The Government has provided specific guidelines for working safely during Covid-19 for different sectors of the economy. These guidelines include advice and information for businesses on social distancing, carrying out risk assessments, face coverings, customer safety, employee safety, and more.

As restrictions are eased, it is vital that your workplace is COVID-secure. It is just as important today that employers and businesses ensure they are implementing the right controls to stop the spread of COVID-19, as it was a year ago. Winchester City Council’s Public Protection Service are there to support you and have put together advice sheets, such as those found on the right hand side of this page and on our Licensing and Events pages to support business owners and activity organisers feel confident about starting up again.

The HSE has also published a range of coronavirus related guidance and information, to help you keep your workplace COVID-secure, including:

• Risk assessment
• Social distancing
• Cleaning, hygiene and handwashing
• Ventilation and air conditioning
• Talk to workers and provide information
• Working from home
• Vulnerable workers

Information on the Hampshire County Council’s website has been provided by their Public Health team to support you in your responses to a case or outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) linked to your business

Keep Hampshire Safe - information for businesses

This information includes:

• What to do if you have a confirmed case(s) or an outbreak
• How to report an outbreak to your local health protection team
• Communications toolkit for businesses

Communications for businesses if you have a confirmed case or outbreak linked to your business

You may need to consider how to manage communications if you have a confirmed case or outbreak linked to your business, whether this is to staff, customers, suppliers, the media or the public. You may have communications support from within your own organisation who will be able to advise you. However, for smaller businesses you may find the communication advice below helpful.

Single confirmed case reported to your business

The following social media message can be used if you have been advised of a single confirmed case linked to your business and you feel you need to communicate via social media. 

"We have been advised of a positive COVID-19 case linked to our business. We are working with NHS Test and Trace and would reassure you that all precautions are being taken to protect our customers, staff and the wider community."

(In a single case it is unlikely that you will have been advised to close your business in which case you may choose to add something like the following to your social media message):

"We are open for business as usual and look forward to continuing to welcome our customers."

Multiple cases reported to your business

In this situation, it is likely that you will have already been contacted by one or more agencies such as Public Health England's South East Health Protection team, Hampshire's County Council's Public Health team or us your Public Protection Service/Environmental Health Team.

After their initial risk assessment with you and dependent on the circumstances, they can provide communications support which may include:

• Information to staff
• Information for customers and visitors
• Initial social media statements

Media handling

There may be media interest when multiple cases are reported linked to a business. With these more complex situations, media enquiries will be managed by Hampshire County Council's communications team working in conjunction with Public Health England's communication team.

If you have any queries or require further information, please contact us.

As an employer, you have the same health and safety responsibilities for people working at home as for any other worker.

Our home working guidance has been redesigned and expanded to provide more detail on straightforward actions to manage home workers’ health and safety.

This includes the risks of stress and poor mental health as well as working with display screen equipment (DSE).

There is advice for home workers themselves, as well as a video and practical tips on good posture when working with DSE.

Workplace experts Acas advise employers and workers to be practical, flexible and sensitive to each other's situation when working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit their website for more tips and advice

Coming back to work after time away during the pandemic may be difficult for some people.

If workers have been away from the business for prolonged periods they may have experienced a decline in ability or proficiency.

They may need additional time and support to get back to pre-pandemic performance.

HSE have published guidance on returning to work which can help you talk to your workers and provide the right support. It includes:

• Who should go to work?
• Returning to work after a lockdown or other closure
• How you can help your workers if they’re worried about returning to work

Questions to help you talk about working at home or returning to work

NHS Test and Trace in the workplace - What to do if you or someone you employ is required to self-isolate. This includes being contacted by NHS Test and Trace, self-isolation rules and financial support.

The Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) contains guidance on NHS Test and Trace, outbreaks in the workplace and accessing testing.

• Winchester City Council’s COVID-19 resources for businesses

On this page you will find COVID-19 resources to use for your business. The artwork is sized at A3 (and can be scaled to A4) - if you require a different size please contact our Communications team. Feel free to download and use these materials to inform and reassure your staff and customers.

• Register to order rapid lateral flow tests for your employees
• Maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace
• The Food Standards Agency have also published specific advice for reopening and adapting your food business during COVID-19, which looks at food safety issues and cleaning after a long period of closure.