Covid spot checks on businesses in Aylesbury will continue warns council

Officials will be making calls and visits to businesses in Aylesbury to ensure they have the right Covid measures in place.

Bucks Council is working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to send teams round to local businesses to check the right protocols are in place.

The Covid teams will visit newly reopened businesses, companies which have stayed open throughout the pandemic and places reopening soon.

The teams will carry out spot checks and then where deemed necessary inspections will be organised.

Nick Naylor, cabinet member for housing, homelessness and regulatory services at Bucks Council said: “Over the coming weeks any workplace of any size, in any sector could receive an unannounced check from our colleagues at the Health and Safety Executive or an inspection from Buckinghamshire Council.

"We’re reaching out to help businesses make sure they are protecting their staff and customers and taking the right measures to stop the spread of Covid in their local community.”

Businesses will be assessed on whether its workplaces have taken the following measures:

-Risk assessment: every workplace should have a COVID risk assessment. Update it to reflect any changes in legislation or guidance that may impact your work activity

-Social distancing: where possible you should keep people two metres apart. If this is not viable, keeping one metre apart with risk mitigation is acceptable

-Cleaning, hygiene and handwashing: keeping your workplace clean reduces the potential for coronavirus to spread. It is a critical part of making and keeping your business COVID-secure.

-Ventilation and air conditioning can help reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus

-Talk to workers: provide information about providing support and maintaining control measures.

-Working from home: provide the equipment they need, keep in regular contact and discuss their wellbeing

-Vulnerable workers: talk to staff, provide information and consider the risk to workers who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus – putting controls in place to reduce that risk

Angela Storey, director of transformation and operational services at HSE, added: "Our spot checks and inspections support the cross-government work in helping employers and employees that have worked throughout the pandemic and those returning as lockdown measures ease.”

The government also provides an online guide business owners can access to check their site is Covid-secure, which can be accessed here. Further information on spot checks is available on the HSE website.