PENDLE Council has joined forces with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure businesses are keeping their staff and customers safe.

From Monday, December 7, the council’s environmental health team will be working with the HSE to offer businesses extra support and advice to ensure they are Covid secure.

The initiative was launched by the HSE to ensure employers are adapting their work environment to manage the risk posed by Covid-19.

Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, leader of Pendle Council, said: “The virus has had a huge impact on our local businesses, but it’s clear that the majority have already taken the steps needed to ensure they are as safe as they can be.

“We want to do all we can to ensure customers are safe, and businesses can continue to operate to keep Pendle’s economy going which is why we’re teaming up with the HSE.”

Michael Duck, environmental health team leader, said businesses have a legal duty to protect their staff, customers and visitors.

“The HSE will be carrying out Covid-19 spot checks over the telephone. These calls will be to assess the level of Covid awareness a business has and what control measures have been put in place,” he said.

“Any businesses which get a phone call from the HSE must co-operate and answer their questions – participation is not optional. If the HSE has any concerns, they will pass those concerns over to us so that we can do a follow up visit.”

Barnoldswick councillor, David Whipp, deputy leader of Pendle Council added: “This is not about catching businesses out – we want to work with them to ensure they are putting the right measures in place. Where businesses are not managing the risks and protecting their staff, customers and visitors, we will take action.”

Action can range from giving specific advice, issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe and, where businesses fail to comply, prosecution.

For more information visit www.pendle.gov.uk/covidsupport and click on Health and Safety Executive spot checks.