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Health and Safety Update – COVID 19

Health and Safety Update – COVID 19

by | 24 Sep, 2020 | Main News Feed

In light of new guidance across the UK, FIS provides some vital updates below:

Contact Tracing App Launched

The NHS COVID‐19 app has been launched in England and Wales to help control the spread of coronavirus. Although not legally required to do so, construction sites can create a unique NHS QR code and posters to display at each site entrance. Sites can also play their part by encouraging their workforce to download and use the app outside of work

Face Coverings (England)

This week we have seen the increased requirements for the wearing of face coverings in specified places announced this week.

There are no additional specific requirements for construction sites however the requirement for face coverings to be worn in premises providing hospitality (bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes), except when seated at a table to eat or drink applies to canteens.

The CLC has reviewed its guidance on The Use of Face Coverings in Construction and is proposing to update its position as below.

CLC position

Where workers on site are not required to wear Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) and their workplace (which may include welfare and changing facilities, site offices or site meeting rooms) meets all of the criteria below, their employer should make face coverings available and they should be worn:

    • an enclosed space;
    • where social distancing isn’t always possible; and
    • where they come into contact with others they do not normally meet.

In line with Government guidance on premises providing hospitality, face coverings must be worn in canteens except when seated at a table to eat or drink.

This document will remain as guidance for employers with the objective of achieving a consistent approach across the industry.

Further information on use of face coverings and guidance for the Finishes and Interiors Sector is available in the FIS H&S Toolkit

Car Sharing (Scotland)

In her update this week the First Minister stated:

“The last new restriction I want to cover today relates to travelling by car. It may seem minor but it is important.  We know, again from Test & Protect data, that sharing car journeys presents a significant risk of transmission.  We are therefore advising against car sharing with people outside your own household.  We are therefore advising against car sharing with people outside your own household.”

This has been reviewed through the CICV in Scotland H&S working group and the conclusion is that there is no need change to the advice previously issued is required.

It remains the official advice from Transport Scotland:

There remains occasions when there is no alternative but to travel with people from out with your household. This should be limited as much as possible.  On such occasions, you should:

  • keep to small groups of people, up to 6 at any one time
  • keep your distance and take care entering and exiting the vehicle
  • sit as far apart as possible in the vehicle, avoiding face-to-face
  • maintain good ventilation by keeping the car windows open
  • wear a face-covering, unless you are exempt
  • clean your hands before and after your journey
  • if the vehicle is your responsibility, clean the door handles and other areas that people touch.
  • If you regularly share transport whether it is a car or minibus or other private vehicle, try and share with the same people each time

Full details from Transport Scotland here

Guidance on complying with restrictions in Scotland is available in the Finishes and Interiors Sector is available in the FIS H&S Toolkit

Coronavirus Testing

If a member of the workforce shows any of the three main COVID‐19 symptoms, they should get a test within five days and self‐isolate until they have received their test result. In accordance with Government guidance, colleagues who were in close contact do not need to self‐isolate, unless requested to do so by NHS Test and Trace. They should be informed that a colleague (who should remain anonymous) may have COVID‐19 and they should take extra care in practising social distancing and good hygiene.

Employers who are informed of more than one confirmed case should contact their local Public Health England Health Protection Team

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces Job Support Scheme to replace furlough from 1 November

by | 24 Sep, 2020 | Main News Feed

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has today announced his new Winter Economy Plan featuring a new Jobs Support Scheme to replace the existing furlough scheme.

The Job Support Scheme

Starting in November, the scheme will run for six months.

It will be available for employees working at least a third of their normal hours, who are being paid for that as normal.  Employers and government will be jointly responsible for incresing their wages to cover two-thirds of their lost pay.  

Through the scheme, employers will continue to pay the wages of staff for the hours they work.  For the hours not worked, the government and the employer will each pay one third of their equivalent salary.  This means employees who can only go back to work on shorter time will still be paid two thirds of the hours for those hours they can’t work.

In order to support only viable jobs, employees must be working at least 33% of their usual hours. The level of grant will be calculated based on employee’s usual salary, capped at £697.92 per month.

All small and medium-sized businesses are eligible, however larger organisations must be able to show that their turnover has declined during the pandemic.  It is designed to sit alongside the Jobs Retention Bonus and could be worth over 60% of average wages of workers who have been furloughed – and are kept on until the start of February 2021.  Businesses can benefit from both schemes in order to help protect jobs.

Support for the Self Employed

Government is continuing its support for millions of self-employed individuals by extending the Self Employment Income Support Scheme Grant (SEISS). An initial taxable grant will be provided to those who are currently eligible for SEISS and are continuing to actively trade but face reduced demand due to coronavirus. The initial lump sum will cover three months’ worth of profits for the period from November to the end of January next year. This is worth 20% of average monthly profits, up to a total of £1,875.

An additional second grant, which may be adjusted to respond to changing circumstances, will be available for self-employed individuals to cover the period from February 2021 to the end of April – ensuring our support continues right through to next year. This is in addition to the more than £13 billion of support already provided for over 2.6 million self-employed individuals through the first two stages of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme – one of the most generous in the world.

Additonal Support Measures

Businesses that succesfully applied for a BounceBack loan can now extend their terms from six to 10 years as part of the “pay as you grow” scheme.  This aims to help cashflow allowing payments to be reduced.

If a business is in real trouble, then they can opt for interest-only payments or suspend repayments for six months.  It has been confirmed that credit ratings will be unaffected.

The government guarantee on Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans will be extended to 10 years and a new successor loan guarantee programme will be announced in January.

In addition, the Chancellor also announced he would be extending applications for the government’s coronavirus loan schemes until the end of November.

Businesses that deferred their VAT payments earlier this year will now have the option to repay in 11 interest‐free instalments during the 2021‐22 financial year, rather than in one lump sum at the end of March 2021, to help with cashflow.

You can read the full Winter Economy Plan outline report here

Visit our Covid Hub for all the latest information

 

COVID compliance now a legal obligation – are you ready?

COVID compliance now a legal obligation – are you ready?

by | 23 Sep, 2020 | Main News Feed

Despite spending weeks encouraging employers to bring employess back into COVID-secure workplaces, the Government last night announced a dramatic 180-degree turnaround.

The advice now is to work from home wherever possible, in an attempt to curb an increase in COVID cases.

There are however still many businesses for whom homeworking is not an option. For them, creating a COVID-secure workplace has never been more important. COVID-compliance is now a legal obligation and not meeting these standards in your workplace will result in fines of up to £10,000 and being forced to close your doors.

Wondering if your business is up-to-scratch and could confidently pass an inspection?

FIS Associate Member Citation has put together an extensive checklist of all the considerations you need to make to get your workplace inspection-ready and safe for your people. You can access the checklist here. Further guidance can be found in our H&S Toolkit

FIS Member Benefit
If you’d like to chat about how Citation can help with the HR and Health & Safety side of your business, just give them a call on 0345 844 1111, or fill in our call-back form and we’ll get right back to you.
FIS members are entitled to preferential rates on Citation’s services. Quote ‘Finishes & Interior Sector’ when enquiring to access your member benefit.

Tighter restrictions, but construction to carry on across the UK

by | 22 Sep, 2020 | Main News Feed

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson today set before the House of Commons six steps designed to action to suppress the disease in England.  This follows similar steps already announced in Northern Ireland.

Step One is that office workers, who can work from home should do so.  He was, however explicit and avoided mistakes of the initial lockdown with the statement that  “key public services – and in all professions where homeworking is not possible, such as construction or retail – people should continue to attend their workplaces“

The second step is that from Thursday all pubs, bars and restaurants must operate table-service only and that all hospitality venues must close at 10pm.  The same will apply to takeaways – though deliveries can continue thereafter.

The third step is to extend the requirement to wear face coverings to include staff in retail, all users of taxis and private hire vehicles and staff and customers in indoor hospitality, except when seated at a table to eat or drink.

The fourth step is confirming that, in retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors, Covid-secure guidelines will become legal obligations.  Businesses will be fined and could be closed if they breach these rules.

The fifth step is to tighten up the rule of six.  From Monday, a maximum of 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions.  Though, up to 30 can still attend a funeral as now.  The rule will extend to all adult indoor team sports.

Finally, plans to reopen business conferences, exhibitions and large sporting events will not begin from 1 October.

These rules will be enforced by tighter penalties extending fines of up to £10,000 for those who fail to self-isolate to businesses breaking Covid rules.  This is significant for construction businesses and extends the penalties that HSE can impose if not adhering to strict social distancing guidelines.  The FIS COVID H&S Toolkit is available here.

The penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will now double to £200 for a first offence.

Commenting on the announcement, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee stated:

“I think we had all steeled ourselves for this, but nonetheless it is a blow to hear that after months of fighting the virus we have taken a step back.  One positive is that the clarity in the speech from the Prime Minister with respect to business and construction is appreciated – it means we avoid the worst of the confusion that we experienced as a sector back in March. 

It is the wider implications that concern me more, this is clearly a blow to the hospitality sector and is likely to impact investment here, but also delay decisions around reconfiguring and enhancing workspaces. 

I hope that the Prime Minister heeded the warnings from his fellow members of the House about needing to do more to support businesses through this challenging time so that we are there to support the recovery.  I believe now he has to look carefully at the allowances available that will encourage people to invest in their buildings and enhance their working environments in readiness for a return.  A silver lining is that, without doubt the best time to get work done is when the building will be vacant.”

A full transcript of the speech is available here.  The Prime Minister will address the nation at 8pm tonight.

An Update on Scotland

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament today the First Minister introduced a number of additional restrictions the Scottish Government believes are now necessary in order to reduce COVID rates as we enter winter.

 These restrictions include:

 ·         A strict nationwide curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants – from Friday 25th September, pubs, bars and restaurants will be required to close at 10pm.

·         From tomorrow (23 September) visiting other households indoors will not be permitted.

·         Advising against car sharing with people outside your own household.

 The First Minister also underlined existing Scottish Government advice that everyone who can work from home, should work from home.  

 The Scottish Government has also announced financial support of £500 for those on low incomes who are required to self-isolate.  

 You can read the First Minister’s full speech here.

 

Qfqual commits to streamlining communications

Qfqual commits to streamlining communications

by | 22 Sep, 2020 | Main News Feed

Ofqual has jointly released a statement with several organisations involved in assessments, committing to work together and streamline communications. This summer has been extraordinary for everyone involved in awarding vocational and technical qualifications. It has been an anxious time for learners and has involved a huge amount of hard work for centres and awarding organisations (AOs).

Everyone in the Education and Training sector has worked collaboratively to issue valid and reliable VTQ results to learners in order for learners to progress onto the next stage of their education or into work. It is a significant achievement that millions of certificates were issued, for thousands of different qualifications.

Ofqual recognise and acknowledge, however, that this achievement has been a great challenge for all concerned and will continue to be so. Colleagues right across the sector, both in centres and awarding organisations, had to make enormous efforts to secure results for learners, rapidly developing and implementing new systems and processes. Particular credit is due to colleagues working in centres for their hard work and professionalism.

It is important to learn the lessons from the summer, in particular how the Education and Training Sector can work together even more effectively to improve communications and the exchange of information between centres and AOs so that things run more smoothly in 2020/21. You may have seen that Ofqual has been consulting on the regulatory framework for 2020/21, which is, like this summer’s framework, flexible to ensure that AOs can put in place arrangements and adaptations that best suit their qualifications. But Ofqual are conscious of the need to ensure as much consistency as possible, and they recognise that collaboration will be key. AoC, AELP, HOLEX, FAB, JCQ, Ofqual, have therefore committed to work together, convening a working group to agree how centre-facing communications can be streamlined over the current academic year.

As a first step, those involved have jointly agreed that, by 23 October, awarding organisations will have started to communicate to centres their planned approach to any adaptations to their qualifications for 2020/21, to assist in mitigating disruption to teaching, learning and assessments so that, as far as possible, learners have the opportunity to receive fair results in 2020 to 2021 and are not disadvantaged by the longer-term impacts of the pandemic. They will be strongly encouraging awarding organisations to keep their centres fully informed as plans develop, and they will use this group to co-ordinate milestones and communications, and to address issues arising through the year.

A number of subject and sector groups (for example, covering Functional Skills Qualifications, and Hair and Beauty Qualifications) have work well underway to support consistent approaches to adaptations of qualifications in 2020/21. Ofqual are pleased to confirm that CCEA Regulation and Qualifications Wales will also be part of the working group going forward, and they commit to updating you on a regular basis as decisions are made and clarity achieved.