Over the coming weeks the HSE is contacting more than 2,000 businesses, such as food shops, non-food retailers, offices and hospitality settings, including pubs, restaurants and takeaways, to discuss measures in place to protect their workers, customers and visitors.

Details of any business raising concerns will be forwarded to Dudley Council’s environmental health officers who will contact them to offer advice and guidance on health and safety compliance and managing the risk.

This builds on the work environmental health officers have already been doing throughout the pandemic, including providing advice and support to almost 700 food premises, visiting a further 200, as well as writing to hundreds of close contact services and licensed premises with information on how to make premises covid secure.

The council’s covid business advisors have also visited around 1,000 premises across the borough to support small businesses to make their premises safe for customers.

Karen Wright, director of Public Health, said:

"Together with the Health and Safety Executive we are talking to local businesses and, where necessary, visiting and inspecting premises to understand how they are managing risks in line with their specific business activity to stop the spread of Covid-19.

"Becoming COVID-secure needs to be the priority for all businesses in Dudley borough. It is a legal duty for businesses to protect their workers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus.

"All businesses are in scope for spot checks which means businesses of any size, in any sector can receive an unannounced check to ensure they are COVID-secure."

Being Covid-secure means businesses need to put adjustments in place to manage the risk and protect workers and others from coronavirus.

During the checks advice and guidance will be given, but where companies are not managing risk, action will be taken.  This can range from the provision of specific advice, issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe and, where businesses fail to comply, this could lead to prosecution.

For the latest information and safer business guidance see www.gov.uk

For guidance and resources for operating your business safely during coronavirus visit www.dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk