mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Guidance Waiting to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Staying connected with your friends and family
You should stay in touch with your family and friends if you are unable to
return home, so that they know you are safe and well.
To help you stay connected you should:

check your phone plan on details for international calling, or consider buying a local SIM card
to keep in touch use online services like FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, or Zoom
follow your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate on social media to stay up-to-date with the latest information for where you are
Guidance Waiting to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find suitable accommodation
You should contact your travel provider or travel agent to talk through
accommodation options. You may also wish to contact your travel insurer to see
if they can help. Our travel advice for the country you are
in provides more information on
your local situation.
If you have any concerns over your safety in your accommodation, speak to your
insurers or travel provider to talk through your options. If you have been
asked to leave, or have nowhere else to go, contact your local British
Embassy, high commission or consulate.
They may be able to offer advice on where to move to that would be a safer
area to stay in.
In some countries one of our partners, The Salvation Army, may also be able to
provide some basic assistance if you are in need. Contact your local British
Embassy, high commission or consulate for
advice.
Guidance Waiting to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Checklist if you are waiting to return to the UK
If you cannot currently return to the UK:

follow the advice of local authorities, including local measures to help minimise your risk of exposure to coronavirus
find accommodation that is suitable for your needs
check your visa, if you have one for the country you’re in. If it is due to expire, visit our travel advice and read the ‘staying during coronavirus’ section. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has negotiated with local authorities in some countries to automatically extend visas if you cannot return
contact your travel insurance provider to check your health cover. Most providers will look to extend single trip cover for up to 60 days if you are making every effort to return home
read our travel advice of the country you’re in, in particular the ‘staying during coronavirus’ and ‘return to UK’ sections
sign up to email alerts for the country where you are, so you are notified of any updates

If you need urgent consular help, contact your nearest British embassy, high
commission or consulate.
If you cannot pay your tax bill on time
If you cannot pay other taxes
If you’ve received a payment demand, like a tax bill or a letter threatening
you with legal action, call the HMRC office that sent you the letter.
Call the Payment Support Service if you have not received a bill or letter.
Payment Support Service
Telephone: 0300 200 3835
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
Find out about call charges
Nominated partners in business partnerships
can negotiate time to pay with HMRC on behalf of the partnership or individual
partners.
*[HMRC]: HM Revenue and Customs
If you cannot pay your tax bill on time
If you cannot pay because of coronavirus (COVID-19)
Because of coronavirus you may be able to delay (defer) some tax payments
without paying a penalty. You can:

delay VAT payments due before 30 June 2020 until 31 March 2021
delay your Self Assessment payment on account due in July 2020 until 31 January 2021

Contact the HMRC coronavirus (COVID-19)
helpline if you cannot pay any other tax bills because of
coronavirus.
If you’re self-employed
If you’ve lost income because of coronavirus, you may be able to claim a grant
through the coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-employment Income Support
Scheme when it launches. HMRC will contact you if
you’re eligible.
*[HMRC]: HM Revenue and Customs
If you cannot pay your tax bill on time
If you cannot pay your Self Assessment tax bill
If you owe less than £10,000 you might be able to arrange to pay in
instalments online.
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you can delay making your second payment
on account due in July
2020. If you choose to delay, you’ll have until 31 January 2021 to pay it.
Call the Self Assessment helpline if you’ve missed your payment date or you
cannot use the online service. You do not need to contact HMRC if you have set
up a payment plan online.
Self Assessment Payment Helpline
Telephone: 0300 200 3822
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
Find out about call charges
*[HMRC]: HM Revenue and Customs
Labs and research facilities
1. Thinking about risk
1.2 Sharing your risk assessment
You should share the results of your risk assessment with your workforce. If
possible, you should consider publishing the results on your website (and we
would expect all businesses with over 50 workers to do so). Below you will
find a notice you should display in your workplace to show you have followed
this guidance.
Staying COVID-19 Secure in
2020
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an
accessible
format.
*[COVID-19]: coronavirus
Labs and research facilities
3. Social distancing at work
3.4 Meetings
Objective: To reduce transmission due to face-to-face meetings and maintain
social-distancing in meetings.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Using remote working tools to avoid in-person meetings.


Only absolutely necessary participants should attend meetings and should maintain 2m separation throughout.


Avoiding transmission during meetings, for example, avoiding sharing pens and other objects.


Providing hand sanitisers in meeting rooms.


Holding meetings outdoors or in well-ventilated rooms whenever possible.


For areas where regular meetings take place, using floor signage to help people maintain social-distancing.
Labs and research facilities
7. Workforce management
7.3 Communications and training
In this section

7.1 Shift patterns and working groups
7.2 Work-related travel
7.3 Communications and training

7.3 Communications and training
7.3.1 Returning to work
Objective: To make sure all workers understand COVID-19 related safety
procedures.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Providing clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of ways of working.


Engaging with workers and worker representatives through existing communication routes to explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.


Developing communication and training materials for workers prior to returning to site, especially around new procedures for arrival at work.


7.3.2 Ongoing communications and signage
Objective: To make sure all workers are kept up to date with how safety
measures are being implemented or updated.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Ongoing engagement with workers (including through trades unions or employee representative groups) to monitor and understand any unforeseen impacts of changes to working environments.


Awareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty. The government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19).


Communicating approaches and operational procedures to suppliers, customers or trade bodies to help their adoption and to share experience.


Using simple, clear messaging to explain guidelines using images and clear language, with consideration of groups for which English may not be their first language.


Using visual communications, for example whiteboards or signage, to explain changes to schedules, breakdowns or materials shortages, to reduce the need for face-to-face communications.


*[COVID-19]: coronavirus
Labs and research facilities
7. Workforce management
7.1 Shift patterns and working groups
In this section

7.1 Shift patterns and working groups
7.2 Work-related travel
7.3 Communications and training

7.1 Shift patterns and working groups
Objective: To change the way work is organised to create distinct groups and
reduce the number of contacts each worker has.
Steps that will usually be needed:


As far as possible, where people are split into teams or shift groups, fixing these teams or shift groups so that, where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.


Identifying areas where people have to directly pass things to each other, for example,test subject, control units and finding ways to remove direct contact, such as using put-down-pick-up processes.
Labs and research facilities
What do we mean by ‘labs and research facilities’?
Indoor research environments such as:

engineering centres
clean rooms
prototyping centres
wet labs
wind tunnels
computer labs
simulators
material development labs
specialist testing rooms

Labs and research facilities require on site collaboration between people,
often in close proximity. Flexibility of both shifts and floor layouts may be
limited and there is a high use of multiple use items such as testing machines
and apparatus, not all of which can be washed down.
Labs and research facilities
8. Inbound and outbound goods
Objective: To maintain social-distancing and avoid surface transmission when
goods enter and leave the site.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Revising pick-up and drop-off collection points, procedures, signage and markings.


Minimising unnecessary contact at gatehouse security, yard and warehouse. For example, non-contact deliveries where the nature of the product allows for use of electronic pre-booking.


Considering methods to reduce frequency of deliveries, for example by ordering larger quantities less often.


Where possible and safe, having single workers load or unload vehicles.


Where possible, using the same pairs of people for loads where more than one is needed.


Enabling drivers to access welfare facilities when required, consistent with other guidance.


Encouraging drivers to stay in their vehicles where this does not compromise their safety and existing safe working practice, such as preventing drive-aways.
Labs and research facilities
3. Social distancing at work
3.5 Common areas
Objective: To maintain social-distancing while using common areas. Modern lab
and research buildings are often designed with many common areas to encourage
collaboration and networking.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Staggering break times to reduce pressure on break rooms or places to eat.


Using safe outside areas for breaks.


Creating additional space by using other parts of the worksite or building that have been freed up by remote working.


Installing screens to protect staff in receptions or similar areas.


Providing packaged meals or similar to avoid opening staff canteens.


Encouraging workers to bring their own food.


Reconfiguring seating and tables to maintain spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions.


Encouraging staff to remain on-site and, when not possible, maintaining social distancing while off-site.


Regulating use of locker rooms, changing areas and other facility areas to reduce concurrent usage.


Encouraging storage of personal items and clothing in personal storage spaces, for example lockers, during working hours.
Labs and research facilities
Where to obtain further assistance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for employers and businesses

Find advice and support from your business representative organisation or
trade association.
Definitions
Refers to areas and amenities which are provided for the common use of more
than one person including canteens, reception areas, meeting rooms, areas of
worship, toilets, gardens, fire escapes, kitchens, fitness facilities, store
rooms, laundry facilities.
Refers to people who have specific underlying health conditions that make them
extremely vulnerable to severe illness if they contract COVID-19. Clinically
extremely vulnerable people will have received a letter telling them they are
in this group, or will have been told by their GP. Who is ‘clinically
extremely vulnerable’?
Refers to people who may be at increased risk from COVID-19, including those
aged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions. Who is
‘clinically vulnerable’?
*[COVID-19]: coronavirus
Labs and research facilities
2. Who should go to work?
In this section

2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk
2.2 People who need to self-isolate
2.3 Equality in the workplace

Objective: That everyone should work from home, unless they cannot work from
home.
Steps that will usually be needed:

Staff should work from home if at all possible. Consider who is needed to be on-site; for example:  

– workers in roles critical for business and operational continuity, safe
facility management, or regulatory requirements and which cannot be performed
remotely.
– workers in critical roles which might be performed remotely, but who are
unable to work remotely due to home circumstances or the unavailability of
specialist equipment required for R&D


Planning for the minimum number of people needed on-site to operate safely and effectively.


Monitoring the wellbeing of people who are working from home and helping them stay connected to the rest of the workforce, especially if the majority of their colleagues are on-site.


Keeping in touch with off-site workers on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.


Providing equipment for people to work from home safely and effectively, for example, remote access to work systems.
Labs and research facilities
2. Who should go to work?
2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk
Objective: To protect clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely
vulnerable individuals.
Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals have been strongly advised not to
work outside the home.
Clinically vulnerable individuals, who are at higher risk of severe illness
(for example, people with some pre existing conditions), have been asked to
take extra care in observing social distancing and should be helped to work
from home, either in their current role or in an alternative role.
If clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) individuals
cannot work from home, they should be offered the option of the safest
available on site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. If they
have to spend time within 2m of others, you should carefully assess whether
this involves an acceptable level of risk. As for any workplace risk you must
take into account specific duties to those with protected characteristics,
including, for example, expectant mothers who are, as always, entitled to
suspension on full pay if suitable roles cannot be found. Particular attention
should also be paid to people who live with clinically extremely vulnerable
individuals.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Provide support for workers around mental health and wellbeing. This could include guidance or telephone support.


See current guidance for advice on who is in the clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable groups.
Labs and research facilities
7. Workforce management
7.2 Work-related travel
In this section

7.1 Shift patterns and working groups
7.2 Work-related travel
7.3 Communications and training

7.2 Work-related travel
7.2.1 Cars, accommodation and visits
Objective: To avoid unnecessary work travel and keep people safe when they do
need to travel between locations.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Minimising non-essential travel – consider remote options first.


Minimising the number of people travelling together in any one vehicle, using fixed travel partners, increasing ventilation when possible and avoiding sitting face-to-face.


Cleaning shared vehicles between shifts or on handover.


Where workers are required to stay away from their home, centrally logging the stay and making sure any overnight accommodation meets social distancing guidelines.


7.2.2 Deliveries to other sites
Objective: To help workers delivering to other sites such as research
institutions or customers’ premises to maintain social distancing and hygiene
practices.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Putting in place procedures to minimise person-to-person contact during deliveries to other sites.


Maintaining consistent pairing where 2-person deliveries are required.


Minimising contact during payments and exchange of documentation, for example by using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.
Labs and research facilities
4. Managing your customers, visitors and contractors
In this section

4.1 Manage contacts
4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance

4.1 Manage contacts
Objective: To minimise the number of unnecessary visits to offices.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Encouraging visits via remote connection or remote working for visitors where this is an option.


Limiting the number of visitors at any one time.


Limiting visitor times to a specific time window and restricting access to required visitors only.


Determining if schedules for essential services and contractor visits can be revised to reduce interaction and overlap between people, for example, carrying out services at night.


Maintaining a record of all visitors, if this is practical.


Revising visitor arrangements to ensure social distancing and hygiene, for example, where someone physically signs in with the same pen in receptions.


4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance
Objective: To make sure people understand what they need to do to maintain
safety.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Providing clear guidance on social distancing and hygiene to people on arrival, for example, signage, visual aids, and before arrival, for example, by phone, on the website, by email.


Establishing host responsibilities relating to COVID-19 and providing any necessary training for people who act as hosts for visitors.


Reviewing entry and exit routes for visitors and contractors to minimise contact with other people.


Coordinating and working collaboratively with landlords and other areas of facility sites, for example, where R&D facilities or labs are situated on science parks.


*[COVID-19]: coronavirus
Labs and research facilities
3. Social distancing at work
3.1 Coming to work and leaving work
Objective: To maintain social-distancing wherever possible, on arrival and
departure and to ensure handwashing upon arrival.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Staggering arrival and departure times at work to reduce crowding into and out of the workplace.


Providing additional parking or facilities such as bike racks.


Limiting passengers in corporate vehicles (for example, work minibuses). This could include leaving seats empty.


Reducing congestion, for example by having more entry points to the workplace.


Using markings and introducing one-way flow at entry and exit points.


Designating exclusive entry and exits points for personnel working in high-risk areas, such as mechanical test sites and wet labs.


Providing handwashing facilities (or hand sanitisers where not possible) at entry and exit points.


Providing alternatives to touch-based security devices such as keypads.


Providing storage for workers for clothes and bags.


Requesting staff change into work clothing and equipment on-site using appropriate facilities/changing areas, where social-distancing and hygiene guidelines can be met.


Washing lab clothing and equipment such as goggles and gloves on-site rather than by individual staff members at home.
Labs and research facilities
3. Social distancing at work
In this section

3.1 Coming to work and leaving work
3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites
3.3 Workplaces and workstations
3.4 Meetings
3.5 Common areas
3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents

Objective: To maintain 2m social-distancing wherever possible, including while
arriving at and departing from work, while in work, and when travelling
between sites.
It will not always be possible to keep a distance of 2m in labs and R&D
facilities that may be designed for close-proximity collaboration. Fixed
equipment may mean that changing layouts to create more space may not be
practical.
Where the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full in relation
to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity
needs to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the
mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their
staff. Mitigating actions include:

increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning
keeping the activity time involved as short as possible
using screens or barriers to separate people from each other
using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible
reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using ‘fixed teams or partnering’ (so each person works with only a few others)

Social distancing applies to all parts of a business, not just the place where
people spend most of their time, but also entrances and exits, break rooms,
canteens and similar settings. These are often the most challenging areas to
maintain social distancing.
*[R&D]: research and development
Labs and research facilities
3. Social distancing at work
3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites
Objective: To maintain social-distancing wherever possible, while people
travel through the workplace.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Reducing movement by discouraging non-essential trips within buildings and sites, for example, restricting access to some areas, and encouraging use of radios or telephones, where permitted, and cleaning them between use.


Removing access controls on low category labs so that people do not have to use access cards.


Restricting access between different areas of a building or site, if possible.


Using fixed teams or adjusting booking processes to reduce the number of people in a lab at the same time to avoid overcrowding.


Introducing more one-way flow through buildings, paying particular attention to long corridors which can be more common in laboratory buildings.


Reducing maximum occupancy for lifts, providing hand sanitiser for the operation of lifts and encouraging use of stairs wherever possible.


Making sure that people with disabilities are able to access lifts.


Regulating use of high traffic areas including corridors, lifts, turnstiles and walkways to maintain social-distancing.



Example lift practices.
Labs and research facilities
3. Social distancing at work
3.3 Workplaces and workstations
Objective: To maintain social-distancing between individuals when they are at
their workstations.
Unlike offices, R&D facilities may need workers to share workstations and
equipment. If they need to be shared, they should be shared by the smallest
possible number of people.
If it is not possible to keep workstations 2m apart then businesses should
consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate
and if so take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of
transmission.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Review layouts where possible, accepting the limitation of some lab environments.


Using floor tape or paint to mark areas to help people keep to a 2m distance.


Only where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, using screens to separate people from each other.


Only where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, arranging people to work side-by-side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face.


Managing occupancy levels, to maintain social distancing in labs with restricted space, for example, by adapting booking systems to limit usage.


Cleaning workstations and shared equipment and machinery, where it is feasible to do so.


Limiting use of high-touch items and shared office equipment, for example, test equipment, apparatus, shared control terminals.


Ensuring appropriate air-handling and filtering systems are installed and maintained in high-risk areas where there is a risk for airborne particles.


*[R&D]: research and development