Devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales have provided fresh guidance for retailers on keeping their workplace safe following an update on coronavirus measures.
The update to the Welsh government’s ‘Retail premises: potential reasonable meausures action card (coronavirus)’ aims to ‘strengthen’ guidance in the ongoing fight against the virus.
The guidance, revised on 17 September, carries stronger messaging on the wearing of face coverings, the requirement of regular tannoy announcements reminding people on the premises of their obligations and, more importantly, that risk assessments must be bespoke not generic.
The central guidance on risk based reasonable measures is also being updated to reflect the absolute requirement for bespoke assessments in all settings.
The Scottish Government has last week created a checklist for shops, retail stores and shopping centres, asking them to promote Covid safe good practices and behaviours as part of the everyday operations in their business.
The checklist includes a list of precautionary measures that all businesses in Scotland should adhere to. The measures include:
- Ensuring staff and customers adhere to the mandatory requirement to wear a face covering in indoor public spaces (unless an exemption applies), and that workplaces endorse and support staff in following best practice in the use of face coverings.
- Considering measures which encourage staff and customers to continue maintaining.
- Social distancing.
- Implementing good ventilation across all areas of the business.
- Ensuring staff maintain good hand, surface and respiratory hygiene measures at all times and promote to customers.
- Maintaining effective cleaning and disinfection regimes.
- Supporting staff to self-isolate and get tested where appropriate, in accordance with Scotland’s Test and Protect Strategy.