Coronavirus (COVID-19): general guidance for safer workplaces

Overview

This guidance is for organisations not covered by sectoral guidance (e.g. general offices).  The Scottish Government has produced sector guidance to support a safe economic restart and ensure workplaces are safe. All of our sector guidance aims to support Scotland’s progress through the phases of our Route Map.

If available, sector guidance must be consulted in the first instance.

Scotland moved to Phase 3 of the  Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis on 9 July 2020. Changes in Phase 3 are being introduced in stages and in line with the  Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland’s Strategic Framework.

This framework introduced on 2 November 2020  sets out our approach to outbreak management based on five levels of protection, providing graduated protections locally and/or nationally.

This guidance has been developed in collaboration with industry, trade unions, regulators, local authorities and others, including equality organisations. Protecting the health of workers is at the heart our approach. Partnership working is fundamental to establishing a shared confidence around the safety of returning to workplaces, protecting public health and supporting Scotland’s economic recovery.

Guidance will be reviewed on a regular basis in line with our priority to contain the spread of the virus, save lives and safeguard the NHS.

The festive period

By keeping the virus under control this winter, the Scottish Government hopes to enable friends and family to gather at Christmas. This will not, however, be a normal Christmas. Restrictions will remain, and there will continue to be a risk of transmission.

The four administrations have reached agreement on a single set of UK-wide measures to help people come together with their loved ones in a way that is as safe as possible.

Therefore all permitted festive activities should follow relevant sectoral guidance.

Please also refer to the Christmas guidance published 26 Nov which will sit as a new temporary section in the Strategic Framework Guidance. 

If you can suggest ways we can improve the guidance please email contact-econ@gov.scot.