Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the Health and Safety Executive has categorised covid-19 in the workplace according to ‘Table 1 Consequence table’ in the Enforcement Management Model (EMM) Operational version 3.2.

HSE has decided the category ‘significant’ in the EMM table best supports inspectors in making sensible, proportionate regulatory decisions. The definition is that the effects are non-permanent or reversible, non-progressive and any disability is temporary. This definition refers to the likely response of the working population as a whole, not taking account of individuals with a particular resistance or susceptibility.