Questions and Answers

Will the requirement for an ESOS energy audit be dropped now that we have left the EU and embarked on a new relationship with Europe?

How do I tell whether an employee is suffering from anxiety rather than stress, and when does it become a mental health issue?

What are the likely financial consequences of an accident at work as an employer or supervisor?

Is it more environmentally friendly to use e-cards as opposed to ordinary Christmas cards?

As the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to continue into 2021, my employer requested that I undertake a “horizon scanning” exercise to identify potential health and safety risks going forward. Could you outline the potential issues that will need to be addressed?

We have employees working as pairs in a shift pattern as they have to share work vehicles. We have applied Covid secure guidelines to the use of these vehicles. As such, if one employee tests positive for Covid-19, does the other in the shift pattern have to self-isolate?

As part of our fire safety arrangements, we appoint fire wardens to assist in fire evacuation procedures. How do I ensure that we have sufficient staff to undertake this role and what should that role entail?

My organisation shares a property with other organisations. This property is managed by a third party on behalf of the landlord. Who is responsible for applying Covid-secure guidelines for the building?

Following the raised terrorist threat in the UK, my organisation has decided to implement a more thorough search of visitors and their belongings when entering our properties. Are there any guidelines on how we can do this in light of Covid-19 secure guideline requirements, especially social distancing?

Like any business, we throw away a small number of assorted batteries. If they are not officially classified as hazardous waste, can we dispose of them in the general waste bin? We do not manufacture or sell any batteries as part of our business.