Coronavirus (COVID-19): Business safety advice
Working safely during COVID-19
The government has set out its COVID-19 recovery plan which aims to safeguard livelihoods, but in a way that is safe and continues to protect the NHS. It is still very important that people stay home and work from home if they are able to. For some industries, this isn’t possible.
Guidance has been published to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic in specific workplaces (external link). These guides contain up-to-date information about what action you should be taking to keep your staff and customers safe.
For information on the current restrictions and what these mean for your business, please visit our 'National lockdown' page.
Business crime prevention
COVID-19 has necessitated that many businesses have had to stay closed for a prolonged period. The government’s recovery strategy has now set out key dates that many businesses can reopen.
This may be the first time in many weeks your premises will be open to the public and you will need to change how you operate and interact with your customers.
The Metropolitan Police Service are maintaining a visible presence across the capital and committed to preventing any crime. They are asking for your help to ensure that your buildings are as safe and secure as they can be.
If your business is located in the Bruce Grove area of Tottenham, the Tottenham Traders' Partnership and the Council have developed a Business Crime Reduction Partnership. Supporting 50 businesses, the free of charge pilot scheme will last for 12 months until September 2021 and support members in identifying, reporting and ultimately, reducing crime - improving bottom lines and shrinkage figures. For further information, please email us at business@haringey.gov.uk
Fire safety
London Fire Brigade advise you to review your Fire Risk assessment and Emergency Plan in light of the impact of COVID-19 on your staffing levels, operating times, business processes and evacuation arrangements.
Prevention
- Some companies may take the opportunity to bring forward maintenance operations and building works. These should be appropriately fire-risk assessed and supervised to ensure they are not creating an increased fire risk
- Review the impact of COVID-19 on maintenance provision on essential fixed installations for fire-fighters and potential ignition sources such as electrical installations, ducting cleaning etc
- Consider prohibiting all hot works
- For all premises that may be unoccupied, ensure that all electrical appliances are switched off and the plugs are removed from sockets
Protection
- Ensure that all fire doors are securely closed
- Consider the impact of disruptions to waste collections on waste storage and build up causing fire risks
- Consider security arrangements to address any increased risk of arson for empty premises and waste build-up
- Ensure that security staff and any new or inexperienced security staff are familiar with the emergency plan and procedure for contacting the fire brigade
Specific advice for healthcare premises
Any staged evacuation arrangements such as progressive horizontal evacuation, which are often in place in hospitals and care homes, need to be supported by appropriate levels of staff. Management should consider the need for appropriate staff resources to allow for this. If these staffing levels are affected by COVID-19 you will need to review your risk assessment and emergency plan and if you believe that your staffing levels are not sufficient to support your evacuation strategy you should contact the London Fire Brigade.
If a fire does occur in your premises you must ensure the fire brigade is called at the earliest opportunity and inform the operator that an evacuation is in progress.
Home fire safety (employees working from home)
- For employees who will be working from home, please encourage them to take the time to check home fire safety arrangements, and ensure that smoke alarms are fitted, tested and are working correctly
- Make sure all members of the family know what to do if you have a fire - particularly elderly people and children
- Bedtime checks: close doors, unplug electrical appliances and chargers, check heaters are off and candles and cigarettes are properly extinguished
More information (external links)
- General coronavirus advice for retailers from the ACS
- Printable posters and signs from the ACS
- COVID-19: social distancing in the workplace (sector guidance) – GOV.UK
- COVID 19: cleaning in a non-healthcare setting - GOV.UK
- COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection - GOV.UK
Page last updated:
Tell us what you think about this page
Please use this space to tell us how we can improve this page, or the website in general.
If you have a service problem or complaint you need help with then please visit our contact pages.
* = response required
