Hygiene & Health is having a profound influence on everyone and is consequently what people will look for when for example booking a service, visiting your establishment or using another service sector.  But it is also what Employees will look for when returning to work. 
Operating standards for safety, security, and cleanliness will be subject to new, elevated expectations. 
It is well known now that every business must carry out a specific assessment of the risk of exposure to Covid-19 and to put in the necessary controls and monitor them to ensure they are working.  Beyond Level Zero is not removing this requirement, what this level now requires is for businesses to carry out their own risk assessment of mitigating measures and not rely on prescriptive instructions from the government.
Your RTW programme should be bespoke to the organisation and delivered in the context of preserving the health and safety of the workforce.  Since COVID-19 is a foreseeable risk, by definition it should become part of the organisation’s duty of care agenda.
Annual Board reporting should include insights on the occupational health and safety implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The significant interest in more flexible forms of working, and hybrid working in particular, have created new employee expectations and desires.
Organisations who do not support flexible forms of working may therefore risk increased employee turnover, reduced employee engagement and limitations on the ability to attract talent in the future.
Hybrid working also provides other opportunities for organisations in terms of reducing estate and facilities costs, enabling employee wellbeing, and supporting inclusion and diversity.
Any plan for a return to the workplace needs to include communication and reassurance about COVID-19 safe measures. It will also require ongoing wellbeing support, especially in relation to employees who may be anxious about returning to the workplace or using public transport to commute.
If you need help some help reviewing risk assessments for your business, send me an email [email protected] 

​Why do I need this?
UK and devolved Governments have stated that businesses wanting to reopen as lockdown measures are eased, will be required to adapt infection control strategies based on a thorough Covid-19 specific risk assessment. Your Covid-19 risk assessment is about control of infection and is different to a typical risk assessment you are probably used to.
When do I need this?
Before re-opening a business there is a duty for employers to manage risks, and normal health and safety legislation still applies. You should review and update existing risk assessments taking account of the most up to date Covid-19 information provided by the UK and devolved Governments.

​As the Tourism and other industries begin to reopen, business leaders may find it helpful to look at this short free coaching session on Carrying out a Covid-19 Risk Assessment https://fairweather-safety-consulting.coursify.me/
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