29th May 2020
HSE Announce The Return Of Proactive Inspections
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed to IOSH Magazine that they will re-engage ‘proactive’ inspections as the UK begins to return to work following the lockdown easing announced in mid-May.
This means that employers should now be wary of the prospect of a visit from their local HSE office to monitor and review Health & Safety management systems.
Funds Made Available To HSE
Boris Johnson stated in his speech on 10th May that additional funds of up to £14million had been made available to the HSE to support them with policing COVID19 control measures in the workplace.
In addition to pre-coronavirus legal compliance obligations, employers must now be able to demonstrate that they have taken on board the Workplace Guidance on ‘Working safely during coronavirus’ issued by the UK Government on 11th May 2020.
HSE Visits Continue Over COVID
A HSE spokesperson stated; ‘Inspectors continue to visit workplaces following up on any reports or concerns about safety in the workplace over COVID and ensuring compliance. On the spot inspections are resuming imminently’
The spokesperson continued; ‘We’ve been given the encouraging news of access to additional funding to support our advice and regulatory activity as businesses implement the new guidance on working safely during coronavirus. The funding will help support HSE’s capacity to address an increased number of concerns and enquiries form workers, their families and employers alike.’
It has been reported that the HSE have received over 5000 complaints regarding UK workplaces since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed. Some of these will be inspected as a response with a range of enforcement options available to the HSE should they not be satisfied with what they find as reported by Lighthouse in April.
