POWYS County Council is working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to make sure businesses are working to manage the transmission of Covid-19.

The local authority continues to carry out spot checks and inspections on all types of businesses, in all areas of the county, to ensure they are working safely after all of Wales moved to alert level 0 from August 7. All businesses and premises can open, including nightclubs.

Powys businesses will be contacted to check that measures are in place to help tackle and continue to reduce the risk posed by Covid transmission. If you receive a call, it is important to act upon it.

PCC are also continuing to work alongside local public health authorities to support the understanding of any patterns in confirmed coronavirus cases in the area.

During the checks they provide advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers, customers and visitors but where some businesses are not managing this, they will take immediate action. This can range from the provision of specific advice, issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe and, where businesses fail to comply, this could lead to prosecution.

Working to manage the transmission of Covid means that businesses need to conduct a risk assessment to understand the measures they may require to protect workers and others from coronavirus. For further information on how to manage the risk of coronavirus in different business sectors, read the government guidance.

Councillor Beverley Baynham, cabinet member for environmental health, said: “As coronavirus restrictions continue to be revised, the legal duty for businesses is to follow the advice to stop the spread of Covid-19 remains.

“We are talking to local businesses and visiting and inspecting sites to understand how they are managing risks in line with their specific business activity.

“Managing the risk of spreading coronavirus in the workplace needs to be the priority for all businesses in Powys; it is a legal duty for businesses to protect their workers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus.

“This means making adjustments to stop the spread of Covid in the workplace. We advise employers to work with their employees when implementing changes, to help increase confidence with workers, customers and the local community.”

The HSE and local authority inspectors are finding some common issues across a range of areas that include poor hygiene and failing to introduce an adequate cleaning regime, particularly at busy times of the day.

All businesses are in scope for spot checks which means businesses of any size, in any sector, can receive an unannounced check to ensure they are working safely to manage the risk of spreading Covid.

“By making sure that businesses have measures in place to manage the risks, we can benefit the health of the local community as well as support the local and national UK economy,” added Cllr Baynham.

For the latest information and safer business guidance, visit https://gov.wales/coronavirus.