Low occupancy in your building or starting to prepare your building for re-occupancy? Ensure you’re prepared for your full reopening with a building compliance health check.

As many companies start to return to the office and find their feet with implementing new COVID-safe measures, the HSE continues to place emphasis on the need to comply with Workplace (Health, Safety, and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

What do the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations say and do they apply to me?

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (WHSWR) covers a wide range of the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace. The Regulations do not apply to construction worksites (covered by the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015) or marine vessels, but they do apply to facilities, design and equipment in buildings used as workplaces and modifications and extensions of such buildings.

Relating to the coronavirus outbreak in the UK, for companies and employers looking to reopen their workplaces, the HSE has issued the following reminder to duty holders: 

"Duty holders continue to have obligations to comply with health and safety at work legislation and requirements to manage and control workplace risks, including protecting workers and others from the risk of COVID-19 infection in the workplace.” HSE: Regulating occupational health and safety during the coronavirus outbreak

How can Lucion help me with my building compliance needs?

In order to ensure that your building is safe for reoccupation, our Consultants identify any key constraints, risks, mitigating actions and the scale of any backlog in the health and safety of your building, in line with workplace regulatory compliance. 

As part of our building health check, our team of risk management consultants provide:

• Full Building Covid- Safe Assessments
• Asbestos Surveys, Inspections, and Testing
• Legionella Testing and Risk Assessments
• Fire Audits and Inspections
• Security Audits
• Safety Management System Review

With each of our services, we additionally offer a complete documentation review including review of:

• Health and Safety Policies
• Risk Assessments
• Hazardous Materials Reports and Certifications

My building is currently empty. Do the regulations apply to me?

It is important to note that regardless of whether your building is currently occupied or will remain empty for a period of time, there is still a regulatory requirement for duty holders to maintain their building compliance even at minimal levels including, but not limited to:

• Statutory Compliance
• Property Security
• Building Fabric Protection
• Business Critical Systems Operation
• Adherence to any Insurance cover requirements

SFG20 (the standard maintenance specification for building engineering services providing the benchmark for working standards) emphasise that there has been no Government relaxation on carrying out ‘Statutory’ Planned Maintenance tasks, as Statutory Tasks are designed to ensure Health and Safety. If you are currently operating to SFG20 and continue to do so the property will be safe and compliant.

To discuss your building compliance requirements please get in touch by submitting an enquiry by clicking here: Submit an Enquiry or email [email protected] and our team will get back to you within 24 hours.

Further Information

HSE: Regulating occupational health and safety during the coronavirus outbreak https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/regulating-health-and-safety/index.htm 

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (WHSWR): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/contents/made

BESA’s guidance SFG20 Mothballing Recommissioning Buildings: https://www.sfg20.co.uk/specialist-sets/mothballing-recommissioning-buildings