Guidance for workplace settings

Resources for business owners, employers or staff, around the measures implemented to prevent and respond to COVID-19 within workplaces.

Report an outbreak

Information on how to report an outbreak in a workplace settings can be found on the reporting an outbreak page.

Read a letter to business owners from the Director of Public Health, 23 December 2021. (pdf / 368 KB)

It's an employer's responsibility to report a coronavirus outbreak in a workplace.

If 2 or more workers or visitors to your workplace test positive for coronavirus (Covid-19), you must contact both:

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Yorkshire and Humber Health Protection Team. For all UKHSA reporting requirements for your setting, please contact the Covid Response Cell Yorkshire and Humber by visiting Coronavirus Response Cell Yorkshire and Humber where you will find further information and contact details.
The North Yorkshire Public Health Team at dph@northyorks.gov.uk.

Report a case

Workplace settings are asked to report positive cases of COVID-19 through their usual reporting mechanisms to NYCC Health and Adult Services:

Notification and requests for support for positive cases of COVID-19 please email dph@northyorks.gov.uk using the following header - ‘Email header: ‘positive COVID case – type of setting i.e. accommodation/workplace/leisure accommodation [name of setting and District]’

Managing and Preventing Covid 19 in workplace settings

Who should use this information?

Business owners, managers and staff of workplace settings for example factories and offices. This information provides key steps to quickly identify and contain any potential Covid-19 outbreak and does not replace any health and safety or infection control steps you already have in place.

General guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid 19

To help prevent the spread of Covid-19 please visit Working safely during coronavirus.

This has practical steps to take and explains how to carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment for your organisation, and includes advice for specific settings:

If you have a suspected case:

If a member of staff or contractor develops symptoms whilst at work measures should be taken to support them to return home immediately, avoiding contact with anyone else in the workplace.

They should use private transport, but they must only drive if it is safe for them to do so.
If they cannot get home themselves, contact a household member and request that they collect them as soon as possible.
Advise the staff member to arrange a PCR test or by calling 119. They should inform their workplace of the test result as soon as possible.
If a staff member is awaiting collection they should wait in a room where they can be isolated behind a closed door with a window opened for ventilation. If it is not possible to isolate them, move them to an area which is at least 2 metres away from other people.
If they need to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected they should, if possible, use separate facilities which should be cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.
The workplace should record and keep the details of the incident in case it is needed for future case or outbreak management.

Once the member of staff has returned home they should continue to follow the guidance on self-isolation

The workplace will be informed if a staff member tests positive as part of NHS Test and Trace if they have been in attendance whilst symptomatic. The workplace will not be informed of any negative results and would not normally be informed of a result where the member of staff has not attended work while infectious.

Supporting a member of staff to self-isolate

If a member of staff needs support to enable them to self-isolate, there are local, as well as national, support systems in place that can provide help or call 01609 780780 for more information.

Reporting an outbreak

It's an employer's responsibility to report a coronavirus outbreak in a workplace.

An outbreak is defined as two or more laboratory confirmed cases of Covid-19 among individuals associated with a specific setting with onset dates within 14 days

If 2 or more workers or visitors to your workplace test positive for coronavirus (Covid-19), please contact:

The UKHSA Yorkshire and Humber Health Protection Team on 0113 386 0300, out of hours call 0151 909 1219.
The North Yorkshire Public Health Team – email: dph@northyorks.gov.uk.

Please include the email header: Confirmed Covid-19 cases – workplace (name of setting and District)

Get full details on how to report an outbreak.

We may establish an Outbreak Control Team to support you to manage the situation. This team will include your local Environmental Health Officer, who may visit the workplace to see the preventative measures you have in place.

Information your local Health protection team (HPT) may request from you:

Details of your organisation

name of company
location (including postcode and Local Authority
key contact details: name, phone number, email
number of staff

Details of the cases

contact details of the people affected
when the individual(s) became unwell
when they were last present in the work environment
nature of the roles/job undertaken by any staff affected
known links between the individual(s) with COVID-19 (in or out of work)
number of people with which the individual(s) had close contact
nature of the environment (for example site layout and nature of the building)
details of control measures
has there been any contact with other agencies? for example Local Authority, Food Standards Agency (FSA), Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Self Isolation Service Hub

Employers should call the Self Isolation Service Hub on 020 3743 6715 as soon as they are made aware that any of their workers have tested positive. Employers will need to provide the 8 digit NHS Test and Trace Account ID (CTAS number) of the positive case alongside the names of co-workers identified as close contacts.

To access more information, refer to the latest government guidance below:

Government and HSE guidance

The government and HSE have produced guidelines to ensure workplaces are safe and the workforce is protected from coronavirus.

PHE/Government setting specific guidance

Testing guidance

Guidance if your employees travel abroad for work

Change to Travel advice is regularly updated by the government.

You can view the full list of exempted travellers here - and exempted destinations here.

Full guidance for British people travelling overseas during the coronavirus pandemic can be found here.

Other useful information

ACAS - Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for employers and employees.
PPE - Information on PPE equipment.
Working from home equipment advice – Find out what equipment, services or supplies are taxable if your employees are working from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Commuting - Information on travelling to work and social distancing.

Support for the health and wellbeing of your workforce

Covid specific information for staying well in work, links to ideas for mental wellbeing:

Support for those suffering domestic abuse

Find help and support for those suffering domestic abuse