’ that have been designed for specific situations where an outbreak could occur. This could be a restaurant or office, a construction site or a place of worship.

Reporting outbreaks of coronavirus

Local outbreak control plan

We have published a plan which been developed and will be delivered in partnership with our communities and strategic partners as part of the national Test and Trace service.
 
It outlines prevention measures in specific settings including workplace, businesses and public venues with an aim to protect the health and wellbeing of the people of Luton by preventing and managing transmission and outbreaks of COVID-19 within the borough.
 
Please check if you have the controls in place by viewing our Local outbreak control plan

Risk assessment

Your risk assessment should identify practical actions that protect people from harm and injury. HSE has developed interactive tools to help those working in low-risk offices and shops,  understand what they need to do to assess and control risks in the workplace and comply with health and safety law.
You are required to carry out a risk assessment and if you employ more than 50 people you are encouraged to put it on your website if you have one.
 
Risk assessment tools
Work safely guide
Talking with your workers

Cleaning

This guidance can be appl​ied to any non-healthcare setting in the community such as workplaces, offices and waiting rooms.
 
COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings

Test and trace

Businesses and other public settings where people meet socially including hospitality, close contact and leisure venues must record contact details of customers, visitors and staff.

  • Details must be stored for 21 days and shared with NHS Test and Trace, if requested.
  • Fixed penalties for organisations that do not comply.
  • Contact details include:
    • name
    • contact number
    • date of visit
    • arrival time
    • departure time, if possible
  • All collected data must comply with GDPR and will not be kept for longer than necessary.
For more information, please see the maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace webpage on the UK government website.
 
Also see privacy notice for maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace.

NHS COVID-19 app

Certain businesses and organisations are now legally required to log details of customers, visitors and staff for NHS Test and Trace.

This includes all venues from the following sectors:

  • hospitality
  • leisure and tourism
  • close contact services
  • places of worship
  • local authority venues

These venues are also be legally required to display official NHS QR code posters at the entrance to their premises so customers who have downloaded the new NHS COVID-19 app can use their smartphones to easily check-in

QR codes will be an important way for NHS Test and Trace in England to contact multiple people if coronavirus outbreaks are identified in venues

Download the resources below to support visitors at your business or organisation:

Food businesses​

See specific guidance for food businesses including closure of non-essential premises and guidance on standards.
 
Guidance for food businesses

Health and wellbeing

Coronavirus and the impact it has can cause stress and worry.   Here are some resources that could be of help.

More information

 Also see information on grants, loans, government support and more

Use the coronavirus employee risk assessment service to find out if you should go back to work during this phase of coronavirus lockdown, and what you can do if you should not be going into work.
If you’re currently on furlough you can stay on furlough. However, if you are asked to come off furlough by your employer, you can use this service to find out if you should be going back into work, and how to return to work safely.​
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© 2020 Luton Council, Town Hall, Luton LU1 2BQ