Health & safety | Firms failing to keep records could be sued

Employers that fail to log the COVID-19 safety procedures they have implemented when workplaces re-open and lockdown measures are lifted, could run the risk of being sued, a law firm has claimed.

Law firm RPC has said that employers should do all that they can to mitigate any risk of an employee contracting the virus when they return to work, as well as taking extra precautions to accommodate staff members who fall under the ‘high-risk’ category, or who live with those considered to be more vulnerable.

Kelly Thomson, Legal Director at RPC, explained that staff may not be able to immediately return to work in the same way that they would have been able to before, so employers should make exceptions where possible.

“Employers should be working closely with their staff to ensure that those who fall into high-risk categories can be given the reasonable support that is needed to carry out their jobs. The risk is not just one of health and safety. Employers could also find themselves subject to discrimination risks in certain circumstances,” Thomson added.