Since the announcement of the lockdown across the UK, images have been emerging of different workplaces - unable to close as employees cannot work from home - in which workers are standing or sitting shoulder to shoulder or within very close proximity to one another. Concern has been rising that employees are not adhering to social distancing rules and/or employers are not enforcing them.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has been particularly vocal about these issues in the last few days, concerned that companies are "nowhere near" meeting social distancing rules. Mr Burnham subsequently called for "stronger policy on workplaces now".
The GMB Union has even gone as far as stating that employers should close their premises if they cannot make their workplaces safe, with General Secretary Tim Roache suggesting everyone should be trying to do their bit to keep frontline staff, such as the NHS, safe.
However, it is extremely difficult in some professions to maintain a two-metre distance from everyone else at all times. Those working in shops, for instance, cannot always be that far separated. Although some supermarkets have taken measures to place screens in front of tills to protect employees, this is not possible in all places. There is also a particular issue in the construction industry, with crowded sites being a concern.
Former Cabinet Secretary, Gus O'Donnell, has highlighted that the issue is also present in the House of Commons, as images from the House have shown ministers crowded together. Now that Parliament has been suspended, that may no longer an issue, but it shows the extent of the issue across all workplaces still operating in the UK.
There is now mounting pressure on the government to address this. However, it is also a perfect time to remind employers that they have a general duty, under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all employees. Although this is a very strange and rare situation, risk assessments should be updated and new rules or systems of work should be implemented wherever possible to avoid the potential spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
For more information, see:
