Covid 19 - Scotland Regulations issued 16th December 2021

Take reasonable measures to minimise the incidence and spread of coronavirus

You must assess what protection measures you should put in place in your premises to reduce the risk of transmission such as:

• changing the layout of premises including the location of furniture and workstations;
• controlling the use of entrances, passageways, stairs and lifts;
• controlling the use of shared facilities such as toilets and kitchens;
• installing barriers or screens;
• providing or requiring the use of personal protective equipment;
• providing information on minimisation of risk to those working in or visiting the workplace.

Comply with the Certification Scheme

It is mandatory for people to show proof they are eligible to enter certain venues and events – this is known as the Certification Scheme 

Get vaccinated when offered

Encourage staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine through supporting the dissemination of national campaign information. Individuals retain the right to choose whether to take the vaccine and businesses should be mindful of this.

Test before going to work

Individuals who are unable to work from home should do a lateral flow test regularly (twice-weekly) and on every occasion they intend to mix socially with people from other households. This might mean testing more regularly.

Maximise ventilation

By taking measures to increase the volume of outside air entering a building, such as opening windows, doors or vents, you can help minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19 to colleagues and customers. 

A range of guidance has been developed to help businesses, employers and employees understand what good ventilation is which includes Scottish Government ventilation guidance and the Health and Safety Executive guidance on ventilation and air conditioning during COVID-19.

Good hand and respiratory hygiene and surface cleaning

Good hygiene measures are key workplace-specific measures to create a safe working environment. These include, for example:

• providing access to sanitiser and hand-washing facilities;
• regular cleaning of work equipment, chairs and work stations areas and common touch points;
• regular cleaning and sanitising of communal areas
• if sneezing or coughing around other people, do so into a tissue, handkerchief or your elbow;
• minimising the use of touchpoints throughout buildings, including exploring where possible how digital processes or systems may replace the need for face-to-face discussion.

Hospitality (including nightclubs and adult entertainment)

• mandatory local licensing laws apply;
• mandatory collection of contact details remains in place;
• mandatory reasonable measures to reduce the risk of transmission;
• strongly encourage the use of table service where possible, alternatively a takeaway service may be provided, though bar service is now permitted in law;
• from 1 October 2021, the Covid Certification Scheme introduced the legal requirement for vaccine certificates/ negative test result to be provided in order to access certain settings in Scotland.