HSE & Local Authority Officers are checking businesses in the transport, warehousing, and logistics sector are COVID-secure

HSE has issued a bulletin stating that HSE inspectors, and local authority officers, will be visiting more warehouses and distribution centres, to make sure workplaces are COVID-secure and following the relevant H&S guidance. 

Many businesses will be taking on temporary or agency workers or increasing staff working hours to serve the increased demand in the run-up to Christmas, especially with the growth in online sales during the second lockdown.  

This bulletin is a reminder that inspectors are carrying out inspections (often without prior notice) in order to see that organisations health and safety policies and risk mitigation measures are being implemented in practice, particularly with regard to covid-19 transmission risk.

"The logistics and distribution industry overall has seen a significant increase in business activity over the past few months and, with shops and retail centres closed, there will be a surge in online shopping in the run up to the festive period. “As a result of this, we will see an increase in the number of agency and temporary workers in the transport and logistics sector to meet the demand....Employers have a legal duty to protect workers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus."

https://press.hse.gov.uk/2020/11/23/hse-is-checking-businesses-in-the-transport-sector-are-covid-secure/?utm_term=headline&utm_content=campaigns-sectors-24-nov