Coronavirus

We have been keeping our member businesses updated with the latest information and advice. This page will be updated regularly. Last updated 26/06/20.

Many of Byres Road and the Lanes retail shops will be allowed to open from the 29th of June with other sectors preparing to open in later phases of the Scottish Government’s Routemap. Business owners will not be able to operate in the same way as before. There is a lot of information out there; the guidance has constantly been evolving as we have gone through this crisis. We have produced this guide to support you through the process of reopening safely. This guide will be updated as we move through the different phases of the Routemap and the BID team will be available to help you with any queries you may have.

Working safely

There are a number of things to consider whilst preparing to reopen your business safely. In this guide we will cover:

  • Which businesses can open in the current phase
  • Risk assessments
  • Customer queue management
  • Physical distancing
  • What to do if your staff are showing COVID-19 symptoms
  • Useful links

 

Can I reopen in the current Phase?

Check the Scottish Government’s Phase 2 guidance

 

Risk assessments

All businesses must complete a COVID-19 risk assessment, this should be carried out in consultation with your workers to ensure their input and understanding. Give staff time to read the risk assessment and ask them to sign it, confirming that they understand the new arrangements.

The Federation of Small Businesses has created a generic COVID-19 risk assessment template which can be used as a starting off point. 

This operational guide for retailers checklist which came with the Scottish Government’s guidance for the retail sector contains many helpful points to consider for your risk assessment.

Health and safety experts and advisors from the business community are available on a voluntary basis to support the development of workplace risk assessments for the small and medium sized business community via: businesssupport@scottishchambers.org.uk

 

Points to consider for your risk assessment

  • Hand washing – do you have hand washing facilities with soap, water and disposable paper towels to allow stringent hand washing to take place? Do you have gel sanitisers in any area where washing facilities not readily available? Who is responsible for cleaning and restocking handwashing areas and when?
  • Cleaning – Are surfaces that are touched regularly particularly in areas of high use such as door handles, light switches, reception area being frequently cleaning and disinfected using appropriate cleaning products and methods? Have you got a cleaning rota – who is responsible for cleaning and when?
  • Physical distancing – Have you considered reducing the number of persons in any work area to comply with the 2-metre rule? Have you taken steps to review work schedules including start & finish times/shift patterns, working from home etc. to reduce number of workers on site at any one time?
  • Communal areas – Have you applied physical distancing rules to communal areas such as kitchens, storage areas and staff break areas? Who is responsible for cleaning these areas and when?
  • Meetings – Are you using video chat services such as Zoom, Webex etc and conference calls in place of face to face meetings? Have employees been reminded not to share stationery or other objects during meetings when meetings need to take place face to face? Only those essential to the meeting should attend face to face meetings, observing 2m physical distancing where possible.
  • Suppliers – have you informed them of new arrangements for deliveries & product handling.
  • Customer payments – have you considered encouraging contactless payments over cash? Have you got a system in place for hygienic cash handling?

 

Customer queue management

  • Businesses are responsible for queues that form outside their premises.
  • Please ensure that your queue does not encroach on another business or another queue.
  • To ensure the maximum amount of space is left for pedestrians and other street users then queues should run parallel to your building, if possible go down a side street or alley and should not go into a road that remains open to traffic. If barriers are used they should occupy the minimum space to aid queue management.
  • Queuing spaces should be defined clearly with signage where appropriate. A queuing information poster that you can display in your business can be downloaded – HERE
  • Businesses offering a takeaway collection service are asked to ensure any drivers and vehicles associated with this are able to access your premises safely, do not park their vehicles in an anti- social manner and do not drive their vehicles onto pavements or in pedestrianised areas.

 

Physical distancing

Physical distancing is key to reopening your business safely. Here are a few points to consider when implementing physical distancing in your workplace:

  • Occupancy – figure out how many people you can welcome into you premises whilst maintaining two metre physical distancing.
  • Queue control – maintain queue control outside of your premises by following our customer queue management tips so that the 2 metre rule is observed by those waiting in the queue.
  • Premises layout – remove any unnecessary obstructions and consider a one way system.
  • Signage – use floor markings and signage to make your customers aware of your business’ physical distancing rules. You can get physical distancing floor stickers free of charge from the BID. Please contact Deborah to arrange delivery.
  • Protective barriers – Consider installing separation panels, sneeze screens or dividers in your premises.
  • PPE – if physical distancing measures can not be met you will need to consider what PPE will be required to keep your staff and customers safe.

 

Are any of your staff showing symptoms?

You must follow the Scottish Government’s ‘Test & Protect’ guidelines.                         

 

Useful links

Scottish Government advice for physical distancing

Glasgow City Council guidance

Scottish Government retail sector guidance

Scottish Government tourism and hospitality sector guidance

Sally Salon Services cleaning & hygiene advice for reopening

Food Standards Scotland Guidance for Food Business Operators and Their Employees

 

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