Official HS Magazine V1

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Health & Safety Officials UK
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Covid-19. How to work
Safely.
Great value fire safety
Audits now on offer.

Covid-19 -
Your update.
What a face covering is
In the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
outbreak, a face covering is something which safely
covers the nose and mouth. You can buy reusable or
single-use face coverings. You may also use a scarf,
bandanna, religious garment or hand-made cloth
covering but these must securely fit round the side of
the face.
Face coverings are not classified as PPE (personal
protective equipment) which is used in a limited
number of settings to protect wearers against hazards
and risks, such as surgical masks or respirators used
in medical and industrial settings.
Face coverings are instead largely intended to protect
others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection
because they cover the nose and mouth, which are
the main confirmed sources of transmission of virus
that causes coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
The reason for using face coverings
Coronavirus (COVID-19) usually spreads by droplets from coughs,
sneezes and speaking. These droplets can also be picked up from
surfaces, if you touch a surface and then your face without
washing your hands first. This is why social distancing, regular
hand hygiene, and covering coughs and sneezes is so important in
controlling the spread of the virus.
The best available scientific evidence is that, when used correctly,
wearing a face covering may reduce the spread of coronavirus
droplets in certain circumstances, helping to protect others.
Because face coverings are mainly intended to protect others, not
the wearer, from coronavirus (COVID-19) they are not a
replacement for social distancing and regular hand washing. It is
important to follow all the other government advice on coronavirus
(COVID-19) including staying safe outside your home. If you have
recent onset of any of the most important symptoms of coronavirus
(COVID-19):
a new continuous cough orva high temperature or a loss of, or
change in, your normal sense of smell or taste (anosmia)
you and your household must isolate at home: wearing a face
covering does not change this.
When
to wear a
face
covering?
In England, you must wear
a face covering in the
following indoor settings (a list of
examples for each is included in the
brackets):
public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams
and buses)
transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and
terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and
coach stations and terminals)
shops and supermarkets (places which offer
goods or services for retail sale or hire)
shopping centres (malls and indoor markets)
premises providing professional, legal or
financial services (post offices, banks, building
societies, high-street solicitors and accountants,
credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings
clubs and money service businesses)
premises providing personal care and beauty
treatments (hair salons, barbers, nail salons,
massage centres, tattoo and piercing parlours)
You are expected to wear a face
covering before entering any of
these settings and must keep it
on until you leave unless there
is a reasonable excuse for
removing it.
F
ire safety is really one of the most important areas of health
and safety you should think about. Yes many businesses never
consider it. Even though it is actually a legal requirement to
have one completed at least once a year.
Looking after your business premises, your employees and your
livelihood has to be your biggest priority.
Many insurance companies will fail to honour any claims you submit
if you are unable to demonstrate that you have taking every
precaution to prevent a fire or to limit any fire. Your best way to do
this is to have a regular audit completed by an expert.
Any audit will have some actions to complete, its vital that these are
followed up and put into practice.
Audits can be expensive to complete. At H & S UK we are offering a
lowest price guarantee with the annual cost of just £99.00.
This set fee really helps you budget and ensures that no matter what
size your building, you will get a full audit, action plan and
importantly, all of the expert help and advice you will need to ensure
you are fully protected should the worst happen.
So book your fire audit today by calling us on 01989 218 507.
Fire
Safety
Fire Audits do not take long, our experts will talk you through the
process, take a walk around your building and note any events as
they go.
They will also:
• Ask you for documentation
• Speak to some of your staff
• Note your current standards
• Complete a comprehensive audit form
Once the audit is complete they will sit down with you and go
through their findings, produce a detailed action plan and will then
continue to support you in ensuring actions are completed.
Just £99

Whilst Health and Safety in the workplace might not be the sexiest of topics, as a manager or
business owner, it is one of the most important to get right. The costs of getting it wrong are high –
you could be at risk of future litigation, have increased staff turnover, risk damaging your brand name
and suffer reduced profitability. Plus, do you really want the guilt of knowing that one of your
employees has been hurt whilst ‘under your watch’?
All employers have a legal responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to ensure the health safety and welfare
at work of their employees. This applies to MENTAL and PHYSICAL health.
So here is a handy guide to help you..
Do a risk assessment:
Carry out a really thorough risk assessment to determine what could harm your staff. Don’t just think of physical risks;
there are as many days lost to sickness for mental health reasons as physical causes. Some industries are more stressful
than others, so think about the environment you work in?
Ask your employees what workplace risks they think exist. Anonymous online surveys may encourage employees to give
more honest answers.
Put together a plan:
Use the risk assessment to put in place anything needed to reduce the risks. Training, special clothing, safety equipment,
break out spaces to relax in or a counselling service could all be really helpful at cutting the risks of things going wrong.
Get the basics right:
Make sure there are adequate toilets, washing facilities, drinking water and first aid facilities.
Make Health and Safety someone’s job:
Have a named individual responsible for Health and Safety in the workplace and make sure other employees know who
this is. This person should attend regular health and safety training. Employee us as your contractor.
Consider a Health and Safety policy:
Whilst not strictly legal if your organisation has less than 5 employees, it is good practice, shouldn’t take too long and
demonstrates your commitment to your staff’s health.
Know how to report incidents:
Report major injuries and fatalities at work to the Incident Contact Centre. Report other injuries, diseases and dangerous
incidents online at www.hse.gov.uk.
Get insurance:
Make sure you are insured in case employees are hurt or made ill because of work. Make sure the insurance document is
displayed clearly. These rules apply to contractors and anyone self-employed who comes to your place of work.
Managers aren’t the only ones with responsibilities
- employee’s have them too
1. Employee’s should attend and follow any health and safety training.
2. Employee’s need to take reasonable care of their own and other people’s health and safety.
3. All staff should co-operate with their employer on health and safety.
4. Everyone working in the business has a responsibility to tell someone (your employer, supervisor, or
health and safety representative) if you think the work or inadequate precautions are putting anyone’s
health and safety at serious risk.
The law surrounding Health and Safety in the
workplace can seem complicated and it is always
worth getting expert advice if you aren’t sure about
something.
H&S UK are here with has lots of resources that can
help organisations understand their responsibilities
more fully.
Talk to us anytime, we are able to advise on all
aspects of your business ensuring you are protected
and your employees remain safe, ensuring a great
place to work for everyone!
01989 218 507

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Just £90.
www.handsuk.co.uk/join-us.htm
£90.00 per month gives you full access to your online portal, full help, support and access along with your annual H&S audit. Plus special offers on
all of our other services such as Fire safety & HR. Payment to be made by the 1 st of each month. By direct debit.