This guidance sets out information for the public and sport
providers on how to organise and participate in grassroots sport
and physical activity as safely as possible.
Contents
-
What’s changed
-
What this guidance
covers
-
How to use this
guidance
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1. How to manage a sport
facility safely
-
2. How to participate
safely
-
3. How to provide sport
and physical activity safely
-
4. Information for sport
providers
Applies to: England (see guidance for Wales,Scotland, and Northern Ireland)
Step 4 – from 19 July
This guidance reflects the measures you should follow at Step 4 of the roadmap
from 19 July onwards.
What’s changed
This guidance was updated on 18 July to help inform your planning
and business operations for Step 4.
What this guidance covers
This guidance sets out information for the public and sport
providers on how to organise and participate in grassroots sport
and physical activity as safely as possible. This includes advice
on steps you can take to reduce the risk of transmission within
the sport environment.
How to use this guidance
This document includes guidance for the public, for sport
providers and for sport facility operators.
1. How to manage a sport facility safely
Guidance on how to operate your sport facility
safely while reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19,
including practical considerations on principles to apply in the
workplace.
2. How to participate safely
Information for the public on how to take part
safely in grassroots sport and physical activity.
3. How to organise grassroots sporting activities
safely
4. Information for sport providers on factors to
consider when organising grassroots sport and physical activity,
whether this is your work, a volunteer role or a personal
activity. This includes advice for national governing bodies
(NGBs) and other organisations on factors to consider when
developing advice or guidance for your sport, including
individual sports, team sports, contact combat sports, and sport
participation events (such as races and organised walking
groups).
1. How to manage a sport facility
safelyPriority actions to take
Six steps you can take to protect yourself, your staff and your
customers during coronavirus (COVID-19).
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Complete a health and safety risk assessment that
includes risks from COVID-19. This should consider
the points below in the rest of this guidance. It should also
take into account any reasonable adjustments needed for staff
and customers with disabilities. You should share your risk
assessment with your staff. You can find more information in
the section on risk assessments (link) and HSE guidance.
There is additional advice for event organisers in the
Events and Attractions
guidance.
-
Turn people with COVID-19 symptoms away.
Staff members, customers and participants should self-isolate
if they or someone in their household has a new, persistent
cough; a high temperature; or loses/has changes to their
sense of taste or smell, even if these symptoms are mild.
They must also self-isolate if they or someone in their
household has had a positive COVID-19 result, or if they have
been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. If you know
that a worker is self-isolating, you must not ask or make
them come to work. It is an offence to do this. You can find
more information in the section on reducing risk to workers.
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Provide adequate ventilation. You should
make sure there is a supply of fresh air to enclosed spaces
where there are people present. This can be natural
ventilation through windows, doors and vents, mechanical
ventilation using fans and ducts, or a combination of both.
You should identify any poorly ventilated spaces in your
premises and consider steps you can take to improve fresh air
flow in these areas. In some places, a CO2 monitor can help
identify if the space is poorly ventilated. Heritage
locations should take into account the preservation of the
building or artefacts displayed. You can find more
information in the section on managing your facility or event
setting (link) and the HSE guidance on
ventilation and air conditioning during the COVID-19
pandemic.
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Clean more often. Increase how often you
clean surfaces, especially those that are touched a lot.
Heritage locations should ensure cleaning materials and
schedules are appropriate for historic surfaces and
materials. You should ask your staff and customers to use
hand sanitiser and clean their hands frequently, and provide
them with advice to promote good hygiene. You can find more
information in the section on managing your facility or event
setting.
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Enable people to check in at your venue. You
are no longer legally required to collect contact details,
however doing so will help to support NHS Test and Trace to
reduce the spread of the virus. You can enable people to
check in by providing an NHS QR code poster, though you do
not have to ask customers to check in or turn them away if
they refuse. If you display an NHS QR code, you should also
have a system to collect (and securely store) names and
contact details for those who ask to check in but do not have
the app. You can find more information in the section on
reducing risk to customers.
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Communicate and train. Keep all your
workers, contractors and visitors up-to-date on how you’re
using and updating safety measures.
These are the priority actions to make your business safer during
coronavirus (COVID-19). You should also read the full version of
the guidance below, and review the guidance for any additional
facilities within your premises or event, including hospitality
venues (such as cafes and bars), events and attractions, retail
and consumer services (including shops and close contact
services), offices and indoor worksites, and construction and
other outdoor work. You may also want to check with relevant
organisations in your sector, who may have tailored advice for
specific types of facility or business.
2. How to participate safely
There are no restrictions on how many people can take part in
sport and physical activity, or on the activities they can do.
Sport participation events such as races and walks can take place
with no capacity caps for participants or spectators provided
they can be safely accommodated.
However, there are some steps you should take to reduce the risk
of transmission when you are participating.
Check for COVID-19 symptoms and health
conditions
Before attending any sporting activities, all participants,
officials, volunteers and spectators should self-assess for
symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These are:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste
If you, or anyone you live with, have one or more of these
symptoms you should not attend any sporting activity, even if
your symptoms are mild. You should follow NHS guidance on testing
and self-isolation.
If you have been informed that you need to self-isolate by NHS
Test and Trace (or are required to self-isolate in relation to
travel), you must do so. You should not leave your isolation
location in order to participate in sport and physical activity.
You can find more information in the NHS guidance on how to
self-isolate.
Follow your sport provider’s safety measures
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Your sport facility or provider may ask you to ‘check in’
using the NHS app to scan their QR code. This supports NHS
Test and Trace, and helps to reduce the spread of the virus.
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Your sport provider may ask you to take a COVID-19 test
before participating in a match or tournament. This helps
them to ensure that sport can take place safely, and that
participants are not at risk of catching or spreading the
virus.
-
Your sport provider may use the NHS COVID Pass. This allows
people to demonstrate that they are at a lower risk of
carrying COVID-19 and transmitting it to others, through
vaccination, testing or natural immunity.
-
Where these types of measures are used, you should follow
your provider’s guidance. This will help them to keep
everyone as safe as possible, and minimise the risk of
transmission at their events so they can continue to provide
sport safely.
Take part safely
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You should continue to follow any relevant advice from your
NGB or sport provider on how to participate safely in your
sport or activity. This may set out different ways to
organise matches or tournaments, or measures you should
follow like regular breaks to sanitise the ball or other
equipment.
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You should continue to follow good hygiene practices, to
reduce the risk of transmission in sport environments. For
example, you should not spit or rinse out your mouth on or
around the playing area. You can find more information in the
guidance on how to
stay safe.
-
You should avoid sharing water bottles or other refreshment
containers. Where possible, you should take your own drink,
in a labelled or highly distinguishable container.
-
Face coverings are no longer required by law, but the
government expects and recommends that people should continue
to wear them in crowded and enclosed settings, to protect
themselves and others. Where worn correctly, this can reduce
the risk of transmission.
-
For example, you may wish to put on a face covering after
your sporting activity if you are in a crowded indoor
facility, but you don’t have to wear one during sport. People
should not generally wear a face covering while taking part
in any strenuous activity or sport, unless advised to do so
by a doctor.
-
You should avoid sharing equipment where possible and
practical, particularly equipment which is used around the
head and face (such as masks and helmets). If equipment needs
to be shared, it should be cleaned between users, where
possible.
3. How to provide sport and physical activity
safely
This guidance sets out the key principles that you should follow
and communicate to providers and participants in your sport or
physical activity. This advice applies to all types of sport and
physical activity, but further advice is also provided below for
team sports, contact combat sports and mass participation events.
Key principles
You should ensure that people can participate in your sport
safely. You should consider the best way to approach this for
your sport, including by issuing guidance (if you are a NGB or
sport provider), following any relevant guidance from the sport’s
NGB, the sport provider or facility, or by choosing to make your
own changes to operating models to reduce the risk of COVID-19
transmission. The key principles below should form the basis of
any provided guidance.
1. Communications and guidance
You should consider how you can inform visitors of important
information and any changes to processes in advance of the
activity, for example on your website, when booking by phone or
email, and in your digital marketing. You should consider how to
do this in a way that works best for your sport or physical
activity provision and is accessible to all, including those with
disabilities.
For example, you could email registered participants in advance
of a league starting to set out the operational information they
should be aware of and safety measures you have chosen to put in
place. Then include a brief reminder of any key points or steps
they must take in your follow-up communications or social media
engagement.
Your communication to participants should include the following
points.
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Self-assessment: Before attending any
sporting activities, all participants, officials, volunteers
and spectators should self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms (a
high temperature; a new, continuous cough; a loss of, or
change to, their sense of smell or taste). If they, or anyone
they live with, have one or more of these symptoms (even if
they are mild), you should advise them not to attend any
sporting activity, and to follow NHS guidance on
testing and self-isolation.
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Informed decisions: You should advise
participants to consider their own health and circumstances
(for example, if they are not yet double-vaccinated or they
live with somebody vulnerable), so they can make an informed
choice about whether they wish to participate. You should set
out the safety measures you have put in place, and how you
will mitigate any specific risks associated with your
sporting activity. For example, you could advise participants
that you are following your NGB’s guidance, and any safety
measures you are putting in place.
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Self-isolation: Clearly communicate to
participants that they should not take part in your activity
if they need to self-isolate, for example because they have
been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace; are
required to isolate after travel; or because they are
displaying any COVID-19 symptoms (a high temperature, new and
persistent cough, or a loss of/change in sense of taste or
smell), even if these symptoms are mild. Advise them that if
they, or anyone they live with, have one or more of these
symptoms they should not attend, and should follow guidance on testing
and self-isolation.
2. NHS Test and Trace
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Sport providers are no longer required to collect
participants’ contact details, or keep records of your staff
and visitors.
-
However, you are advised to continue to display an NHS QR
code for participants wishing to check in using the app, to
support NHS Test and Trace. You do not have to ask
participants to check in, or turn them away if they refuse.
-
If you display an NHS QR code, you should also have a system
to collect (and securely store) names and contact details for
those who ask to check in but do not have the app.
3. Pre-participation safety measures
-
Consider whether you should ask participants to take a
COVID-19 test before participating, where this is practical
and possible. This can help to ensure your sport provision is
as safe as possible, and reduce the risk of transmission.
-
You can also consider using the NHS COVID Pass to reduce the
risk of transmission. The NHS COVID Pass allows people to
demonstrate that they are at a lower risk of carrying
COVID-19 and transmitting it to others, through vaccination,
testing or natural immunity. It can help organisations to
reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
-
The NHS COVID Pass will be available through the NHS App,
the NHS website,
or as a letter that can be requested by ringing NHS 119.
Participants will also be able to show text or email
confirmation of test results.
-
If you use the NHS COVID Pass, you should ensure that you
comply with all relevant legal obligations and guidance,
including on equalities. The Government will publish more
guidance on using the NHS COVID Pass shortly.
-
Even when using the NHS COVID Pass, it is still important
that you follow the rest of the guidance and put measures in
place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading at your venue
or event.
4. Hygiene
-
You should continue to follow good hygiene practices, to
reduce the risk of transmission in sport environments. For
example, you should not spit or rinse out your mouth on or
around the playing area. You can find more information in the
guidance on how to
stay safe.
-
Water bottles or other refreshment containers should not be
shared. Advise participants to bring their own water bottle
or refreshment container, in a labelled or highly
distinguishable container. If you are providing water or
other beverages, ensure that these are provided to
individuals and are not expected to be shared.
-
You should consider whether there are any changes you can
make to your sport provision, to reduce the risk of
transmission. For example, you could ask teams not to shake
hands after the match.
5. Equipment
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Organise your sport or physical activity sessions to avoid
sharing equipment where it is possible and practical,
particularly that used around the head and face. Where
equipment needs to be shared, it should be cleaned between
users.
-
You may wish to encourage teams to sanitise balls or other
equipment at regular intervals, for example before and after
each match, and in half-time or a suitable break in play.
6. Face coverings
-
Face coverings are no longer required by law, but the
government expects and recommends that people should continue
to wear them in crowded and enclosed settings, to protect
themselves and others. Where worn correctly, this can reduce
the risk of transmission.
-
If a sport facility or venue where your provision takes place
recommends the use of face coverings (when not participating
in sport or physical activity), ensure this is communicated
to your staff and participants.
-
People should not generally wear a face covering while taking
part in any strenuous activity or sport, unless they have
been advised to do so by a physician.
7. Medical provision
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Physios and other medical personnel should ensure that
equipment and surfaces are frequently cleaned and
disinfected, and maintain hygiene standards when treating
participants.
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Where close face-to-face contact is required, medical
personnel may decide that they and patients should wear a
face covering. This is particularly important when they are
conducting treatments which require them to be in close
proximity to a person’s face, mouth and nose.
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After contact with an injured participant, physios and other
medical personnel should clean their hands thoroughly with
soap and water or alcohol hand sanitiser at the earliest
opportunity. This applies in all situations, regardless of
whether there was close contact.
-
Those working at a sport event should familiarise themselves
with the guidance for first
responders, in case of emergency situations.
8. Facility usage
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Providers which work with or operate facilities should ensure
they are familiar with the guidance for sport facilities
below (link). This sets out information on ventilation and
other important steps you can take to reduce transmission.
-
Where there is no facility operator (such as sport in a
public park), the sport provider should review the guidance
and consider following any relevant advice to reduce the risk
of transmission.
9. Sporting events
-
If you are organising large grassroots sport events, or
expect a significant number of spectators, you should review
the guidance for events and attractions (link) and follow any
relevant measures to reduce the risk of transmission at your
event.
-
You can also use the risk management template (link) to help
you plan your event.
Advice for specific sports and
eventsTeam sports
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There are no restrictions on how many people can take part in
sport and physical activity, or on the activities they can
do. This means there are no restrictions on how team sports
can take place, and how sports such as rugby union, rugby
league and netball can be organised.
-
NGBs and sport providers should maintain COVID-specific
guidance for participants on how to participate safely in
your sport, which should be reviewed and updated as required
to ensure that sport providers and participants are clear on
the current advice and best practice. This guidance does not
need to be reviewed by the government.
-
NGBs and sport providers may wish to consider setting out
alternative ways for people to participate, for those who do
not feel comfortable with full versions of your sport but
still wish to take part. For example, this could include
training but not taking part in matches, or providing an
alternative activity or light-contact version for some
participants while others take part in full contact activity.
You should consider the approach which works best for your
sport, and encourage providers to discuss and agree an
approach with their participants that works for them.
Contact combat sports
-
Contact combat sport activities can resume full contact
training and competitions for adults and children both
indoors and outdoors.
-
NGBs for contact combat sports should maintain COVID-specific
guidance for participants on how to participate safely in
your sport, which should be reviewed and updated as required
to ensure that sport providers and participants are clear on
the current advice and best practice. This guidance does not
need to be reviewed by the government.
-
NGBs and sport providers should consider whether it is
necessary to provide guidance on measures to reduce risk. For
example, you could consider:
-
Advising those in supporting roles (e.g. holding pads) to
wear face coverings, where this is possible and
practical.
-
Advising participants to consider the number of different
people they engage in full contact activity with.
-
Advising coaches or officials to limit the number of
groups or facilities they work with.
-
You may also wish to set out the different ways people can
participate, or for different types of activity. For example,
if people do not wish to take part in full contact activity,
it may be helpful to have a framework for the different ways
of participating in your sport. The following framework may
be helpful:
-
Non-contact training: training individually, no activity
with others, including with equipment (such as pad work).
-
Equipment training: training with others, using handheld
and wearable equipment (such as pad work).
-
Contact training: contact training which includes some
direct physical contact between participants.
-
Full contact / competition.
Sport participation events
Sport participation events such as races, rides and walks can
take place outdoors with no capacity caps for participants or
spectators. In addition to your usual event organisation
processes, you should ensure that you take steps to keep everyone
safe, and reduce the risk of transmission at your events so you
can continue to provide sport and physical activity safely.
As there continues to be a risk of infection from
COVID-19,businesses still have a legal duty to manage risks to
those affected by their business. The way to do this is to carry
out a health and safety risk assessment including the risk of
COVID-19, and put in place measures to reduce the risks you
identify. You should review the guidance for events and
attractions (link), which sets out advice on the risks you should
take into account when managing events, along with options for
managing and reducing these risks and a risk management checklist
to help you plan your event. You can also use the risk management
template (link) to help you plan your event.
When planning your event, you should take into account the
following factors:
Do not admit customers or spectators who have suspected
or confirmed COVID-19.
-
If a participant or spectator presents with symptoms,
or you become aware of a case of suspected or confirmed
COVID-19 on-site , they should not be admitted or
should be asked to leave the facility or event, unless they
need to be transported to hospital for treatment. The
customer should be advised to self-isolate in line with
NHS guidelines and
to take a PCR test.
-
Where possible, the individual should be assessed on-site (by
a medical professional, if you have this provision). Unless
they are in need of urgent medical attention and need to be
transported to hospital for treatment, they should be
encouraged to take a supervised lateral flow test. Any
customer returning a positive result from a lateral flow test
must be required to leave the facility or event. They should
be advised to self-isolate in line with NHS guidelines and
to take a PCR test.
Consider encouraging customers and spectators to wear
face coverings, for example through signage, if your
event is likely to include enclosed and crowded spaces.
-
Face coverings are no longer required by law, but the
government expects and recommends that people should continue
to wear them in crowded and enclosed settings, to protect
themselves and others. Where worn correctly, this
can reduce the risk of transmission.
-
Your workers may choose to wear a face covering,
particularly if they are likely to come into contact with a
lot of people during the event. You should support
them in doing so, and ensure they are aware of guidance on using face
coverings safely.
-
Consider recommending the use of face coverings by
workers and spectators as a safety measure, in
enclosed and crowded spaces where they may come into contact
with people they don’t normally meet.When deciding whether
you will ask workers or spectators to wear face coverings:
-
You need to consider the reasonable adjustments needed
for workers and spectators with disabilities. You also
need to carefully consider how this fits with other
obligations to workers and spectators arising from the
law on employment rights, health and safety and equality
legislation.
-
You should not ask people to wear face coverings while
taking part in any strenuous activity or sport.
-
Remember that some people are not able to wear face
coverings, and the reasons for this may not be visible to
others. Please be mindful and respectful of such
circumstances. Be aware that face coverings may make it
harder to communicate with people who rely on lip reading,
facial expressions and clear sound.
Consider displaying an NHS QR code
poster so that customers can check in using
the NHS COVID-19 app.
-
You are no longer required to collect customer contact
details, or keep a record of your staff and visitors.
-
However, you are advised to continue to display an NHS QR
code for customers wishing to check in using the app, as this
will help to reduce the spread of the virus and protect your
customers, visitors and staff. You do not have to ask
customers to check in, or turn them away if they refuse.
-
If you display an NHS QR code, you should also have a system
to collect (and securely store) names and contact details,
for those who ask to check in but who do not have access to a
smartphone or who prefer not to use the app.
Consider whether you should put in place safety measures
to reduce the risk of transmission. For example, you
could consider ways to distribute chips and medals which don’t
require contact between large groups of people. You could also
consider organising bag-drops and equipment storage to minimise
crowding and shared handling, and ensure hand sanitiser is
provided. You can find more advice on the types of measures which
may be appropriate for your event in the guidance on events and
attractions.
Ensure that any amenities at the event follow the
relevant guidance , such as hospitality services
(guidance for restaurants,
pubs, bars and takeaway services) and retail outlets
(guidance for shops, stores
and branches).
4. Information for sport
providersIntroduction
This document gives you guidance on how to open workplaces safely
while reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19. It provides
practical considerations on how to apply this in a sport
facility.
This guidance supports your existing legal obligations relating
to health and safety, entertainment licensing and regulations,
employment and equality duties. This document contains
non-statutory guidance that you should take into account when
complying with these existing obligations, to ensure you are
working safely by reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Remember this guidance does not just cover your workers. You must
also take into account agency workers, contractors,
volunteers and customers or users of your business or venue.
To help you decide which actions to take, you must carry out an
appropriate assessment. This risk assessment must be done in
consultation with unions or workers; you may also want to consult
industry representatives.
Who this guidance is for
This guidance applies to all indoor and outdoor sport facilities,
including indoor gyms and leisure centres, sport courts and
pitches, swimming pools, fitness studios, golf courses and other
single or multi-sport facilities.
This guidance does not apply to facilities which can be used for
sport but are primarily used for leisure (such as trampoline
parks, bowling alleys), or which provide physical activity which
is not a recognised sport. These types of facilities should
follow the guidance for events and
attractions. It does not apply to children’s playgrounds,
which should follow the guidance for outdoor gyms
and playgrounds.
Risk assessments
As an employer, by law you must protect workers and others
(including contractors, volunteers and customers/users) from
risks to their health and safety. This includes risks from
COVID-19. COVID-19 is a workplace hazard. You should manage it in
the same way as other workplace hazards. This includes:
- completing a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks
of COVID-19 in the workplace
- identifying control measures to manage that risk
Failure to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment,
and put in place control measures to manage the risk of COVID-19
in the workplace, may be considered a breach of health and safety
law.
Your risk assessment will help you decide whether you have done
everything you need to. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has
tools to support you.
You should also consider the security implications of any
decisions and control measures you intend to put in place. Any
revisions could present new or altered security risks you may
need to mitigate.
You do not have to write anything down as part of your risk
assessment if you:
However, you may still find it useful to do so.
Consult your workers
As an employer, you have a legal duty to consult workers on
health and safety matters. You can do this by listening and
talking to them about the work they do and how you will manage
the risks from COVID-19.
You may do this by consulting with any recognised trade union
health and safety representatives.
If you do not have any, you can consult with a representative
chosen by workers. As an employer, you cannot decide who the
representative will be.
Employers and workers should always come together to resolve
issues. If you cannot do this, see below for other steps you can
take.
Raising concerns
If you’re an employee, you can contact:
- your employee representative
- your trade union if you have one
You can also contact HSE’s COVID-19 enquiries team:
Enforcement
Enforcing authorities identify employers who do not take action
to comply with the relevant law and guidance to control public
health risks. When they do, they can take a range of actions to
improve control of workplace risks. The HSE and your local
authority are examples of enforcing authorities.
When they identify serious breaches, enforcing authorities can do
a number of things. These include:
- sending you a letter.
- serving you with an improvement or prohibition notice.
- bringing a prosecution against you, in cases where they
identify significant breaches.
If an enforcing authority issues you with any advice or notices,
you should respond rapidly and within their timescales.
Inspectors are carrying out compliance checks nationwide to
ensure that employers are taking the necessary steps.
Under the Health Protection (Coronavirus,
Restrictions) (England) (No. 3) Regulations 2020, local
authorities continue to have the power to place public health
restrictions on businesses in cases where there is a serious and
imminent threat to public health posed by COVID-19. However,
coronavirus legislation does not impose any restrictions on the
types of events which can take place in Step 4. Local authorities
may only exercise those powers by issuing a direction where that
is necessary in public health terms, and any prohibitions,
requirements or conditions imposed by the Direction are
proportionate to the risk. Further information is available in
the section on working with partners (link) and the guidance on local
authority powers to impose restrictions.
What to include in your risk assessment
To carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, you
should consider the different ways the virus can be spread
(aerosols, droplets and surfaces) and put in place measures to
reduce the risk of each type of transmission. An example of the
factors you should consider is included in the box below.
You will need to translate this into the specific actions you
need to take. These will depend on the nature of your business,
including the size and type of business, how it is organised,
operated and managed.
Some activities can increase the risk of catching or passing on
COVID-19. This happens where people are doing activities which
generate more particles as they breathe heavily, such as singing,
dancing, exercising or raising their voices. You should consider
the specific risks of your facility or event, and take additional
care to manage situations where there is a higher risk of
catching or passing on COVID-19.
This applies to sport facilities as well as to events you may
hold at your facility. If you are organising events, you should
also consider the risk factors identified by the Events Research
Programme when undertaking risk assessments for their particular
event or premises. These are set out in the guidance for events and
attractions, along with options for managing and reducing
these risks and a risk management template to help you plan your
event.
Your risk assessment should also include:
-
An up-to-date plan for what you will do in the event of an
outbreak in your workplace. This includes nominating a member
of staff as the single point of contact who will contact
local public health teams. You can find more information and
resources on handling outbreaks in the section on COVID-19
cases in the workplace.
-
Ensuring that workers, customers and visitors who feel unwell
do not come to the workplace. By law, businesses must not
require a self-isolating worker to work anywhere other than
where they are self-isolating (normally their home).
-
Risks arising from periods of closure. If your building is
unoccupied or has reduced occupancy during a period of
restrictions, you should take steps to manage any risks that
could arise when reopening (for example, by reviewing HSE’s guidance on the
risk of legionella).
-
The impact of your policies on groups who have protected
characteristics, and to those who are more at risk of being
infected with COVID-19 or have a higher risk of serious
illness. You can find more information in the guidance on
protecting people who
are defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable.
Risks to consider
Aerosol and droplet transmission
The main way of spreading COVID-19 is through close contact with
an infected person. When someone with COVID-19 breathes, speaks,
coughs or sneezes, they release particles (droplets and aerosols)
containing the virus that causes COVID-19. These particles can be
breathed in by another person.
To reduce aerosol transmission, consider:
-
How best to increase ventilation in your facility. There are
different ways of providing ventilation, including mechanical
ventilation using fans and ducts, natural ventilation which
relies on passive flow through openings (doors, windows,
vents) or a combination of the two. Open doors, windows and
air vents where possible, to improve natural ventilation.
-
Identifying any poorly ventilated spaces and taking steps to
improve fresh air flow in these areas. A CO2 monitor could
help you assess whether a space is poorly ventilated, and if
you should switch on additional mechanical ventilation or
open windows. If you can’t improve ventilation in poorly
ventilated spaces, consider restricting the number of people
in these spaces or stop using them if possible.
-
Encouraging the use of outdoor space wherever possible.
To reduce droplet transmission, consider:
-
Putting in place measures to reduce contact between people,
particularly between customers and workers. Where practical,
measures could include:
- Keeping the activity time involved as short as possible
- Using screens or barriers to separate people (which can be
beneficial if placed between people who will come into close
proximity with each other) or using back-to-back or
side-to-side working for your staff, instead of
face-to-face.
- Reducing the number of people your workers have contact
with, for example by using fixed teams, partnering or
cohorting, so that each person works with only a few others.
-
Recommending the use of face coverings by workers or
customers, particularly in enclosed and crowded spaces. From
Step 4, there is no longer a legal requirement for staff and
customers to wear face coverings in any setting, so you
should review the section on face coverings (link) to
understand what this would mean for your business.
Surface transmission
Surfaces and belongings can also be contaminated with COVID-19,
when people who are infected cough or sneeze near them or if they
touch them. To reduce surface transmission, consider:
-
Advising customers and workers to wash their hands or use
hand sanitiser frequently. This is particularly important
before and after touching shared objects or surfaces that
other people touch regularly.
-
Maintaining regular cleaning of surfaces, particularly
surfaces that people touch regularly.
-
Providing additional handwashing facilities and hand
sanitiser, particularly in high-traffic or higher-risk areas,
such as reception and entrance foyers, doorways, lifts and
bathroom facilities.
Managing your workplaceTesting and
vaccination
You should continue to put measures in place to reduce
the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is important
even if your workers have:
- received a recent negative test result
- had the vaccine (either 1 or 2 doses)
- natural immunity. This is proof of a positive PCR within 180
days (and after the 10 days isolation period).
Consider asking your employees or volunteers to get
tested regularly.
Regular testing could help identify more positive cases of
COVID-19 in the workplace. Read further guidance on your
options for workplace testing, or call 119 for more
information.
COVID-19 cases in the workplace
Ensure that you have an up-to-date plan setting out the
steps to take if a case of COVID-19 is reported in your
facility. This should be set out in your risk register,
and should include the following actions:
- Ensure that any workers or volunteers who have symptoms or
who have tested positive leave the facility immediately to
self-isolate.
-
Immediately identify any close workplace contacts and ask
them to self-isolate. You should not wait for NHS Test and
Trace. This prompt action will help reduce the risk of a
workplace outbreak.
-
If a customer presents with symptoms, or you become aware of
a case of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 on-site, they
should not be admitted or should be asked to leave the
facility or event, unless they need to be transported to
hospital for treatment. The customer should be advised to
self-isolate in line with NHS guidelines and
to take a PCR test.
- Where possible, the customer should be assessed on-site
(by a medical professional, if you have this provision).
Unless they are in need of urgent medical attention and need
to be transported to hospital for treatment, they should be
encouraged to take a supervised lateral flow test. Any
customer returning a positive result from a lateral flow test
must be required to leave the facility or event. They should
be advised to self-isolate in line with NHS guidelines
and to take a PCR test.
-
Inform your local authority public
health team. Where possible, nominate a single point of
contact to lead on contacting local public health teams.
- Ensure your facility is thoroughly cleaned. Follow the
measures set out in the guidance for cleaning in
non-healthcare settings.
If the local health protection team declares an
outbreak:
-
You will be asked to record details of staff with symptoms of
COVID-19 and assist with identifying contacts. You should
therefore ensure all employment records are up to date.
-
You will be provided with information about the outbreak
management process. This will help you to implement
control measures, assist with communications to staff and
reinforce prevention messages.
Clearly set out that workers who have symptoms or who are
self-isolating should not come into the workplace.
-
It is illegal to knowingly allow someone who is being
required to self-isolate to come to work.
-
You can enable workers to work from home while
self-isolating, if this is appropriate and they are feeling
well enough.
- Review guidance for employers and employees on statutory sick
pay due to COVID-19.
-
Ensure you and your staff are familiar with the symptoms of
COVID-19 (a high temperature, a new and persistent cough, or
a loss of/change to their sense of taste or smell). If a
staff member (or someone in their household) has coronavirus
symptoms, they should self-isolate and get a test, even if
these symptoms are mild. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can
get a free NHS test.
-
Staff members who are contacts of individuals who test
positive should also self-isolate. Anyone who is informed by
NHS Test and Trace that they are a close contact must follow
the requirement to self-isolate. See the guidance for those who
have been in contact with, but do not live with, a person who
has tested positive for COVID-19.
- People who test positive but have no symptoms must also
self-isolate. If they develop symptoms during their isolation
period, they must restart their 10-day self-isolation period from
the day after they develop symptoms. You can find more
information in the guidance for households
with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infections.
Going to the workplace
The government is no longer instructing people to work from home
if they can, so employers can start to plan a return to
workplaces. During this period of high prevalence, the government
expects and recommends a gradual return over the summer. You
should discuss a return to the workplace with workers or unions
to make working arrangements that meet both business and
individual needs. You should discuss the timing and phasing of a
return with your workers.
You should remain responsive to employee needs, particularly
during this period when not every adult will have been offered
their second vaccine dose. You should adopt practices that help
to reduce the risks to individuals in the workplace, and give
extra consideration to people at higher risk and to workers
facing mental and physical health difficulties.
You should discuss the timing of any return and, where
applicable, phasing of any return, with workers. To help them to
feel safe returning to work, consult them on any measures you
have put in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading.
We recognise that ways of working have shifted through the
pandemic, and many employers are looking at hybrid models which
include an element of home working. Whatever model you choose to
follow for the longer term, you should discuss it with those who
might be affected and also with employee representatives.
When considering whether workers should come into their place of
work, you should:
Reducing risk to your workers
Ensure you are aware of any relevant guidance for staff
at higher risk.
Reduce the number of people your workers come into
contact with
-
Review layouts and processes to reduce the number of people
your workers come into contact with. In particular, consider
whether you can reduce contact between workers and customers.
-
This might include using screens or barriers to separate
people (which can be beneficial if placed between people who
will come into close proximity with each other) or using
back-to-back or side-to-side working for your staff, instead
of face-to-face.
Consider the impact of your policies on your
workers.
-
Provide clear, consistent and regular communication to
workers of any relevant safety measures or changes to
policy/procedure. Engage with workers and worker
representatives to explain and agree any changes in working
arrangements.
- Consider how this will affect staff with protected
characteristics, and any adjustments you should make to take
account of your duties under the equalities legislation.
-
It is breaking the law to discriminate, directly or
indirectly, against anyone because of a protected
characteristic such as age, ethnicity, sex or disability.
Employers also have particular responsibilities towards
disabled workers and those who are new or expectant
mothers.
-
Discuss with disabled employees what reasonable adjustments
can be made to the workplace so they can work safely.
-
Assess the health and safety risks for new or expectant
mothers.
- Make sure that the steps you take do not have an
unjustifiable negative impact on some groups compared to others,
for example, those with caring responsibilities or those with
religious commitments.
Encourage attendees to wear face coverings, for
example through signage, if your facility or event is likely to
include enclosed and crowded spaces.
-
Face coverings are no longer required by law, but the
government expects and recommends that people should continue
to wear them in crowded and enclosed settings, to protect
themselves and others. Where worn correctly, this
can reduce the risk of transmission.
-
Your workers may choose to wear a face covering in
the workplace. You should support them in doing so,
and ensure they are aware of guidance on using face
coverings safely.
-
Consider recommending the use of face coverings by
workers and customers as a safety measure, in
enclosed and crowded spaces where they may come into contact
with people they don’t normally meet.When deciding whether
you will ask workers or customers to wear face coverings:
-
You need to consider the reasonable adjustments needed
for workers and customers with disabilities. You also
need to carefully consider how this fits with other
obligations to workers and customers arising from the law
on employment rights, health and safety and equality
legislation.
-
You should not ask people to wear face coverings while
taking part in any strenuous activity or sport.
-
Remember that some people are not able to wear face
coverings, and the reasons for this may not be visible to
others. Please be mindful and respectful of such
circumstances. Be aware that face coverings may make it
harder to communicate with people who rely on lip
reading, facial expressions and clear sound.
Consider through your risk assessment whether your
workers need personal protective equipment (PPE).
-
If your event includes staff providing close contact services
(such as medical personnel, massage therapists, security
staff, hair and makeup technicians and beauticians), you may
decide that clients and/or staff should wear a face covering,
especially where practitioners are conducting treatments
which require them to be in close proximity to a person’s
face, mouth and nose. You should review the guidance for
retail and consumer services (link) and take account of the
risks to staff and customers.
-
Where you are already using PPE in your work activity to
protect against non-COVID-19 risks, you should keep doing so.
-
Do not encourage the precautionary use of extra PPE to
protect against COVID-19 unless you are in a clinical setting
or responding to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.
Unless you’re in a situation where the risk of COVID-19
spreading is very high, your risk assessment should reflect
the fact that PPE has an extremely limited role in providing
extra protection.
-
If your risk assessment does show that PPE is required, you
must provide this PPE free of charge to workers who need it.
Any PPE provided must fit properly.
Managing your customersCommunications
and guidance
Take steps to ensure that customers who have symptoms or
who are self-isolating do not attend your facility.
-
Clearly communicate that customers should not come to your
facility if they need to self-isolate, for example because
they have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace;
are required to isolate after travel; or because they are
displaying any COVID-19 symptoms (a high temperature, new and
persistent cough, or a loss of/change in sense of taste or
smell), even if these symptoms are mild.
-
Customers should be informed that if they, or anyone they
live with, have one or more of these symptoms they should not
attend, and should follow guidance on testing
and self-isolation.
Ensure customers know how to visit your venue or event
safely.
-
Consider how you can inform visitors of any changes to
processes in advance of their visit, for example on your
website, when booking by phone or email, and in your digital
marketing.
-
Ensure you make any entry requirements (such as the NHS COVID
Pass - see below) clear to customers before booking, and at
the point of sale.
-
Take steps to remind visitors of special measures if they are
complex, varied or likely to be forgotten. For example, you
could reinforce messages on signs through spoken
communication from reception staff.
-
Think about how to communicate important information to all
of your customers, for example those who do not speak English
as a first language, and those with protected characteristics
(such as people who are hard of hearing or visually
impaired).
-
Encourage customers to follow good hygiene practices, such as
using hand sanitiser when they enter the building and washing
their hands regularly. Consider how to ensure safety messages
reach those with hearing or vision impairments.
-
Pre-event communications can be a particularly effective
measure for events. You can find further advice about
communications for events in the Events and Attractions
guidance.
Reducing risk to customers
Do not admit customers who have suspected or confirmed
COVID-19.
-
If a customer presents with symptoms, or you become
aware of a case of suspected or confirmed COVID-19
on-site , they should not be admitted or should be
asked to leave the facility or event, unless they need to be
transported to hospital for treatment. The customer should be
advised to self-isolate in line with NHS guidelines and
to take a PCR test.
-
Where possible, the customer should be assessed on-site (by a
medical professional, if you have this provision). Unless
they are in need of urgent medical attention and need to be
transported to hospital for treatment, they should be
encouraged to take a supervised lateral flow test. Any
customer returning a positive result from a lateral flow test
must be required to leave the facility or event. They should
be advised to self-isolate in line with NHS guidelines and
to take a PCR test.
Consider displaying an NHS QR code
poster so that customers can check in using
the NHS COVID-19 app.
-
You are no longer required to collect customer contact
details, or keep a record of your staff and visitors.
-
However, you are advised to continue to display an NHS QR
code for customers wishing to check in using the app, as this
will help to reduce the spread of the virus and protect your
customers, visitors and staff. You do not have to ask
customers to check in, or turn them away if they refuse.
-
If you display an NHS QR code, you should also have a system
to collect (and securely store) names and contact details,
for those who ask to check in but who do not have access to a
smartphone or who prefer not to use the app.
Consider how best to reduce risks to customers.
-
Minimise unnecessary contact. You could do
this by using online booking and pre-payment, and encouraging
contactless payments wherever possible.
-
Ensure that any measures you put in place are
suitable for your site or event. There will be
additional factors to consider if you are holding sporting
events with large numbers of spectators. You can find
additional information in the section on managing customers
and spectators (link).
Managing customers and spectators
Capacity
There are no capacity caps on the number of people who can enter
a sport facility or attend a sport event, beyond your facility’s
usual operating capacity. However, you may wish to take steps to
ensure customers can attend as safely as possible, for example by
introducing one-way systems to minimise crowding.
These are likely to be specific to your type of venue or event,
so you should think about the most appropriate steps you could
take to manage risk.
For example, you could:
-
Consider how you can reduce risk to staff who work
with large numbers of guests. For example,
installing screens can be beneficial if placed between people
who will come into close proximity with each other. You could
consider installing screens at receptions, and providing hand
sanitiser for staff and customers.
-
Consider using a CO2 monitor to assess whether there
is sufficient ventilation in your venue. If you
identify that ventilation is poor you should take steps to
improve fresh air flow. If you cannot increase the supply of
fresh air, you should consider whether you can reduce the
number of people in your venue or the relevant area. For
example, you may wish to limit capacity in enclosed spaces
where high intensity exercise takes place, as strenuous
activities pose an increased risk of transmission.
-
Identify areas of crowding and consider what steps
can be taken to avoid congestion , if they present a
higher risk of COVID-19 transmission. For example, you could
limit the number of people using a small weights room or
studio, or shower and changing facilities, at the same time.
You could also reduce class sizes or amend timetabling to
prevent crowding and allow for cleaning studios or equipment.
-
In stadiums, auditoriums and theatre-style settings,
consider:
-
Providing allocated seating where
possible. You should ensure that your facility
is accessible (in line with your responsibilities under
the Equality Act 2010) and that seating arrangements take
into account the needs of people with disabilities and
wheelchair users, and support from carers. You should
also consider how seating arrangements work with any
other accessibility services you offer, such as access to
captioning or audio description services.
-
Where allocated seating is not possible, consider
other ways to reduce these risks, such as
additional stewarding. You can find more information in
thesection on crowd management and events (link).
Crowd management and events
If you are hosting events, including grassroots sport events with
large numbers of spectators, you should also review the guidance
for events and attractions (link). This guidance recommends
taking additional steps to manage risk if the event site or venue
includes one or more of the following features:
- is taking place indoors;
- is taking place outdoors, but also has indoor spaces;
- includes congested areas;
- involves free movement between people;
- includes crowd density; or
- has a large number of attendees.
You can find further advice about the types of measures you can
put in place (such as crowd movement strategies and stewarding)
to manage risks in these types of events in the events and
attractions guidance, along with a risk management template to
help you plan your event.
Managing your facility or event setting
Cleaning
Frequent cleaning of surfaces, particularly those that people
touch often, reduces the potential for COVID-19 to spread and is
a critical part of working safely.
-
Ensure you are maintaining clean workspaces
through regular use of your usual cleaning products.
-
Frequently clean surfaces, particularly those that
people touch often. Pay particular attention to
those in high-traffic areas, such as door handles, lift
buttons and handrails.
-
Frequently clean changing rooms, showers and toilet
facilities. Set clear use and cleaning guidance to
ensure they are kept clean, including putting up a visible
and up-to-date cleaning schedule. Special care should be
taken for cleaning of portable toilets and larger toilet
blocks.
-
You should take particular care to clean water
fountains , and ask customers to use them to fill up
personal containers and not for face-to-tap drinking.
-
Regularly clean shared equipment, between
users where this is practical. For example, cleaning saunas,
steam rooms and equipment used in exercise classes between
sessions.
-
Ensure that customers are aware of relevant cleaning
measures. If you expect customers to clean gym
equipment (such as fixed machines, ballet bars and large
equipment handles), place visible notices to remind them to
do so, and ensure they have the materials they will need
(such as sprays and paper towels).
-
Physios and other medical personnel should ensure
that equipment and surfaces are frequently cleaned and
disinfected, and maintain hygiene standards when
treating participants. Where close face-to-face contact is
required, medical personnel and patients may wish to wear
face coverings.
-
If you are cleaning after a known or suspected case
of COVID-19 , follow the measures set out in the
guidance for cleaning
in non-healthcare settings.
Hygiene
Good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing, play a
crucial role in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
-
Put in place hygiene measures to reduce the risk of
transmission. This should include providing handwashing
facilities and hand sanitiser, particularly in
high-traffic or higher-risk areas, such as reception and
entrance foyers, doorways, lifts and bathroom facilities.
This could include placing hand sanitiser stations at the
entrances of different buildings or areas within your event
site.
-
You should ask customers to use water fountains for
filling personal water bottles, and not for face-to-tap
drinking.
-
Ensure handwashing facilities or hand sanitiser
stations are available near shared facilities, equipment and
objects.
-
Ensure that handwashing and hand sanitiser facilities
are checked and refilled regularly , and that any
equipment placed is accessible to (and does not impede)
wheelchair users.
-
Maintain good hygiene practices, such as encouraging
staff and customers to use hand sanitiser and wash their
hands regularly. You could use signs and posters to
build awareness of good handwashing technique, the need to
increase handwashing frequency, and good hygiene practices
like avoiding touching your face and coughing or sneezing
into your arm. Consider how to ensure safety messages reach
those with hearing or vision impairments.
-
Put in place measures to address hygiene risks in
your facility. For example, you should prohibit
face-to-tap drinking from water fountains, and ensure
customers are aware they should be used only to refill
personal bottles or containers. You should advise customers
that water bottles or other refreshment containers should not
be shared.
-
Consider customer behaviour and take steps to address
any high-risk or unhygienic activity. For example,
spitting could increase the risk of transmission, so you
should ask customers not to spit when using pitches or other
facilities.
Ventilation
In enclosed spaces (such as indoor settings, or indoor areas of
outdoor venues), ventilation is an important control measure to
reduce the risk of aerosol transmission of COVID-19. You should
consider how best to increase ventilation in your facility, to
maximise the supply of fresh or cleaned air. However, ventilation
will not reduce the risk of droplet or surface transmission, so
you should also put in place other control measures such as
cleaning.
Steps you should take:
-
Opening doors, windows and air vents where
possible, to improve natural ventilation. You should take
particular care to keep toilets and shower facilities
well-ventilated, as these can be areas of higher risk. Open
doors, windows and air vents where possible, and ensure
extractor fans work effectively.
-
If using mechanical ventilation, ensuring that your
systems are set to maximise fresh air and minimise air
recirculation. Maximising the amount of fresh or
cleaned air the system draws in will help prevent the spread
of COVID-19.
-
Take particular care to keep toilets and shower
facilities well-ventilated , as these can be areas
of higher risk, especially where these are shared facilities.
Open doors, windows and air vents where possible, and ensure
extractor fans work effectively.
-
Identifying any poorly ventilated spaces and taking
steps to improve fresh air flow in these areas. The
priority for your risk assessment is to identify areas of
your workplace that are usually occupied, and poorly
ventilated.You should prioritise these areas for improvement
to reduce the risk of aerosol transmission. A CO2 monitor
could help you assess whether a space is poorly ventilated,
and if you should use additional mechanical ventilation or
open windows (see the box below for further information on
CO2 monitors). If you can’t improve ventilation in poorly
ventilated spaces, consider whether it is safer to restrict
the number of people in these spaces or stop using them if
possible.
-
Encouraging the use of outside space where
practical , in particular for higher-risk activity
such as strenuous exercise or sports involving close
face-to-face contact between participants.
Further information and advice relating to ventilation in the
workplace can be found in the Health and Safety Executive’s
guidance on ventilation
and air conditioning.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitors
Using Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitors
People exhale carbon dioxide (CO2) when they breathe out. If
there is a build-up of CO2 in an area it can indicate that
ventilation needs improving.
Although CO2 levels are not a direct measure of possible exposure
to COVID-19, checking levels using a monitor can help you
identify poorly ventilated areas. Read HSE advice on how to
use a CO2 monitor.
How the measurements can help you take action
CO2 measurements should be used as a broad guide to ventilation
within a space rather than treating them as safe thresholds.
Outdoor levels are around 400ppm and indoors a consistent CO2
value less than 800ppm is likely to indicate that a space is well
ventilated.
A CO2 concentration of above 1500ppm in a space is an indicator
of poor ventilation. You should take action to improve
ventilation where CO2 readings are consistently higher than
1500ppm.
Where there is continuous talking or singing, or high levels of
physical activity (such as dancing, playing sport or exercising),
providing ventilation sufficient to keep CO2 levels below 800ppm
is recommended.
Where CO2 monitors can help
CO2 monitors can be used to check ventilation in a wide range of
settings.
In large areas such as concert halls or event spaces, multiple
sensors may be required to provide meaningful information.
There are some spaces where CO2 monitors are less likely to
provide useful readings. These are:
-
Areas occupied by people for short periods or for varying
amounts of time. For example, a railway station or an atrium.
-
Areas where air cleaning units are in use. Filtration can
remove contaminants (such as COVID-19) from the air but will
not remove CO2.
-
Spaces like changing rooms, toilets or small meeting rooms.
-
Spaces used by low numbers of people.
-
Areas where CO2 is produced as part of a work process.
Businesses and event organisers should still provide adequate
ventilation in areas where CO2 monitors are less likely to be
useful.
