How to report your employer for breaching coronavirus rules or not ensuring social distancing
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The government has urged employers to implement social distancing measures to allow people to go back to work this week.
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Hide AdThese include sending home anyone who becomes unwell with the symptoms of the coronavirus and making sure they stay there under the self-isolating guidance, ensuring social distancing takes place and people keep two metres apart and frequent cleaning and disinfecting of workplaces surfaces and equipment.
On Tuesday May 12 Business Secretary Alok Sharma said that the Health and Safety Executive was prepared to take action against employers which did not take steps ensure the safety of staff returning to work.
"Employers have a duty to keep employees safe in the workplace - that is absolutely enshrined in law," he told the daily No 10 press briefing.
"If somebody feels their workplace is not safe, they have to take that up with their employer.
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Hide Ad"If they don't feel they are getting any traction they absolutely should get in touch with the Health and Safety Executive or the local authority."
Health and Safety Executive chief Sarah Albon said firms which breached Covid-19 rules could ultimately be prosecuted.
She told the Downing Street press conference: "Inspectors can require businesses to do certain things - enforcement notices, requiring them to take particular kinds of action.
"In the most extreme circumstances if there is a risk of serious injury to an individual employee they can issue a notice which prohibits certain activities from taking place.
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Hide Ad"Breach of those kind of enforcement notices is essentially a criminal offence and we can prosecute people who fail to do the right thing."
What should you do if you’ve returned to work and measures have not been taken to keep you safe?
This is who you should report issues to and what they say about reporting problems:
The Health and Safety Executive
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Hide AdBut before people log on or ring, it has said people should speak to the person in charge of your workplace, your employer and your union report or employee representative first.
It says it might also be helpful to check what your bosses should be doing to keep the workplace safe and healthy.
After a report is lodged, it will carry out an assessment about whether it will look into the matter within 24-hours, and if it pursues it, it will call the company by phone, in writing or make a site visit.
After that, within 21 days, it will get in contact with whoever made the report to say what action it will take, but only if an email address or postal address is given.
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Hide AdHowever the HSE has said it cannot always look into issues and adds: “We can’t help you get compensation or help you take someone to court.”
It does say it can take actions such as giving advice to workplaces and also issue “enforcement notices to help secure improvements with the Public Health England guidance.”
The HSE only has responsibilities over some industries including factories, farms, schools and colleges, hospitals and nursing homes and local and central Government premises.
The council
The HSE has said local authorities should be your first port of call if you work for offices, restaurants, pubs and clubs shops, hotels, privately-owned museums and sheltered accommodation and care homes.
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Hide AdAlthough many of these have been closed under government guidelines, anyone with concerns about working practises at any of these businesses which have remained open should contact the environmental health department to seek advice and support.
Trade Union
Workers who are concerned about their workplace environment and coronavirus and who are members of a union should contact their representative.
Unison, which represents workers employed through the public services, has said many of its members are unable to work from home due to their “critical roles in the UK’s public services.”
Unison says workers should be provided with personal protection equipment and workplaces should be sanitised.
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Hide AdIt urges people to first speak to their employer if they are concerned about their workplace and then to contact their Unison branch if it is not resolved.
Unite the Union says members should raise issues with their Unite health and safety rep and/or line manager immediately.
The Union says: “Ultimately employees are entitled to remove themselves from the workplace if there is a real risk of serious and imminent danger, which they could not be expected to avert.
“Any Unite member that finds themselves in this position should consult their Unite rep or officer before taking action.
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Hide Ad“Unite will challenge any employer that does not adhere to COVID-19 health guidance.”
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