On 1 April 2022, the UKHSA published guidance for employers and workforce managers in England on reducing the spread of respiratory infections, such as COVID-19 and flu, in the workplace. This guidance replaces the working safely guidance. It provides that:
- In addition to recognising symptoms, employers may wish to consider how best to support and enable their workforce to follow the new public health guidance.
- To reduce the spread of infections, employers should maintain clean working environments, encourage and enable staff to get vaccinated, (see UKHSA guidance COVID-19 vaccination: guide for employers) and consider ventilation (see HSE guidance Ventilation in the workplace). There is no requirement to report workplace outbreaks of respiratory infections to local public health teams.
- The requirement for every employer to explicitly consider COVID-19 in their health and safety risk assessment has been removed. Those who work with COVID-19, such as laboratories, must continue to do so. Otherwise, employers may choose to do so.
- To control occupational health and safety risks, employers should continue to comply with the requirements for cleaning, ventilation and welfare facilities in the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/3004). Employers have a duty to consult with their employees, or their representatives, on health and safety matters.
- Employers may wish to consider the needs of employees at greater risk from COVID-19, including those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. Guidance for such employees is set out in COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk.
