Running your business safely during COVID-19
Find information and guidance on how to run your business safely while COVID-19 continues to be a serious health risk.
Living with COVID-19
On Monday 21 February 2022, the government announced its plans for living with COVID-19. The changes that came into effect are as follows.
On 24 February, the government:
- removed the legal requirement to self-isolate
- stopped asking fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 to test daily for 7 days, and removed the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate
- ended self-isolation support payments
- national funding for practical support and the medicine delivery service will no longer be available
- ended routine contact tracing – contacts are no longer required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests
- ended the legal obligation for individuals to tell their employers when they're required to self-isolate
- revoked The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No.3) Regulations
From 24 March, the government:
- removed the COVID-19 provisions within the Statutory Sick Pay and Employment and Support Allowance regulations
From 1 April, the government:
- removed the current guidance on voluntary COVID-status certification in domestic settings and no longer recommend that certain venues use the NHS COVID Pass
- updated guidance setting out the ongoing steps that people with COVID-19 should take to minimise contact with other people; this aligned with changes to testing
- stopped providing free universal symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the public in England
- continues to provide free COVID-19 tests for people with certain health conditions, going into hospital for surgery or a procedure, or those that work in some NHS or social care settings
- consolidated guidance to the public and businesses, in line with public health advice
- removed the health and safety requirement for every employer to explicitly consider COVID-19 in their risk assessments, although employers may choose to continue to cover COVID-19 in their risk assessments
- replaced the existing set of Working Safely during COVID-19 guidance with new public health advice called Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace
Running your business safely
COVID-19 can still be a serious health condition and case numbers are still very high. Businesses are therefore urged to make every effort to help keep their workforce and community safe.
From 1 April 2022, businesses must still:
- follow the public health advice for reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace
- comply with HSE Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 for welfare facilities and a healthy and safe working environment, which includes ensuring sufficient ventilation in the workplace
- complete a risk assessment, and implement control measures if workers come into contact with COVID-19 directly through their work, for example in researching the virus in laboratories or health and social care workers caring for infectious patients.
From 1 April 2022, all businesses are still strongly advised to:
- have an up-to-date plan in case of a COVID-19 outbreak
- if a member of staff is unwell with symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, follow the guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection such as COVID-19
- encourage and enable vaccination – there is a COVID-19 vaccination guide for employers which contains information on actions employers can take to enable staff vaccination, which includes guidance on the vaccines that are available through the NHS
- follow the new guidance on when to consider wearing face coverings
- bring in fresh air to occupied spaces to help reduce the concentration of respiratory particles, lowering the risk of airborne transmission of respiratory viruses – the Health and Safety Executive has advice on ventilating workplaces
- keep workplaces clean to reduce the risk of infection and help reduce sickness in the workforce – it’s especially important to clean surfaces that people touch a lot
- consider the needs of employees at greater risk from COVID-19, including those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 – there is specific guidance for people whose immune system means that they are at higher risk
- make sure employees, customers and visitors are aware of the public health protection measures in place when visiting your premises.
Support for businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19
We fully support any business that wishes to continue any of the above measures and encourage all businesses to consider doing so.
To help make your business COVID-19 compliant, we’re running a COVID-19 compliant accreditation scheme that offers local businesses a free assessment from our environmental health team
Find more helpful information and guidance below:
- guidance from the Health and Safety Executive on working safely during COVID-19
- general health and safety advice from us
If you have any questions about any of the above, email our Health and Safety team.
Managing outbreaks of COVID-19
Our aim is to ensure you have the necessary support to carry out this role. Our approach is set out in our Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan (OPCP) (PDF, 515kb).
If you need support or advice in relation to cases of COVID-19 in your workplace, email publichealth@southwark.gov.uk or the London Coronavirus Response Cell at lcrc@phe.gov.uk.
Other health and safety steps that your business should take during COVID-19
You should review your business continuity arrangements to ensure that you have a plan in place. For example, if a number of your staff needed to stay away from work or if your premises need to temporarily close to enable further measures to be installed or deep cleaning.
You have a legal responsibility to look after the health, safety, and welfare of your employees, clients and customers during COVID-19.
Page last updated: 14 June 2023
