Encouragingly, the regulator reported that most sites visited had adequate safety measures in place and inspectors discovered many examples of good practice.

Notably, from a COVID-secure perspective, access to toilets, handwashing facilities and rest areas was found to be particularly good, with arrangements made for visiting drivers to safely access site facilities. Novel ways in which sector firms implemented controls to manage the risk of transmission included:

• Active monitoring – using COVID marshals to ensure staff followed procedures;
• Limiting worker numbers in canteens and break rooms to maintain social distancing;
• Providing COVID kits to drivers, including hand sanitiser and wipes;
• Grouping workers who typically worked closely together;
• Providing electronic delivery notes to drivers in cabs rather than requiring them to visit offices;
• Staggering shift start times to reduce entry-point congestion; and
• Rearranging office desks and fitting screens so that office workers worked safely.