Sep 28th, 2020
4 mins
BFFF can now advise that Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have recently confirmed the legitimacy of unannounced phone calls to businesses, made by HSE representatives, with callers wanting the business to answer questions in respect of their COVID control measures.
The HSE were able to confirm that these were indeed legitimate calls and part of HSE’s COVID spot check inspection process. It is understood that the HSE is going to publicise this inspection process, but in the meantime I thought it may be beneficial to confirm:
- Current HSE COVID spot check inspections are a three-stage process, with stages one and two being phone calls.
- The stage one phone call will be made by an employee of CIVICA, HSE’s contracted representatives. During this stage one phone call, if a business wants clarification that it is HSE calling:
a) They will be given the HSE CAT (Complaints and Advice Team) phone line number (0300 003 1747), in order for the business to check the legitimacy of the call.
b) A time will be arranged with the business for the CIVICA representative to call back, and continue with the stage one process.
- If the business fails stage one, in terms of giving unsatisfactory answers to the questions in respect of COVID controls at the business premises, then the business will be called again by an HSE employee (i.e. stage two), who will be able to question controls more thoroughly. If a business wants clarification that it is HSE calling, at this stage two, email exchanges will be possible.
- Failure to satisfactorily answer questions during stage two, will result in a visit by an HSE inspector (i.e. stage three).
- Businesses are advised, during the stages one and two phone calls, that a failure to engage with the phone call process, will result in a visit by an HSE inspector.
