Site teams should bear in mind that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently carrying out spot inspections to check that businesses are COVID-secure, with a particular focus on cities and towns where there are coronavirus outbreaks.

The process involves checking that businesses are aware of the guidance, and advising where necessary on improvements needed to ensure the workplace is COVID-secure.

Please ensure that your COVID-19 risk assessments are all updated and you are managing operations to minimise the risk of transmission – in particular looking at social distancing and sanitisation practices. If you have any questions or concerns speak to the Health & Safety team.

HSE has been utilising a number of different ways to gather intelligence and reach out to businesses with a combination of site visits, phone calls and through collection of supporting visual evidence.

Some of the most common issues that HSE and local authority inspectors are finding, across the country, include failing to:

• provide arrangements for monitoring, supervising and maintaining social distancing
• introduce an adequate cleaning regime – particularly at busy times of the day
• provide access to welfare facilities to allow employees to frequently wash their hands with warm water and soap

In fact, the CEMEX Blackburn Readymix plant recently received a spot inspection from the HSE to check compliance with Government guidelines. After receiving the general and COVID-19 inductions at the plant, the inspector checked the plant, focusing on the welfare facilities and ensuring all was in order with hand sanitiser, antibacterial wipes and bactericidal hand cleaner. Well done to Plant Manager, Paul McKimm, and the rest of the team at Blackburn for prioritising health and safety and adherence to the COVID-19 procedures, ensuring the visit went smoothly.