Safety Council launches Covid Assurance Assessment Service
26th May 2020

The British Safety Council has launched a new Covid-10 Assurance Assessment Service designed to ensure that employers manage the risk of transmission of Covid-19 as far as possible in the workplace.

The organisation is offering workplace assurance audits to organisations that have remained open throughout, those that have put new practices in place and those that are just getting back to work. Once the audit is completed, auditors will provide an Assurance Statement, summary report and recommendations for improved controls. This will provide health and safety managers and business leaders with external verification that they are taking the necessary measures to keep workers safe.

It has been working with members across sectors to ensure that workers are protected and workplaces stay safe. As the lockdown is relaxed thousands of organisations will have to adapt to new working practices but, it says, every employer, as before, has a duty of care to their workforce.

Chief executive Mike Robinson said: “As the lockdown eases and more and more people start returning to work it is right that workers and employers want to have confidence that every possible step has been taken to keep workplaces safe. We realise that many organisations are under extreme pressure to return to operational activity and looking for credible and reliable sources of support.

“From the start of this crisis our health and safety experts have been working with members and customers to ensure that they are fulfilling their duty – and their legal obligation – to control health and safety risks. We have brought this work together as one comprehensive service for employers that so that they can assess the new risks posed by COVD-19 and to put into place measures to make workplaces safe.”

The Covid-19 Assurance Assessment Service covers:

• Organisational context and stakeholder profile (risk management)
• Operational processes (risk assessment, safe operating procedures, etc)
• Health and wellbeing
• Stakeholder engagement
• Facilities and workplace health and safety (workplace adjustments, etc).

Technical support includes:

• Risk assessment reviews
• Support for workplace procedure development and reviews (including social distancing, health surveillance, workplace control measures, emergency planning, PPE, etc)
• Health and wellbeing guidance (including mental health factors)
• Communication and information
• Leadership and behavioural factors
• Assurance auditing.

British Safety Council Assurance Assessment Service