As England’s lockdown eases, with non-essential shops in England starting to reopen and more workers returning to offices, the British Safety Council has carried out a survey on LinkedIn asking employers whether they have or will be carrying out a Covid specific risk assessment ahead of employees returning to work.

Findings show 95% of the employers that responded have or will be carrying out a Covid risk assessment. For some employers, this means reviewing and updating an existing risk assessment. This is in addition to return-to-work interviews and ongoing conversations to ensure workers feel safe and comfortable in the workplace.

The British Safety Council welcomes these findings, which provide confidence that most employers are doing right by their workforce.

Commenting is Mike Robinson, chief executive of the British Safety Council. “We are encouraged by the results of our recent survey, which shows that a significant number of employers are managing the risk of Covid in the workplace. This will also help to reassure customers as more people will inevitably return to shops, shopping centres, leisure facilities, pubs and restaurants.

“Now is not the time for employers and the Government to be complacent about workplace safety; despite the fall in hospital admissions, infection rates and deaths. Everyone should be safe at work. Employers owe a duty of care to their workers to take the steps necessary to remove them from harm’s way.

“There is good reason to remain vigilant to bolster protection against a resurgence of hospital cases and deaths in the future, which Government modelling sees as “highly likely”. While the rate of decline in Covid infection has slowed in recent weeks, according to Government data, 10% of local areas in England have seen a rise in case rates including Barnsley, Corby, Luton, Mansfield, and Wakefield.

“There are third waves of Covid infection already happening in parts of Europe. The UK is expected to have a similar resurgence. Any further relaxation of restrictions must be data, not date, led.”

For further information on the British Safety Council, please click here.