For all Sandwell businesses: if you have two or more cases of Covid-19 at your workplace you must contact the Public Health team at Sandwell Council.

Understanding where and how transmission is taking place is a big part of containing the virus. By acting promptly you could help to prevent a major outbreak.

To report cases and for further support, contact the Public Health team seven days a week at PHCovid19_Enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk.

This advice comes as Sandwell Council announces it is working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure Sandwell businesses have Covid-19 measures in place to allow them to operate safely.

Spot checks on businesses across the borough will begin from Monday (4 October). These will include contact by telephone and visits to premises, offering help and advice on Covid-safety measures.

As you will know, many coronavirus restrictions were removed in England in July. However, businesses must still be aware of the risks and review and update their risk assessments.

During the spot checks, HSE staff will provide helpful advice to manage risk and protect workers, customers and visitors. If your business isn’t successfully managing the risks, further action may be taken.

As part of its activity, HSE will also check that businesses have measures in place to manage work-related stress and to support workers. Where stress may be a problem, employers should include it in their risk assessment and take action to tackle it.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for community safety Councillor Bob Piper said: “We will be working with the HSE to talk to and visit local businesses to check how they are managing the risks of Covid-19. It’s really important that local businesses are given the best advice and support to ensure they’re operating safely.

“Managing coronavirus in the workplace needs to be a priority for all businesses in Sandwell.

“Businesses of any size, in any sector, may get a call or a visit to make sure they are working safely to manage the risk of spreading the virus.

“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 economy.”

Businesses in need of advice on managing the Covid-19 risks should read the government guidance: working safely during Covid-19.

Businesses can also find more information regarding work-related stress on the HSE website.

And here at Think Sandwell we are continuing to update our coronavirus support pages for Sandwell businesses.

Don’t forget that email address for the Public Health team: PHCovid19_Enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk.