Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in light of her decision to end the free provision of covid-19 lateral flow tests, what support she will provide to employers to help ensure that they can fulfil their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Employment Rights Act 1996 in relation to covid-19.

When the Government’s Working Safely guidance (produced by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) is withdrawn on 31^st March, HSE’s focus will once again be on the risks at work that are directly created by the work activity.

HSE will no longer require every business to consider COVID-19 in their risk assessment or have COVID-19 control measures in place. However, those who specifically work with COVID-19, for example laboratories and infectious diseases wards, must still undertake a risk assessment under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and implement control measures.

Under the Employment Rights Act 1996 employers should consider how their approach to managing workers with COVID-19 fits with other obligations to both workers and customers, such as those arising from their contractual arrangements, the law on employment rights, health and safety, data protection and equalities.

Until 31 March the Working Safely guidance continues to provide advice on sensible precautions employers can take to manage risk and support their staff and customers.

COVID-19 remains a public health infection control issue – from 1 April new public health guidance will provide ‘best practice’ on the behaviours businesses can adopt.