Workplace Health & Safety

As the impact of COVID-19 hits virtually every sector and business across the UK the effectiveness of Business Continuity Plans has been tested as never before. Whether it’s changing working practices to adopt social distancing, moving non-critical employees to remote working, identifying new markets or providing different products and services the scale and speed of these changes have left minimal time for reviewing some of the longer term health and safety implications for both the business and employees.

With the impact likely to be more months than weeks, once the dust settles and the immediate priorities are addressed, businesses will need to start focusing on the wider impact of these changes going forward and how they transition things once restrictions begin to be lifted and operations go back to something closer to normal.

During these challenging times many businesses will be operating different working patterns, whether due to increased production to meet demand, re-arranging shift patterns to help isolate and protect workers or pivoting their business to operate in new markets.

Whilst focus on the day to day operation is critical at this time, it’s important not to forget the longer-term impact of changing working practices on the health and well-being of employees who will also be facing substantial pressures outside of work too.

As many businesses move to remote working in line with Government advice, focus so far has primarily been around the practical logistics of accessing data and ensuring its security, changing the way that services are delivered, communication with clients and other team members.

Given the likely length of time that business will operate in this way it is also vitally important not to forget the short and longer term health and safety implications on employees who will already be dealing with significant pressures outside of work.

Whether it is their physical well-being or their emotional and mental health, as an employer you have a responsibility more than ever to provide support to them.