The Government has passed a law that requires most businesses to close to prevent the spread of coronavirus, also known as Covid-19. Some types of business are allowed to continue to trade and some are allowed to continue to trade in a modified way.
Prohibition of certain trading
The vast majority of businesses have responsibly automatically adhered to the new law, or if mistakenly continuing to trade, after being asked to close by a Police Officer or Lambeth Council Enforcement Officer.
Unfortunately, a small number of businesses have ignored the advice to close, and even in some cases going to considerable lengths to surreptitiously disguise continued trading. In these cases, Prohibition Notices and/or fixed penalty notices have been issued. The amount payable to discharge a penalty notice doubles on each issue, up to a maximum of £960 a time.
Social distancing measures
Businesses that are allowed to continue to trade, are all being asked to make changes to help stop coronavirus, and save lives, by if possible:
- Installing plastic screens at service counters and checkouts
- Provide masks to staff to prevent face touching
- Use signs to tell customers about their coronavirus precautions
- Covering unpackaged, ready-to-eat food to protect it from sneezes, coughs and touching
- Cleaning and sanitising trolleys and baskets between use
- Providing hand sanitisers (minimum alcohol content of 60%) at entrances and exits
- Cleaning hand contact areas such as self-service checkouts, payment card machines and doors
- Limiting customer numbers allowed in the business to ensure customers and staff can always stay 2-metres apart
- Before your business is at social distancing capacity, control the entry and exit of customers to operate a one-in, one-out policy
- Ensuring social distanced queuing inside and outside, with floor markings
- Operating a one-way system
- Only accepting contactless payments
- Closing any checkouts less than 2-metres apart
- Practicing good hand-washing practices, using soap and water. Staff must wash their hands when they arrive at work, after using the bathroom, between tasks, before they leave and where possible between customers
- Reducing direct hand contact with food by using tongs and utensils
- Replenishing stock only whilst closed to protect staff
Info from:
Trading Standards Officer, Public Protection & Regulatory Services, London Borough of Lambeth
Good practise examples
Tahir at General Grocers at 21 Norwood High Street is an excellent example of common sense approach to keeping himself and his customers safe.
Step 1
Limit the number of customers so they can socially distance while shopping
For most smaller grocers with limited space this will usually mean one customer at a time is the safest solution. Customers will be assured that they can relax and shop without any surprises. His sign is clear and his customers can also see inside the shop and see what’s going on.
Step 2
Tahir rearranged his counter space so he could keep a safe distance from customers at the till.
Step 3
Tahir regularly wipes down the counter top with disinfectant
Step 4
Tahir makes sure he sanitises the card reader and pin pad buttons
…and also any surfaces that come in regular contact with customers, like door handles, fridge surfaces etc.
Outcomes:
Tahir has kept his regular customers and gained new ones from people who appreciate that he is following the government guidance and taking our health and safety seriously.
Other great examples:
Ross from the fruit & veg stall outside Co-Op.
Distancing signs and pavement markings, contactless payments.
Dahanus at G7 Superstore
505 Norwood Road
Plastic screen and visor from amazon
Visor Link
Screen (this is just a suggestion)
Al-Noor Tulse Hill Butchers, 202 Norwood Road, SE27 9AU. 07475104011
One person behind the counter and contactless.
We have created some downloadable posters; one for your door for limiting number of customers allowed in at one time, the other is for outside the shop to help manage social distancing in the queues.
DOWNLOAD THEM HERE or CONTACT US AND WE WILL GIVE YOU SOME
