Page 17 - inPRINT Issue 63

inSIGHT

THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT

FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT 60 second interview

COVID-19 GUIDELINES

We speak to BPIF Head of Health & Safety Mandy Robson about how the BPIF has
responded to COVID-19 and the return to work.

What have BPIF done specifically in » Following this, if an employee doesn’t All of our teams have reacted really
order to ensure businesses follow feel safe returning to work, they may well, they’re speaking out with their
crucial health and safety guidance at blow the ‘whistle’ on the company, views, and communicating our plans
this time? which could lead to the Health & will continue through the coming
All BPIF staff have been working Safety Executive visiting the site. If months.
remotely and a small team met via a the HSE identify operations which
Zoom call on a daily basis to ensure are not COVID-Secure, with a lack What are the biggest challenges that
that the focus was correct and to review of suitable and sufficient action BPIF members are facing regarding
and interpret the latest news into undertaken, this could lead to an being COVID-Secure?
print-related guidance documents, risk Improvement Notice issued on the The biggest challenges members are
assessments, letters and templates for company, or even a Prohibition facing are:
members to utilise within their own Notice which could halt operational
businesses. proceedings » Mainly social distancing for those
A central email address was working with limited space within
introduced for members as a Do you see the working environment their operation;
‘Coronavirus Help Line’ – this support going back to some sort of normality? » An increase number of mental health
fed through to experts in HR, Health I’m not sure that I know what ‘normality’ issues have been raised with us,
& Safety, Mental Health First Aiders is anymore, everyone’s talking about where employees are at home and
and Legal, all providing a 24-hour the ‘new normal’! My thoughts are that they’re experiencing a great deal of
turnaround to respond to their through the pandemic, businesses have anxiety;
particular concerns. The line is still changed how they operate so we see a » Confidence issues for those returning
open to support our members where change in advice requirements right to work after many months out of the
required – [email protected] now, where members are returning workplace;
to work and they’re adapting to how » Staying on top of the continual
What are the consequences of not they operate within a COVID-Secure changes within Government
following Government COVID-19 workplace and how their staff focus on instructions;
guidelines? delivering the end product. » Along with the risk of local lockdowns
Where suitable and sufficient risk I hope that through 2021 we’ll start which change the controls which our
controls are NOT deployed, the following to see things a lot more settled, and members have on their businesses
could occur: the Government focusing on the
introduction of a vaccine, which will We’re continuing to review our
» Symptomatic cases could occur on bring us somewhat closer to the normal COVID-Secure Road Map, and
site, causing a local outbreak which we remember. introducing new guidance and
could lead to fatality or multiple support tools.
fatalities Internally, how have BPIF employees
» Since the introduction of the reacted and engaged with you
Coronavirus Act 2020, there are legal regarding returning to work?
obligations to meet, which if not taken Two of our BPIF offices are now COVID-
seriously could lead to prosecution Secure, where a risk assessment
» An employee could place a grievance has been completed and all controls
on a company if they do not feel introduced to allow those who need
appropriate risk assessments have to attend a local BPIF office, can do so
been completed, with controls in place safely. A COVID-Secure kit has been
to prevent contraction of COVID-19 issued to each employee to protect them
– this could lead to unfortunate if they’re required to leave their home,
financial costs and from local feedback the kits have
been very well received.

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