Spot-checks to catch out those not following rules
BUSINESSES which are found to be flouting coronavirus restrictions could be prosecuted, as Derbyshire Dales District Council has taken on a role of carrying out spot-checks.
The authority is working with the Health and Safety Executive and public health authorities to monitor patterns of cases in the district and to visit businesses to make sure they are Covid secure.
During the checks – which start this week – the council will provide advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers, customers and visitors.
Where any businesses are not managing this, officers will take immediate action.
This can range from the provision of specific advice, issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe and, where businesses fail to comply, could lead to prosecution.
As part of the latest restrictions and guidance, businesses need to put adjustments in place to manage the risk and protect workers and others from coronavirus.
The district council’s chief executive Paul Wilson said: “We will be talking to local businesses and inspecting sites in and around the Derbyshire Dales to understand how they are managing risks in line with their specific business activity. Becoming Covidsecure needs to be the priority for all businesses.
“It is a legal duty for businesses to protect their workers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus. This means making business adjustments to become covid-secure.
“We advise employers to work with their employees when implementing changes, to help increase confidence with workers, customers and the local community.”
In recent times HSE and local authority inspectors have discovered common issues across a range of sectors, including a failure to provide ar rangements for monitoring or supervising and maintaining social distancing, and failing to introduce an adequate cleaning regime, particularly at busy times of the day. Tim
Braund Director of Regulatory Services said: “Any business in the Derbyshire Dales could get an unannounced spot check, no matter the size or sector. By making sure businesses have measures to manage the risks, we can benefit the health of the community, as well as support the economy.”