COVID-19

Hazard 01.

Transmission of COVID-19 via person to person contact

Persons at risk and how they might be harmed:

All persons working and visiting Blackbrooks Garden Centres.  People may be at risk of contracting the virus from infected individuals they encounter.  At particular risk are persons identified as extremely vulnerable or clinically vulnerable.

Controls currently in place:

Blackbrooks has done everything reasonably practicable to minimise the risks posed by the COVID-19 virus. Control measures have been put in place to minimise the risks of transmission from person to person.

Vulnerable Employees

Employees who have been identified as extremely vulnerable have not been recalled to the workplace and are shielding.  Other employees identified as vulnerable are working from home where possible.  If working from home is not possible, they will be employed in low risk work environments and will be instructed to take extra care in exercising social distancing.

Social Distancing

To maintain the 2m social distance between people who are not part of the same household, numerous control measures have been put in place.

Layout changes across the garden centre buildings and sites have been made to maximise the amount of space between people when working or shopping.

Signage is displayed to remind everyone about the recommended 2m distancing.

Signage has been dotted around the garden centres to assist customers to enter and exit the garden centres using the correct doors.

In the centres customer flow has been indicated with markings on the floor to show a one-way system.

At the customer facing counters including the tills and customer service signage is in place indicating where the customer should wait and stand whilst being served to maintain a safe distance.

Till operators have been instructed on how to serve the customer and process their transaction whilst maintaining a safe social distance.

Measures have been put in place in the offices at the garden centre and at Head Office to ensure that social distancing may be maintained.

Social distancing measures in place in the Goods In department and at the back door include signage to remind delivery drivers about maintaining the 2m social distance.   Usual practices for the off-loading of Delivery vehicles and signing of delivery paperwork have been amended to allow for social distancing.  All relevant employees have received training on this.

Layout changes have been made in the staff room areas to allow for social distancing to be adhered to.  Break times are staggered to maintain low numbers of employees using these areas at one time.  The use of private vehicles for breaks is permitted and extra outside seating is available.

Replenishment of stock in the garden centres is completed before or after closing times wherever possible.

Employees tasks have been amended so that they can work alone where possible.

Employees are encouraged to work in the same partnership where possible to reduce number of people each person has contact with.

Training

Employees returning to work in the garden centres and or Restaurant are issued a copy of the Risk assessment to read and will sign to agree to comply with all Business guidelines.

In addition, employees will be issued with a familiarisation induction in the centres to explain the measures put in place in their centre regarding preventing the transmission of the virus.

Hazard 02.

Transmission of COVID-19 via hard surfaces

Persons at risk and how they might be harmed:

All persons working and visiting Blackbrooks Garden Centres. People may be at risk of contracting the virus from infected hard surfaces they may touch. At particular risk are persons identified as extremely vulnerable or clinically vulnerable.

Controls currently in place:

To prevent the transmission of COVID-19 via cash, vouchers or other forms of payment which require the till operator to touch, card payments via the chip and pin unit or contactless or Apple & Google Pay are preferred at the tills.  Click and Collect and telephone deliveries where CNP methods of processing payment are available to customers.

Products returned by customer for refunds or exchanges will not be put back on sale immediately.  These products will be quarantined for 48 hours before they are returned to the shop floor.

Sanitising products are available to use on equipment used by employees and customers.

The customer toilets are open. Toilets and all hard surfaces in the washroom facilities are monitored and cleaned throughout the day.

Cleaning and Sanitising

To help prevent the transmission of the virus appropriate cleaning and sanitising products are always available for cleaning equipment, fixtures and fittings that employees and customers may have need to touch.

Chip and pin units are wiped with sanitiser frequently.

When a wheelchair is requested they are thoroughly sanitised before and after use.

Use of the employees clocking in and out has been suspended.  Department managers will clock their teams in manually.

Personal hygiene

Employees are instructed to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds regularly throughout the day.

Hand sanitiser may also be used where hand washing is not possible.  Hand sanitiser is available throughout the garden centres at service areas, staff facility areas and in the offices.

Employees are instructed to avoid touching their noses or mouths. Tissues should be used for coughs and sneezes and these must be disposed of after use.

Employees will be instructed to wear gloves and told to wash their hands before putting gloves on and after removing them.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal use or disposable, one time use protective equipment is always available and employees are given instructions on the safe use of this on PPE for use during the crisis.

Employees are made aware that the use of PPE does not mean that other control measures such as social distancing or hand washing/sanitising can be ignored.

There is a Safe System of Work outline the PPE available and the correct and safe method to use it.

Training

Employees returning to work in the garden centres and Restaurant are be issued with a familiarisation induction in the centres to explain the measures put in place in their centre regarding preventing the transmission of the virus.

Hazard 03.

Transmission of COVID-19 from persons with the virus

Persons at risk and how they might be harmed:

All persons working and visiting Blackbrooks Garden Centre. People may be at risk of contracting the virus from infected individuals they encounter.  At particular risk are persons identified as extremely vulnerable or clinically vulnerable.

Controls currently in place:

Self-Isolation

Following Government guidelines employees who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 themselves or are living with anyone who is either symptomatic or has the virus is instructed to self-isolate and not to attend work or visit the garden centre until the end of the prescribed isolation period.

Blackbrooks HOME DELIVERY SERVICE DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Our delivery service remains contactless our drivers are using vehicles equipped with sanitizer spray hand gel and have access to PPE.

We can not enter customers homes to make deliveries.