General Workplace Safety Risk Assessment Example - tcm18 77042

COVID-19 General workplace safety risk assessment —
completed example
This risk assessment can be used by a business during return to work after
lockdown or in planning for return to work to identify the control measures that
should be put in place to protect employees and others from the risk of coronavirus
infection.
NOTE: Separate return to work assessments on the usual health and safety
concerns such as legionella, hazardous substances, work equipment, etc will also
need to be done.
Assessor:
Job title:
Assessment date:
Review date(s):
Business type/location:
Business hazards
Potential risks to
associated with the Further actions
workers caused by Control measures
coronavirus required
hazards
pandemic
Infection Prevention, Cleaning and Staff Safety
As the business There is a direct threat Ensure that the
rebuilds after to staff health and organisation complies
lockdown and staff wellbeing from with its duty to provide a
return to work the transmission of the safe and healthy
organisation must COVID-19 coronavirus workplace/working
ensure their safety while at work conditions for staff in the
by making premises People can catch the workplace during the
“COVID” secure – virus from others who coronavirus pandemic by:
unsafe workplace are infected in the  Circulating “COVID
premises raise the following ways: secure” coronavirus
risks of virus policies and safety
 virus moves from
transmission procedures to all staff
person-to-person in
droplets from the and managers; these
nose or mouth set out how staff
Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

This document is for your guidance only. Professional advice should be sought before use.
spread when a should behave and
person with the the precautions they
virus coughs or must adopt during the
exhales pandemic to keep
 the virus can them safe
survive for up to 72  Requiring staff to
hours out of the practice effective
body on surfaces social distancing while
which people have in and around the
coughed on, etc workplace, while
 people can pick up travelling to work and
the virus by in all work business
breathing in the Managers should pass on
droplets or by and reinforce key
touching Government public health
contaminated messages to all staff:
surfaces and then  cover the mouth and
touching their eyes nose with a tissue or
or mouth sleeve (not hands)
when coughing or
sneezing (Catch it —
Bin it — Kill it)
 put used tissues in the
bin straight away
 wash hands regularly
with soap and water
for at least 20
seconds (use hand
sanitiser gel if soap
and water are not
available)
 avoid close contact
with people who are
unwell
 clean and disinfect
frequently touched
objects and surfaces
 do not touch face,
eyes, nose or mouth if
hands are not clean.
In all departments, fully
implement Public Health
England (PHE) Guidance
for Employers and
Businesses on

Coronavirus, including
the following key safety
precautions:
 Keep
local/departmental
risk assessments
under review to
ensure that a safe
place of work is
maintained
 Consult with staff and
staff representatives –
fully involve the
workforce at all stages
of the pandemic
 Make any
adjustments to the
workspace/rotas/work
patterns/ procedures
necessary to facilitate
effective infection
prevention and social
distancing at work
 Follow government
health and travel
advice
 Provide hand sanitiser
as required
 Provide infection
control personal
protective equipment
(PPE) such as gloves,
masks and eye
protection if required
in individual risk
assessments and
method statements,
e.g. cleaning
 Increase
environmental
cleaning in the
workplace; review and
revise cleaning
method statements
and schedules and
ensure cleaning staff

have access to
suitable detergents,
disinfectants and PPE
 Provide additional
waste removal
facilities and more
frequent rubbish
collection
 Display appropriate
public health posters
and notices around
the workplace and on
websites
Staff are not required to
wear face coverings while
at work but may do so if
they wish
Homeworking, Hot-desking and Equipment Sharing

Staff working Homeworking reduces Homeworking should be
together in the risk of staff adopted within the
workplace premises gathering in the organisation as the
inevitably raises the workplace and of preferred method of work
risk of virus transmitting the virus wherever possible and
transmission only staff who need to be
Hot desking and the on-site should attend
sharing of workplace premises
equipment present The following working
hazards that raise arrangements will be put
the risk of virus into place to support
transmission further homeworking:
 Managers will plan for
the minimum number
of people needed on
site to operate safely
and effectively
 Departmental and line
managers to review
all staff job roles in
order to facilitate and
encourage
homeworking
wherever appropriate
 Homeworking policies
to be reviewed to

ensure that sufficient
support is provided to
homeworkers
 Managers should
monitor the wellbeing
of people who are
working from home
and put in place
measures to support
their mental and
physical health and
personal security
 Enhanced IT support
to be provided to
homeworkers to
ensure the
effectiveness of
working arrangements
and the security of
information and data,
for example, remote
access to work
systems
 Arrangements should
help homeworkers to
stay connected to the
rest of the workforce
as appropriate
 Hot-desking will not
be supported at this
time
 Equipment should not
be shared between
staff – limit use of
high-touch equipment
in the workplace, eg
whiteboards, pens,
etc
Workplace Social Distancing

Effective social Social distancing refers Staff are required to
distancing is a key to people being practice effective social
element in reducing required to maintain a distancing while in and
the transmission of distance from each around the workplace,
COVID-19 other of 2 meters, while involved in work

wherever possible. activities and when
Social distancing travelling to and from
effectively puts people work, whenever possible,
at a safe range from by:
anyone coughing. The  Avoiding non-
main route of virus essential contact with
transmission is through others
droplets exhaled or
 Keeping a safe
coughed by an infected
distance of at least 2
person
metres (about 3
steps) from others
whenever possible
 Avoiding physical
contact (eg hugs,
handshakes, etc)
Adaptations to the
premises to support
social distancing should
include:
 A review of all work
premises to identify
suitable adaptations
which will support
social distancing
 Offices and work
spaces to be set up to
support social
distancing, e.g. layout
changes, appropriate
signage, stickers and
floor markings to
denote safe
distances, etc
 Workstations and
desks to be arranged
with a minimum
separation between
them – where
necessary screens
will be fitted
 Establishing
maximum occupancy
limits for offices and
work areas

 Reducing the need for
staff to move around
within the workplace
Adaptations to work
processes to support
social distancing will
include:
 Cancelling non-
essential meetings
 Holding essential
meetings in well
ventilated rooms with
appropriate social
distancing in place –
limit numbers to
essential members
only and use
phone/video
conferencing, etc
 Replacing face-to-
face meetings
wherever possible
with video
conferencing, phone
conferencing, etc
 Holding meetings
outdoors
 Providing hand
sanitiser at meetings
 Cancelling non-
essential training and
all face-to-face
training/recruitment
practices
 Carrying out any
essential training/
recruitment by using
email/online elearning
wherever possible
rather than bringing
people together face
to face
Managers should display
notices in all premises
reminding staff of the key

infection prevention
requirements, including
the need to maintain safe
distancing
Where social distancing
guidelines cannot be
followed in full, in relation
to a particular activity,
managers must carry out
further risk assessments
and consider whether
that activity needs to
continue for the business
to operate - where such
activities need to
continue appropriate
mitigation methods
should be put into place,
such as:
 Increased hand
washing
 Increased
environmental
cleaning
 Keeping the activity
time involved as short
as possible
 Reducing the number
of people each person
has contact with by
using “fixed teams or
partnering” (so each
person works with
only a few others)
Higher Risk Areas of the Workplace

Some areas of the Heavily used areas of Ensure higher-risk high-
workplace may the workplace are traffic areas of the
present a higher risk more likely to present workplace are COVID-
than others – this an infection secure by applying
may include areas transmission risk appropriate safety
such as staff toilets, Essential for staff to precautions, including:
staff rooms and wash hands regularly  Stressing the need for
restrooms but also that toilets are staff to follow good
kept clean and free of hygiene practice at all

coronavirus times while at work (ie
contamination regular handwashing,
A number of staff going using tissues and
to the toilet together disposing of them
may compromise their appropriately, etc)
ability to comply with  Managers ensuring
social distancing that adequate hand
Increased risk of cleaning resources
people coughing and are provided; all staff
touching door handles, toilets to be supplied
taps and toilet flush with adequate
handles supplies of hot water,
liquid soap and paper
towels
 Printing handwashing
instructions/posters
and displaying
throughout workplace,
especially in toilets
 Limiting numbers of
staff who can use high
traffic areas such as
corridors, stairs,
toilets and restrooms
at any one time to
ensure social
distancing
 Limiting lift occupancy
 Monitor high-traffic
area use and regulate
access as necessary
 Prioritise disabled use
where necessary, eg
disabled toilet use,
use of lifts, etc
 Staggering breaks to
ensure that restrooms
and toilets are not
overloaded
 Establishing safe
queuing systems by
use of room
occupancy limits and
floor
markings/signage, etc

 Placing 60% alcohol
hand gels at
convenient places
around the workplace
with instructions for
use
 Increasing
environmental
cleaning, especially in
and around toilets and
restrooms and staff
rooms; special
attention to be paid to
frequently touched
surfaces such as door
handles, toilet flush
handles, light
switches, etc
 Increasing
toilets/washrooms
inspections to check
for
cleanliness/adequate
stock of soap/toilet
paper, etc
 Where possible,
providing paper
towels as an
alternative to hand
dryers in
handwashing facilities
Vulnerable and Extremely Vulnerable Staff

Some staff may Those who are The following safety and
have pre-existing classified by PHE as staff health arrangements
medical conditions being at greater risk should apply to staff who
which render them from COVID-19 include are classified as
more vulnerable to people in the vulnerable (moderate
the dangers of vulnerable (moderate risk) or extremely
coronavirus risk) and extremely vulnerable (high-risk):
infection vulnerable (high risk)  Managers, human
categories resources and
Vulnerable (moderate occupational health
risk) people include departments should
those who: identify and be aware

 are 70 or older of staff who fall into
 are pregnant vulnerable and
extremely vulnerable
 have a lung categories so they
condition such as can ensure that they
asthma, COPD, are given adequate
emphysema or protection and support
bronchitis (not to enable them to
severe) comply with
 have heart disease, government health
diabetes, chronic recommendations
kidney disease or  No member of staff in
liver disease (such the extremely
as hepatitis) vulnerable “high-risk”
 are taking medicine category should be
that can affect the expected to come to
immune system work during the
(such as low doses pandemic crisis or
of steroids) or during recovery from
 are very obese the lockdown – these
Extremely vulnerable staff should be
(high risk) people advised to follow
include those who: government medical
advice and stay at
 have had an organ home
transplant
 Extremely vulnerable
 are having “high-risk” staff will be
chemotherapy for offered furlough
cancer, including arrangements - where
immunotherapy it is possible or
 are having an appropriate for them
intense course of to safely work from
radiotherapy for home without risk this
lung cancer should be facilitated
 have a severe lung  Staff in the vulnerable
condition (such as “moderate risk”
severe asthma or category should be
severe COPD) considered on a case
 are taking medicine by case basis –
that makes them wherever possible
much more likely to they will be supported
get infections (such to work from home
as high doses of  Staff in the vulnerable
steroids) “moderate risk”
category who cannot
work from home and
wish to return to work

 have a serious should be offered
heart condition and additional protection
are pregnant so that they can
The following PHE achieve effective
advice applies: social distancing
 Those in the “high  Managers should stay
risk” (extremely in touch with
vulnerable) vulnerable or
category are extremely vulnerable
subject to special staff who are staying
“shielding” at home by phone to
arrangements – ensure they are well
they are advised to and to prevent them
self-isolate and not from feeling isolated
leave home for any  As they cannot leave
reason for at least their home at all, the
12 weeks organisation should
 Those in the help to provide
“moderate risk” additional support for
(vulnerable) any extremely
category are vulnerable high-risk
advised to stay at staff who may need it;
home as much as this might include
possible – they can providing shopping or
go to work if they medicines where they
cannot work from are unable to gain
home support from
elsewhere
 People in both
categories are  All reviews of staff
advised by the roles and safety
government to be should be non-
particularly discriminatory and
stringent in take into
complying with consideration equality
social distancing considerations and
requirements protected
characteristics as
Pregnant women are
defined under the
included in the
Equality Act 2010, eg
“moderate risk”
disabled staff
category as a
precaution but are not  Reasonable
considered by PHE to adjustments must be
be more likely to get made to avoid
seriously ill from disabled workers
COVID-19 being put at any
disadvantage
There is some

evidence that people  Managers should
from ethnic minority refer to existing
backgrounds are hit policies regarding new
harder by COVID-19 and expectant
mothers, eg
entitlement to
suspension on full pay
if suitable safe roles
cannot be found
Staff Health and Staffing Levels

Low staffing Staff may get sick with The following safety
hazards due to high coronavirus infection arrangements should
rates of staff People who have apply to staff health or
sickness or staff symptoms must “self- staffing levels:
having to self-isolate isolate” at home for 7  Staff who are
themselves at home days from the start of considered extremely
or remain at home symptoms to prevent vulnerable or high-risk
because they are them from passing the should not be
“shielded” infection on and expected to attend for
contributing to the work in the workplace
overload on the NHS – where possible or
Those who live with appropriate they
others and where one should be furloughed
person has symptoms or supported to work
must self-isolate as a from home
household for 14 days  Staff who are sick or
from the day when the self-isolating should
first person in the phone immediately
house became ill. If and inform their line-
anyone else in the manager – on no
household starts account should they
displaying symptoms, attend for work
they need to stay at  Make sure that
home for 7 days from communications go
when the symptoms out that no member of
appeared, regardless staff should come to
of what day they are work if they are self-
on in the original 14- isolating or if they
day isolation period have COVID-19
Those who are symptoms or if they
considered extremely feel unwell
vulnerable are advised
 Staff may be
to “shield” themselves
reallocated from non-
at home
essential parts of the

organisation to
essential functions or
may be subject to
furlough
arrangements
 Managers should
consider temporary
departmental closures
or operational
adjustments if staffing
is reduced to unsafe
levels
Premises Access and Travel

Staff who are Travel to and from The following safety
required to attend work may lead to arrangements should
for work must be greater risk of virus apply to workplace
given safe access to transmission access and travel
the workplace Public transport may arrangements:
be restricted in order to  Ensure that sufficient
achieve social access points to the
distancing on trains, workplace are
buses, etc provided so that staff
Access to buildings do not congregate at
may create a virus entrances and exits –
transmission risk if ensure that all access
staff all seek entrance points have supplies
at once or are of sanitizer available
channeled through  Review disabled
single points of entry access policies and
Risks may be arrangements to
increased for disabled ensure safe entrance
staff who may have or exit for disabled
reduced options for staff
access  Use floor markings
and signage at
entrances and exits
and introduce one-
way flow systems at
entry and exit points
where appropriate
 Enable
flexible/staggered
working arrangements
so that staff can avoid

travelling at peak
times or all arriving or
leaving at the same
time
 Provide hand sanitiser
at entrances and exits
 Ask staff not to share
cars and limit use of
any work minibuses,
etc
 Support staff to walk
or cycle to work
wherever possible, eg
providing safe bike
storage, showers,
lockers, etc
 Ask staff not to use
public transport if at
all possible – where
they do use public
transport they should
conform with all
requirements, eg
wearing face
coverings if required,
social distancing, etc
In all cases non-essential
travel for work purposes
should be minimised
Cases of Possible Infection On-site

People becoming High risk of If a member of staff
unwell while on-site transmission becomes unwell in the
or a symptomatic workplace with
person using a site coronavirus symptoms (a
new, continuous cough or
a high temperature) they
should be sent home and
advised to follow
government advice to
self-isolate
The following actions
should be taken within
the workplace:

 All surfaces that a
symptomatic person
has come into contact
with must be cleaned
and disinfected,
especially objects
visibly contaminated
with body fluids and
all potentially
contaminated high-
contact areas such as
toilets
 Public areas where a
symptomatic
individual has passed
through and spent
minimal time, such as
corridors, but which
are not visibly
contaminated with
body fluids, can be
cleaned thoroughly as
normal
 Cleaning staff should
use disposable cloths
or paper roll and a
combined detergent
disinfectant solution at
a dilution of 1000
parts per million
available chlorine
 Cleaning staff must
wear appropriate PPE
 Waste from cleaning
of areas where
possible cases have
been (including
disposable cloths and
tissues) should be
“double-bagged” and
tied off; it should be
placed in a secure
holding area for 72
hours before being
disposed of in general
waste

Business Continuity
Crisis management The crisis threatens Managers should refer to
and business business continuity business continuity
continuity hazards and ability to deliver policies and procedures
caused by the essential services to After lockdown the
pandemic our customers following safety
emergency arrangements should be
applied to establish
business recovery:
 Establish overall
coronavirus risk
management team
 Ask all departments to
review and refresh
business continuity
plans as necessary
 Devise appropriate
business recovery
plans and keep under
constant review
Information
Hazards caused by The pandemic has After lockdown the
lack of information been accompanied by following safety
or inaccurate a large amount of arrangements should be
information being official guidance, some applied to mitigate risks
circulated of which needs caused by misinformation
interpretation, and also and “fake” news:
by misinformation,  To ensure the safety
rumour and “fake and wellbeing of staff
news” or “myths”. If business strategies
these are allowed to must be based on
gain traction within the accurate information
organisation they can and staff must be
obscure and confuse given consistent,
vital health and safety simple and clear
measures. messages
 Coronavirus risk
management team to
monitor official advice
carefully and update
all policies and
procedures

 Ensure leadership
teams/local managers
are briefed and kept
up to date
 Managers to beware
fake news and
discourage the
circulation of
misinformation
 Keep staff informed –
key messages include
the need for unwell
staff or homeworking
staff to stay at home,
for frequent
handwashing and for
social distancing
Communication
Threat to effective The pandemic crisis After lockdown the
communications threatens following safety
communications with arrangements should be
clients/customers/supp applied to mitigate risks
liers – such to communication
communications are systems:
vital in the re-  Senior management
establishment of to review all outward
business activities and facing
procedures after communications (eg
lockdown on customer website,
etc) to ensure
messages are
consistent, clear and
reflect the customer
focused and socially
aware values of the
organisation
 Managers to revise
communications
strategies and plans
 Devise specific plans
for how and how often
to communicate with
clients/customers/
suppliers

Cyber Security
Cyber-security risks Cyber-security threats The following safety
often accompany a arrangements should be
crisis, including applied to mitigate cyber
computer viruses, risks:
phishing and scam  Review cyber security
emails and coronavirus and surveillance
related “ransomware” infrastructure and
With the organisation ensure that all
and individual staff reasonable protection
more reliant than ever is in place
on digital  Circulate warnings to
communications and staff and managers of
the internet, and with any credible cyber
more staff working threats, especially
from home and using a scam emails and text
variety of digital messages
devices, the need to
ensure the security  Ensure that staff
and function of our working from home
digital systems is more and using remote-
important than ever working systems are
covered by cyber-risk
protections
 Ensure any
homeworking
arrangements
maintain standards of
data protection and IT
security
 Ensure that existing
cyber-security
systems do not
interfere with the
availability of critical
safety information and
updates relating to
coronavirus
 Assess cyber risks to
new supply chain
connections
developed during the
crisis

Disclaimer
This is an example risk assessment to be used as general guidance only. Government advice
is changing all the time. The particular hazards relating to your organisation, work activities
and environment may differ significantly from those suggested here. Users of this risk
assessment are therefore advised to evaluate its contents thoroughly and adapt the risk
assessment to suit the requirements of each individual situation. Check local policies,
arrangements and guidance from relevant trade and professional bodies.


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COVID-19 General workplace safety risk assessment —

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Homeworking, Hot-desking and Equipment Sharing

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Workplace Social Distancing

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Higher Risk Areas of the Workplace

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Vulnerable and Extremely Vulnerable Staff

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Staff Health and Staffing Levels

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Premises Access and Travel

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Cases of Possible Infection On-site

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

Customisable document taken from www.hr-inform.co.uk

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