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The provision of fresh air into indoor environments will help to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. Further to this, employers must, by law, ensure an adequate supply of fresh air in the workplace.
There are a number of ways to improve the supply of fresh air in your premises to reduce transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. Organisations should take account of the measures that are most appropriate for their specific setting. Organisations may wish to consider:
let fresh, clean air into your building – open windows, doors (excluding fire doors), and vents when you can. This will help to reduce any infected particles and reduce the risk of infection
understand your building’s ventilation system – do not adjust mechanical settings without expert advice. It is important to make sure that ventilation systems and/or extractor fans are used correctly
avoid relying upon ventilation systems which only recycle used air. Make sure that fresh air is introduced to all spaces
regularly monitoring the air quality within enclosed environments – you may wish to use Non Dispersive Infra-Red (NDIR) carbon dioxide monitors to identify the carbon dioxide levels to help decide if ventilation is poor. The Health and Safety Executive has produced guidance on the use of CO2 monitors
be aware of the relevant occupancy level – more people together means more ventilation is required
air out rooms between users or regularly throughout the day
if ventilation makes it feel cold– consider relaxing uniform requirements, so employees can continue to work comfortably
to aid occupant comfort, consider rearranging room layout so that workstations are in the ventilated space but out of the direct line or any draughts created
use indoor fans in combination with open doors or windows to further increase air movement
in some circumstances, the use of air cleaning devices may be beneficial in improving air quality. Further information on these devices can be found in our air cleaning technologies guide
Appropriate risk assessments should be carried out for each specific indoor environment. Employers can access general advice and guidance on risk assessment, prepared by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In support of this, The British Occupational Hygiene Society created a risk matrix for employers.
We have produced further guidance on ventilation that sets out in greater detail the steps you can take to improve the provision of fresh air in your organisation. HSE also provides guidance on ventilation in the workplace.
Updated Fair Work due to closure of Self-Isolation Support Grant.
Covid signage scheme content amended to reflect Stay Well This Winter signage.
Self-isolation Support Grant closing date information added.
Ventilation section updated to link to new guidance.
Vaccination and testing page updated to reflect latest position.
Updated Signage scheme.
Updated More information and business support.
Updates to Vaccination and testing.
Updates to Hybrid working.
Covid Signage Scheme information added.
Changes to Fair Work in light of Highest Risk List ending.
Minor text updates to Risk Assessment and Fair Work.
Text re highest risk list added to Fair Work section.
Minor updates to Overview, Risk assessment, Hybrid working and Fair Work.
Minor textual changes to all sections except ventilation and hybrid working to reflect latest advice. Risk assessment document updated. Unpublished manufacturing sector checklist.
Guide restructured and renamed to take account of latest guidance. Was previously "safer businesses and workplaces". Includes new sections on ventilation and fair work.
Updated Laboratories and research facilities: operational checklist.
Face coverings information updated.
Face coverings content changed to include hospitality information and other minor changes made. Added PDF of Public health risk assessment tool for businesses - March 21 2020
Updated following sections to reflect latest position: overview, face coverings, risk assessment, hybrid working, vaccination and testing, more information. Added new section on managing transmission risk. Other sections archived.
Updated Employer and employee responsibilities, Precautionary measures, Sector-specific measures, Hybrid working, Test and Protect and self-isolation and Risk assessment.
Following sections updated to reflect latest position: Overview, Employer responsibilities, Precautionary measures, sector-specific measures, enforcement and related information.travel and transport, hybrid working, Test and Protect,
Changes to Overview, Employer and employee responsibilities, Precautionary measures, Sector-specific measures, Hybrid working, Test and Protect: self-isolation, Vaccination and workplace testing and Travel and transport. Removed Where we are now.
Care home workers/social care workers section updated to reflect changes in self-isolation effective from 6/01/2022.
Sector specific references to bingos and casinos amended to reflect latest position.
References to festive season arrangements removed.
Minor updates to 'Where we are now' and 'Sector specific meansures'
Added updated operational checklist
Updated retail/shops operational checklist.
Updated to reflect changes coming into force on 26/27 December
Updated retail/shops: operational checklist.
Minor changes to reflect latest situation.
Updated sector specific page to cover close contact services.
Updated to reflect requirements around protection measures and home working.
Updated to reflect current situation.
Minor update.
Various updates to reflect latest situation.
Minor updates.
Minor updates to reflect changes to vaccine certification scheme.
Update to vaccination and workplace testing and further minor updates to employer and employee responsibilities and related information.
All sections updated.
All sections updated to reflect the latest position.
Related information page updated.
Added information about Covid certification scheme to the chapter on vaccination.
Minor textual changes made to reflect introduction of certification scheme.
Updates to examples in face coverings section.
Added checklist for retail/shops in the supporting documents.
Added checklist for laboratories and research facilities in the supporting documents.
Changes to Face coverings and Precautionary measures.
Updated title of supporting document to manufacturing sector: operational checklist.
Face coverings page updated.
Textual amend to Precautionary measures
Minor changes throughout to update tense to reflect current situation.
Travel and transport information updated.
Changes to Test and Protect and self-isolation in line with self-isolation policy changes.
Overview updated to reflect current situation.
Removed General guidance for safer workplaces – checklist - 3 June 2021 from supporting documents
Added link to guidance on individual occupational risk assessment on Risk assessments page.
Advanced manufacturing checklist added.
Related information page updated with links to sector guidance.
Changes to Test and Protect and self isolation
Updated to reflect changes as Scotland moves beyond level 0 of the levels system.
All pages updated to reflect latest position - particularly change in physical distancing requirements from 2 metres to 1 metre.
Distribution and site visitors page updated.
Training and compliance page updated
COVID-19 risk assessment page updated.
Dealing with emergencies section in operational guide page updated.
Updated to reflect latest situation.
Information re inbound and outbound goods on deliveries page and overview pages updated.
Information re inbound and outbound goods updated on deliveries section.
Updated to include information on workplace testing in workforce planning page.
Updated to reflect latest situation.
Updated the work in other peoples' homes chapter.
Workforce planning and support page updated.
Updated to reflect latest situation.
Door-to-door services section updated to reflect the latest guidance.
Overview and where we are now page updated to reflect latest position and remove redundant information.
Added new section on work cohorts "work bubbles"
Update to face coverings section in operational guide.
Updated information on vaccination and door-to-door services
Added information on vaccination to workforce planning and support section.
Overview and where we are now sections updated to reflect latest position.
Shielding information updated.
Coming to work and leaving work and Inbound and outbound goods information updated.
Physical distancing information updated.
Overview page updated to reflect latest position.
Updates to individual risk assessments for the workplace and working in people's homes FAQ.
Update to work in other people's homes FAQ page.
Overview page updated to reflect latest position.
Update to Work in Other Peoples’ Homes FAQ
Amendments made to Overview, Where we are now, Training and Compliance and Operational guide pages to reflect latest position.
Amendments made to FAQ on working in other peoples' homes to reflect latest position.
Minor updates made to various sections to take account of latest situation.
Updated work in other peoples' homes FAQ to include updated advice on door to door services
New section added on door-to-door services.
Festive guidance - easy read version added.
Update to workforce planning and support page to reflect change in self-isolation period.
Workforce planning and support page updated to reflect change in self-isolation period from 14 days to 10 days.
Festive workplace guidance added - see attachment.
Update to Work in Other Peoples’ Homes FAQ.
Update to Work in Other Peoples’ Homes FAQ
Updated to reflect new protection levels
Minor changes made to where we are now, workforce planning and support and operational guide pages to reflect latest developments including changes to face mask recommendations.
Update to workforce planning and support and operational guide and checklist sections
Update to temperature checks information in operational guide section.
Updates to workforce planning and operational guide to add information about temperature checking and the contact tracing app
