Author: FSB Insurance Service
Tags: Coronavirus

We’ve written advice previously about guidelines for businesses to prepare for working from premises after lockdown, but not every business operates from premises. Many businesses operate either by working on-site, or by visiting peoples’ homes, and this requires vastly different considerations compared with working from your own premises.

If you have employees, it is still your responsibility to ensure their safety while working. The government guidance says that employers have a duty to reduce workplace risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking preventative measures. Employers must work with any other employers or contractors sharing the workplace, so that everybody’s health and safety is protected. This means that you work to ensure that workers and visitors who feel unwell stay away from others and do not interact.

Where the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full, in relation to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity can be redesigned to maintain a 2m distance or 1m with risk mitigations.

It’s also recommended that you ensure yourself and clients are wearing appropriate PPE and observing social distancing measures and hygiene precautions.

If possible, check before travelling to an outside location /client visit that you will have an allocated parking space from which to access the premises safely and contact your client to confirm that no one is currently shielding at the premises, and that safety measures are in place.

If you’re travelling with others in the same vehicle, it’s recommended to maintain good ventilation, (by keeping windows open and passengers facing away from one another) to reduce risk of transmission. Passengers should sit as far from the driver as possible.

Vehicles should be regularly cleaned using gloves and standard cleaning products, with emphasis on handles and other high-touch surfaces.

You can access our ‘back to work’ guide here for more information and links to relevant government web pages with up to date advice.

You know your business best, and we’ll be here, along with all the other FSB benefits and services, to help ensure your business’ resilience. Call us for insurance advice and quotes on 020 3883 7976 Monday-Friday, 9am-5.30pm.