Dear member,

Welsh Government to strengthen legislation’s to ensure workplaces and shops are safer.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford today announced that businesses in Wales will have to carry out a specific coronavirus risk assessment under new Welsh Government legislation.

These risk assessments will be the starting point for implementing the reasonable measures that are required to be taken to minimise exposure to the coronavirus on premises open to the public and in workplaces.

This involves considering issues such as:

· whether ventilation is adequate

· hygiene

· ensuring physical distancing is taking place

· use of PPE and face coverings.

It will also include considering how employers maximise the number of people who can work from home.

In a written statement, the First Minister said, “the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) Regulations 2020 will be amended early next week to help make sure people are safer when they go shopping and to strengthen protections in the workplace.”

NBRA will be looking into this further to find out what this means for body shops and members, bearing in mind that few repairer roles can be done from home.