Hazards news archive - January 2020 - December 2020

Hazards news, 15 December 2020

Britain: Inequality a big factor in self-isolation rates and work risks
Black and minority ethnic (BME) workers have had to self-isolate at a much higher rate than white workers, according to TUC research. The poll for the TUC, carried out by Britain Thinks, shows that more than a third (35 per cent) of BME workers have self-isolated during the pandemic, compared to a quarter (24 per cent) of white workers.
TUC news release. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: Figures confirm pandemic’s disadvantage ‘triple whammy’
The government must act to address the structural racism in the UK economy that has left Black and minority ethnic (BME) workers at higher risk of ill-health and hardship throughout the pandemic, the TUC has said. Commenting on statistics published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 14 December showing the detrimental impact of the coronavirus crisis on different ethnic groups in the UK, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “BME workers have faced a triple whammy of threats during the pandemic.”
TUC news release. Coronavirus and the social impacts on different ethnic groups in the UK: 2020, ONS, 14 December 2020. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: TUC’s antiracism taskforce targets ‘hostile’ workplaces
The TUC’s new antiracism taskforce has met for the first time. The organisation, chaired by NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach, will lead the trade union movement’s renewed campaign against racism at work, the TUC says.
TUC news release. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: Firefighters ready to drive forward the Covid response
Firefighters are ready to assist the UK’s rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine after an agreement was reached between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and fire and rescue service national employers. The agreement allows firefighters to assist other public sector organisations with track, trace, and isolate measures, and to check that potential higher risk premises are Covid-secure.
FBU news release. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: Bradford bus drivers to strike over 'dangerous' shifts
Bus drivers in Bradford have voted to strike early next year in a dispute over ‘dangerous’ shifts introduced at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Unite members at First West Yorkshire claim traffic and service levels are now “near normal”, but drivers are still working extended shifts.
Unite news release. BBC News Online. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: DHL operating a ‘safety when it suits’ system
DHL has been told it ‘must improve’ coronavirus safety procedures for drivers working on its Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) contract in Halewood, Liverpool. Unite, which represents the majority of the 120 DHL drivers at the Halewood site, said staff have raised concerns that vehicles used by drivers who had subsequently tested positive for the virus were not being disinfected.
Unite news release. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: GMB welcomes Asda u-turn on Boxing Day break
The union GMB has welcomed an Asda rethink that will see the majority of its stores closed on Boxing Day. GMB national officer Roger Jenkins said: “GMB has been requesting Asda to allow their key worker heroes family time over the Christmas period, so we are really pleased they have agreed to our calls.”
GMB news release. BBC News Online. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: Don’t ignore Covid spread in Welsh schools
Ministers in the Welsh government must not ignore evidence of Covid spread in schools, the teaching union NASUWT has said. Responding to the announcement from education minister Kirsty Williams that secondary schools and colleges would close from 14 December, the union expressed concern that primary schools were not included in the measure.
NASUWT news release. BBC News Online. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: Spate of ballots on Scottish school safety
An increasing number of its local associations are now moving towards balloting members on disputes with local authorities over school Covid-19 safety, Scottish teaching union EIS has said. At present, six EIS local associations are moving to ballot members but the union says there are at least four others currently considering whether to take this step towards a formal dispute.
EIS news release and #NotAtAllCosts campaign. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: School closures row hots up
Teaching union NEU has welcomed a call by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to the prime minister Boris Johnson to close schools immediately with a move to online learning. The mayor’s call came as a major row erupted between councils wishing to close schools early in the face of a Covid-19 spike and the Westminster government, which threatened legal action to keep schools open.
Mayor of London news release. NEU news release, news release on schools Covid statistics and analysis of ONS infection rates by age and graph. DfE temporary continuity direction, 14 December 2020. GMB news release. BBC News Online and update. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: School support staff must get Covid-19 vaccine
The union GMB has called on government ministers to prioritise school support staff for vaccine access on the same basis as teachers. The union says current official advice to the UK government says that teachers could be identified for early rollout of the vaccine, with no reference to school support staff.
GMB news release. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: Government ignored PPE supply labour abuses
The UK has bought supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) from Malaysian firms accused of modern slavery during the coronavirus pandemic despite warnings from within government. Leaked documents show Whitehall identified companies suspected of forced labour as long ago as November 2019 – with further concerns about suppliers highlighted by a UK diplomat over the summer.
The Telegraph. The Independent. CNN News. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: 'Grave concerns' over Cabinet Office bullying
Civil service union PCS has raised “grave concerns” over bullying and racism in the government department that supports the prime minister. PCS leader Mark Serwotka said some civil servants have “contemplated suicide as a direct result” of their treatment.
PCS news release. BBC News Online. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: Legal challenge to PM on Priti Patel bullying let-off
Boris Johnson is facing a union legal action over his decision to clear Priti Patel of bullying staff at the Home Office and other departments. Lawyers acting for the FDA senior civil servants’ union have issued a pre-action notice to Downing Street, accusing the prime minister of acting unlawfully by overruling the findings of his own independent adviser, Sir Alex Allan, who quit after Ms Patel was cleared - the notice is the first step towards a judicial review of the decision.
FDA news release. The Independent. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: BEIS facilities management staff vote for strike action 
Over 90 staff at the Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department’s London HQ have voted overwhelmingly to walk out over concerns about Covid safety. PCS which represents security, cleaning, porterage and postal service workers at the government department accused contractor ISS, which employs the staff at BEIS, of refusing to wind down support services sufficiently to enable members to stay safely at home.
PCS news release. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: Delivery hero fired after speaking up on driver attacks
A Hermes delivery driver who was attacked four times in less than a month and fought off a knife gang has been sacked after ‘breaking the silence on delivery driver robberies’, his union GMB has said. Jamie Burkinshaw, who is a GMB union rep, was sacked after raising safety concerns on behalf of other drivers – but GMB said it is confident this was due to an overzealous local manager and Hermes will do the right thing and reinstate their ‘hero’ driver.
GMB news release. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: Government refuses to protect shopworkers - again
Retail trade union Usdaw has expressed dismay as the government again refused to support an industry-backed law to protect shop workers from violent attacks. Responding to Labour questions in the House of Commons on 14 December, the government said it didn’t “yet” see a case for a specific offence of assaulting a shopworker.
Usdaw news release. Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill 2019-21.
ACTION! Sign the position in support of the Bill. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Britain: Hilda Palmer named ‘most influential person’ in safety
Hilda Palmer has been named as ‘the Most Influential Individual in Health and Safety 2020’ in an ‘overwhelming’ public vote. The Hazards Campaign and FACK veteran ran away with the Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) award, in a shortlist that including Prince William, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) chief executive Sarah Albon, health secretary Matt Hancock, the past and present IOSH presidents, the government’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty and test and trace boss Dido Harding.
SHP Most Influential Person Award 2020. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Global: Study reveals dramatic rise in pesticide poisonings
Pesticide poisonings on farms around the world have risen dramatically since the last global assessment 30 years ago, a new study has found. Based on an evaluation of available poisoning data from countries all over the world, the researchers conclude that there are about 385 million cases of acute poisonings each year, up from an estimated 25 million cases in 1990.
PAN news release. Boedeker W, Watts M, Clausing, P and others, The global distribution of acute unintentional pesticide poisoning: estimations based on a systematic review, BMC Public Health 20, 1875, 7 December 2020. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Mexico: Electrolux workers dismissed over Covid protests
Workers at an Electrolux factory in Mexico who were fired after raising Covid-19 safety concerns at the start of the pandemic must obtain redress from the firm, unions have said. The workers employed at the Swedish multinational’s factory in Ciudad Juárez tried to start a dialogue when management insisted on keeping operations running despite an emergency decree allowing only essential work, a number of Covid infections among staff and a lack of personal protection equipment.
IndustriALL news release and IndustriALL/Electrolux global framework agreement. Risks 978. 15 December 2020

Hazards news, 9 December 2020

Britain: Decent sick pay a ‘gaping hole’ in Covid strategy
The lack of decent sick pay has been a “gaping hole” in the government's Covid strategy, the TUC has said. The union body was commenting on a Resolution Foundation report on the government's failure to support workers to self-isolate with decent sick pay.
Resolution Foundation news release and report, Time out, Reforming Statutory Sick Pay to support the Covid-19 recovery phase, 8 December 2020. Sick pay and debt, TUC, 9 September 2020. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Bakkavor agrees full absence pay after Covid deaths
Workers at a Bakkavor factory have claimed a massive victory after the major fresh food supplier agreed full pay for staff off work because of a Covid outbreak. The move comes after confirmation of two Covid-related deaths of workers from the Tilmanstone factory in recent days; GMB said cases in an outbreak at the factory had ‘rocketed’ from around 35 in the third week of November to 99 as of 3 December.
GMB news release and news release on the second Bakkavor death and the earlier death. BBC News Online. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Ministers must act after damning Covid report
The UK government’s ‘failure’ in handling the pandemic has been highlighted in a new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus. The cross-party group found the government had failed to learn from other countries, who unlike the UK had applied lessons learned from the previous coronavirus-related SARS and MERS epidemics.
Interim report of the APPG’s findings based on the first 10 oral hearings from July to October 2020, All-Party Group on Coronavirus, December 2020. GMB news release. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Bosses could be liable for college Covid cases
Senior management teams in universities could face prosecution and civil action where their actions or omissions led to a member of staff falling ill or dying as a result of Covid-19 infection. The stark warning comes in specialist legal advice obtained by 10 branches of the lecturers’ union UCU.
Leigh Day news release. UCU news release. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Call for extra powers for schools over Covid cases
Teaching union NASUWT is ‘becoming increasingly concerned’ that pupils who are sent home from school due to Covid-19 symptoms are being sent back to school prematurely, potentially putting staff and other pupils at risk. The union is calling for schools to be able to refuse re-admittance to children who went off with Covid-19 symptoms until either the isolation period has passed or proof of a negative test result is provided.
NASUWT news release. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Vaccine rollout must not repeat Test and Trace errors
The TUC has warned the government against repeating the mistakes of Test and Trace by outsourcing the Covid-19 vaccine programme. The union body said ministers must learn the lessons from the failures of contact tracking and PPE provision by ensuring the design and delivery of the vaccination programme is led by public health professionals, not private contractors, adding people should be persuaded not compelled to be vaccinated, and workers should be allowed to get the jab in paid work time.
TUC news release and blog. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: NHS staff drop down Covid vaccine priority list
NHS staff will no longer be among the first people to be vaccinated against Covid-19 after a government rethink about who should be given priority. Hospitals will instead begin by immunising care home staff, and inpatients and outpatients aged over 80. The new policy departs from recommendation from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and policies in the US, France and elsewhere, with France particularly given priority to a wide range of essential workers.
Government news release. JCVI priority groups update, 3 December 2020. The Guardian. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Essential jobs linked to high severe Covid-19 risks
Healthcare workers are seven times as likely to have severe Covid-19 as workers in ‘non-essential’ jobs, a new study has found. The risk is twice as high for those with jobs in the ‘social and education’ and transport sectors. The research, published online in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, focuses on the first UK-wide lockdown.
Miriam Mutambudzi, Claire Niedwiedz, Ewan Beaton Macdonald and others. Occupation and risk of severe COVID-19: prospective cohort study of 120 075 UK Biobank participants, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, doi:10.1136/oemed-2020-106731. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Let’s not drop our guard, says STUC
Bosses must maintain the highest health and safety standards and find ways other than Christmas parties to thank workers, Scottish union body STUC has said. Responding on 8 December, the first day in the Covid vaccination rollout and the removal of multiple local authorities in Scotland from strict level 4 restrictions, the STUC called on workers not to drop their guard and for employers to stick to health and safety rules.
STUC news release. BBC News Online. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Care staff ‘one job’ limit could leave workers in poverty
Banning employees from working in more than one care home without guaranteeing wages will plunge thousands of low-income families into poverty, trigger staff shortages and put residents at risk, UNISON has said. The move came after it emerged the government’s outbreak modelling did not recognise that care workers moved between homes, increasing the risk of transmission of coronavirus.
UNISON news release. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Police probe after water plant blast kills 4 workers
An explosion at a Bristol water recycling centre on 3 December has killed four workers. Emergency services were called at approximately 11.20am to reports of a large explosion involving one of the chemical tanks at Wessex Water’s Avonmouth site. Those killed have been named as Brian Vickery, 63; Raymond White, 57; and 16-year-old apprentice Luke Wheaton, all employed by Wessex Water, and contractor Michael James, 64.
Avon and Somerset Police news release. Wessex Water statement. HSE statement. Hazards Campaign news release. Bristol Post and related news item. BBC News Online. The Mirror. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Unions offer support after ‘terrible tragedy’
Unions GMB and Unite have expressed their sympathy to the families of the four workers who died in the Wessex Water explosion, and have said they are supporting members and their families caught up in the tragedy. GMB confirmed one of the dead, Brian Vickery, was a member.
GMB news release and related news release. Unite statement. The Mirror.
GMB’s minute’s silence ‘tribute to the fallen’, live on Facebook at 11 am, Thursday, 10 December. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Shoppers urged to keep their cool as shops reopen
Retail trade union Usdaw is urging customers to follow the rules and respect shopworkers. As non-essential shops reopened on 2 December 2020, the union said it was concerned that the four week shutdown could result in overcrowding and abuse of shopworkers if there is a rush back to the high street.
Usdaw news release. Nottingham City Council news release. BBC News Online. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Britain: Sainsbury’s told to give its staff a break
Unite has accused Sainsbury’s of ‘acting like Scrooge’ by insisting that staff come in on Boxing Day after working extended opening hours in the run up to Christmas. The union is also concerned that workers on the extended late shift could face an unsafe journey home.
Unite news release. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

China: Coal miners killed by carbon monoxide poisoning
Eighteen miners have died and several others are missing after a leak of carbon monoxide gas at a coal mine in the south-west of the country, Chinese state TV has reported. One person was rescued from the Diaoshuidong mine in Chongqing municipality, broadcaster CCTV reported.
BBC News Online. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Global: Pressure grows to let seafarers off ships
Pressure is mounting on governments to designate seafarers as ‘key workers’ to avoid the prospect of forced labour and human rights abuses in major supply chains this holiday season, representatives of the global transport unions’ federation ITF have said. An estimated 400,000 seafarers have been trapped on ships for months, as ports have refused to allow them to disembark during the Covid crisis.
ITF news release. ILO news release. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

USA: Don’t give deadly bosses Covid immunity
With political leaders in the US now rallying around a relief package that could include a Republican-backed moratorium on Covid-19 lawsuits against employers, we cannot forget just how brazenly many large corporations continue to disregard the lives of frontline workers, top workers’ safety advocates have warned.
The Hill. CBS News.
Public Citizen petition: Do NOT give in to Mitch McConnell. Demand a vote on — and pass — coronavirus relief legislation WITHOUT legal immunity for corporations. Risks 977. 9 December 2020

Hazards news, 2 December 2020

Britain: Food factories could be Covid xmas ‘super spreaders’
Food processing factories could become “super spreaders” of Covid-19 in the run up to Christmas, the TUC has warned. The TUC wants stricter controls on ventilation, face coverings, workplace temperatures and physical distancing.
TUC news release. Morning Star. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Worker dies in Covid-19 outbreak at food factory
A worker who developed Covid-19 has died amid a coronavirus outbreak at a factory producing salads for Marks & Spencer, the union GMB has said. The union says cases at the Bakkavor/Tilmanstone Salads facility in Kent have ‘rocketed’ from 35 in the third week of November to 79 by the end of the month.
GMB news release. Just Food. BBC News Online. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Large outbreaks hit two Kepak food factories
Two food plants operated by Kepak have been hit by large scale Covid-19 outbreaks, with almost 200 workers testing positive. Public health officials confirmed 87 workers at the firm’s Aberdeenshire food plant were infected at work and separately that there had been 106 positive cases at the company’s plant in Bodmin, Cornwall.
Press and Journal. The Scotsman. BBC News Online. Just Food. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Cold, hard work and poor pay are a deadly combination
Working environments in slaughterhouses and meat packing plants are conducive to coronavirus transmission because of low temperatures, low air exchange rates, air recirculation and other poor elements of job design, UK experts have concluded. A team from St Johns Institute of Dermatology, Guy’s Hospital, in an editorial in the journal Occupational Medicine, call for action to protect workers, noting: “In addition to standard control measures to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases in the workplace, that include education, early identification and quarantine, employers should implement additional interventions to protect against the cold.”
Louise Cunningham, Paul J Nicholson, Jane O’Connor, John P McFadden. Cold working environments as an occupational risk factor for COVID-19, Occupational Medicine, kqaa195, Published: 28 November 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqaa195. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: UK vaccine prioritisation must not fail essential workers
The UK’s plans for Covid-19 vaccine prioritisation ignore most of the essential workers whose jobs have been shown to come with a high risk of infection, a top occupational health expert has warned. Professor Andrew Watterson of Stirling University, in a letter published in the British Medical Journal on 29 November, notes: “Ignoring the occupational health and safety and related public health consequences of some workers being given low vaccination priority will be unwise and perhaps indicative of a general UK neglect of occupational health and safety during and before the pandemic.”
Andrew Watterson, British Medical Journal, 29 November 2020.
WHO SAGE Roadmap for prioritizing uses of Covid-19 vaccines in the context of limited supply, version 1.1, WHO, 13 November 2020.
Green Book. Chapter 14a - COVID-19 - SARS-Cov-2, PHE, 26 November 2020. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Intrusive monitoring on the rise during coronavirus
The TUC has launched a new taskforce to look at the “creeping role” of artificial intelligence (AI) in managing people at work. The taskforce launch comes as a new TUC report, ‘Technology managing people: the worker experience’, reveals that many workers have concerns over the use of AI and technology in the workplace.
TUC news release, blog and report, Technology managing people: the worker experience, 30 November 2020. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Politics not safety driving Covid school decisions
The UK government’s decisions on Covid in schools and colleges are being based not on the safety of staff and pupils but on politics, NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach has said. In a 1 December commentary on the union’s website, he said that “despite credible evidence of rising rates of Covid-19 among pupils and education staff, the government has pushed forward with new contingency arrangements for the management of Covid outbreaks in schools and colleges which not only threaten to undermine safety, but which puts politics above the welfare of children and teachers.”
NASUWT commentary. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Union demands protection for ‘vulnerable’ school staff
Teaching union NEU has called on the government to ensure clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) school staff are protected as the lockdown ends. The union, which last week presented evidence to schools minister Nick Gibb of rising Covid-19 infection rates in primary and secondary schools, argued it was not safe for CEV school staff to return to workplaces from 3 December.
NEU news release. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Union calls for ‘robust’ enforcement on buses
Transport union RMT has written to all police and crime commissioners across England asking them if they have robust plans to ensure bus passengers are wearing facial coverings on buses. In addition to the letter to the Association of Chief Police Officers, the union is also contacting its parliamentary group about ‘contract buses’ – school buses, for example - having different loading levels to service buses.
RMT news release. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Doctors slam ‘consensus’ on workplace Covid risks
A doctors’ union has dismissed as a ‘whitewash’ a 20 November consensus statement by Public Health England (PHE), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) on measures necessary to address work-related Covid-19 risks in ethnic minority workers. Doctors in Unite said the recommendations “are nowhere near enough” to mitigate the risks.
Doctors in Unite summary and full report.
Mitigation of risks of COVID-19 in occupational settings with a focus on ethnic minority groups – consensus statement from PHE, HSE and FOM, 20 November 2020. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Danger warning on Heathrow operation during strike
Unite has warned there are very serious concerns about the safe operation of Heathrow airport during strike action in a dispute over firing and rehiring the workforce and slashing their pay and conditions. The strikes, the first of which began on 1 December, involve firefighters, engineers, campus security, baggage operations, central terminal operations, landside and airside workers.
Unite news release. The Independent. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Opening stores round the clock is the wrong answer
Opening stores for 24 hours is not the answer to the retail industry's woes, retail union Usdaw has warned. The union said the UK government should avoid ‘fiddling at the edges’ and instead called for substantial action as part of a retail recovery plan to help the industry through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Usdaw news release and releases on Debenhams and Arcadia. Written statement from Robert Jenrick, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, 30 November 2020. TUC news release. BBC News Online. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Co-op releases manifesto for night shift workers
A new ‘manifesto’ for night shift workers launched by the Co-op has been welcomed by the retail union Usdaw. The high street grocery chain, which says its manifesto is underpinned by ‘extensive scientific research’, notes: “The five Rs of this Manifesto – Recognition, Response, Respect, Research and Raising the profile – provide the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of more than 7 million workers in the UK.”
The manifesto for night shift workers, Co-op, November 2020. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Amazon’s ‘dehumanising’ conditions should be probed
There should be a parliamentary inquiry into ‘dehumanising’ working conditions at Amazon warehouses, the union GMB has said. The union call came as it projected a huge ‘Make Amazon Pay’ banner on the online giant’s London HQ as part of global Black Friday protests on 27 November.
GMB news release. ITUC news release. Amnesty International news release. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Calls for harsher penalties for attacks on journalists
The UK authorities must consider introducing harsher legal penalties for individuals who repeatedly threaten or attack journalists, journalists’ union NUJ has said. The union’s comments came as far-right activist James Goddard appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court after being prosecuted for threatening behaviour towards The Independent's home affairs and security correspondent Lizzie Dearden.
NUJ news release. The Independent. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Concern at safety ‘reversal’ across the wind sector
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has expressed concern about a series of serious incidents and an apparent general ‘reversal’ in health and safety performance across areas of the wind energy sector. HSE union Prospect said the safety regulator raised the issue in letters to SafetyOn and G+, in July, as the UK was starting to emerge from the first pandemic lockdown and work activity was starting to increase again.
Prospect news release and related news release on fatigue in the energy sector. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: Injured Heathrow worker wins 8-year legal battle
A worker left in crippling pain because of a crush injury at work has secured a substantial settlement, after an eight-and-a-half-year legal fight backed by his union RMT. In November 2011, Monty Singh was working an evening shift at the Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 railway station as a customer services assistant; he was injured as he attempted to close a heavy metal barrier, which came off its hinges and collapsed, crushing his left foot.
Thompsons Solicitors news release. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Britain: #ZeroCovid Day of Action, 5 December 2020
Campaigners nationwide are calling for a UK day of action on Saturday 5 December in support of a ‘Zero Covid’ strategy. ‘Zero Covid -the campaign to beat the pandemic’ accuses the UK government of driving up workplace infections and deaths. The campaign, which is supported by Independent Sage, health experts, campaigners, union bodies and leaders and prominent individuals including the author Michael Rosen, is urging supporters to demonstrate safely on Saturday 5 December for a Zero Covid strategy by all the governments in the UK.
Zero Covid Campaign – join the campaign and organise a Saturday 5 December 2020 action. ASLEF news release. Hazards Campaign news release. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Global: Victims call on asbestos frontman to resign
A lawyer heading up the asbestos industry’s global lobbying efforts has been urged to resign by asbestos disease victims. In a 27 November letter sent to Emiliano Alonso, the president of the International Chrysotile Association (ICA), asbestos victims’ organisations in Belgium, France, Italy and the UK urge the ICA head to stop promoting the use of asbestos in developing countries and to resign immediately from his leadership role.
RightOnCanada. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Global: Bad, cold jobs link to virus risk in meat plants
Cold work and other dangerous work practices have a clear link to the high rates of Covid-19 outbreaks in meat processing plants, public health experts have warned. The findings by a team of researchers led by Dr David Nabarro, the co-director of the Institute for Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, come in a working paper for the global foodworkers’ union IUF.
IUF news release. Full report: COVID in cold environments: risks in meat processing plants in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

USA: Emergency laws needed to protect food workers
The darkest days of the pandemic are still ahead of us, as we head into the winter with a surge of cases and without a national strategy to address Covid-19, a US health expert has warned. Amy Liebman, the director of occupational health for the Migrant Clinicians Network, warned winter will be especially grim for essential food workers like farmworkers and meat packers who still lack basic protections in the workplace.
Stat News. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

USA: Covid’s work deaths going unreported by firms
Workplace safety regulators in the US have taken a lenient stance toward employers during the pandemic, giving them broad discretion to decide internally whether to report worker deaths. As a result, scores of deaths were not reported to occupational safety officials from the earliest days of the pandemic through to late October, a study by Kaiser Health News (KHN) has found.
Kaiser Health News. The Guardian. Risks 976. 2 December 2020

Hazards news, 28 November 2020

Britain: Don't go to work when sick, 'peculiar' Brits told
Britons should stop “soldiering on” by going to work when sick and making others ill, the health secretary has said. Apparently oblivious to a mountain of evidence from the TUC, unions and others that poor or entirely absent sick pay and fear of disciplinary action stopped people taking sick leave, Matt Hancock said people in the UK were “peculiarly unusual and outliers” for still going to work when unwell.
Joint committee inquiry. BBC News Online. The Guardian. Sick pay and debt, TUC, 9 September 2020. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Guarantee decent sick pay for every worker
The TUC is spearheading a #SickPayForAll campaign. The union body says no one should be faced with both illness and the fear of being plunged into debt.
Sign the #SickPayForAll petition. See the video featuring TUC safety specialist Shelly Asquith. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Union safety win sees food workers get organised
Covid fears have spurred hundreds of essential workers at the poultry division of Noble Foods Ltd to get organised, winning a Unite recognition agreement. In March of this year, workers at the Lincolnshire plant became concerned that factory equipment was blowing cold air along a line of production workers, which staff feared had the potential to spread coronavirus - as soon as the issue was raised and the union intervened, the management quickly resolved the problem.
Unite news release. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Air conditioning victory for bus drivers
The announcement that London buses have been fitted with an improved, safer air conditioning system has been greeted by Unite as a ‘major victory’. All London buses have had changes made to their air conditioning systems so that the air entering the driver’s sealed cab comes directly from the outside and does not pass through the passenger area of the bus.
Unite news release. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Covid outbreaks in 6 out of 10 schools
Almost six in every ten school staff say Covid outbreaks have taken place in their workplace since the start of the pandemic, according to a mass survey by the GMB. More than 57 per cent of the 7,100 school staff who responded to the poll said there had been confirmed cases at their school; two-thirds (67 per cent) said there was no testing available for staff or pupils who were displaying symptoms; and more than 60 per cent said they had been asked to work across bubbles.
GMB news release. Prime minister’s statement on the Winter Plan, 23 November 2020. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Government must let schools go online
School support staff union UNISON is urging ministers to let schools move all lessons online from next month to stop rising infections and ‘save Christmas’. The union believes a switch to full online teaching two weeks before Christmas would cut the risk of families being forced to self-isolate over the festive break.
UNISON news release. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Scottish teachers don’t feel safe in school
Fewer than one-third of teachers currently feel safe from Covid-19 in Scotland’s schools, a major survey by the teaching union EIS has revealed. The union surveyed teachers across Scotland, and says the results lay bare the depth of the concern held by teachers over potential risk to their and their pupils' health.
EIS news release. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Scottish government failing on school safety
An NASUWT survey of over 700 teachers across Scotland has found serious concerns over the adequacy of the health and safety measures in place in schools and the level of protection currently being afforded to pupils and staff. Two-thirds (67 per cent) reported that pupils in their school have displayed symptoms of Covid-19, with just over half (51 per cent) saying that classes or year groups had been sent home because of suspected or confirmed cases of the virus.
NASUWT news release. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Educators warn of Covid safety risks in prisons
Nearly half of prison education staff do not feel safe at work, according to responses to a UCU survey. The union study found over a third (37 per cent) of respondents reported no regular cleaning on site, with 15 per cent reporting they had been asked to undertake cleaning themselves; and almost half (45 per cent) said they did not feel safe on site.
UCU news release. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Urgent action needed on site Covid risks
The government and construction employers must take urgent action to tackle rising Covid-19 transmission rates in the industry, Unite has said. The union call came after Professor Calum Semple told Sky’s Sophie Ridge programme on 22 November that “construction are actually working inside before buildings are made Covid-safe,” adding “So the construction industry has turned out to be a risk that I was surprised to see.”
Unite news release.
Rory O’Neill WHO Knew. How the World Health Organization (WHO) Became a Dangerous Interloper on Workplace Health and Safety and COVID-19, New Solutions, Volume: 30 issue: 3, pages 237-248  First Published 8 October 2020.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291120961337
Pasco RF, Fox SJ, Johnston SC, Pignone M, Meyers LA. Estimated Association of Construction Work With Risks of COVID-19 Infection and Hospitalization in Texas, JAMA Network Open. 2020;3(10):e2026373. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.26373 Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Ambulance worker absences linked to poor PPE
‘Second-rate’ PPE supplies are to blame for the ‘rocketing’ Covid-19 absences among ambulance workers, the union GMB has said. Figures obtained by the union show as of this week there were 2,077 Covid-related absences across just six trusts, with an average Covid absence rate of 7 per cent.
GMB news release. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: ‘Unforgivable’ failures left health care staff at risk
Shockingly bad planning that saw ministers react too slowly when buying protective kit left health and care staff at risk from the coronavirus, UNISON has said. Responding to a National Audit Office (NAO) report issued on 25 November into the government’s attempts to source personal protective equipment as the first Covid wave struck, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “It’s unforgivable that shockingly poor government planning left care and health staff to fight Covid-19 without the safety kit to protect themselves.”
NAO news release and full report, The supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, 25 November 2020. UNISON news release. BBC News Online. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: PPE czar urged to break logjam in supply chain
The government’s PPE ‘czar’ needs to break the logjam in the supply of vital personal protective equipment (PPE) to NHS staff, after media reports that the government is paying a £1 million-a-day to store a PPE ‘mountain’, Unite has said. The union said the government’s PPE supremo Lord Deighton, appointed in the spring, urgently needs to intervene to sort out the supply chain problems.
Unite news release. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Wage support exclusions led to suicides
At least six people excluded from the government’s coronavirus wage support schemes have taken their own lives this month, a campaign group has said. ExcludedUK represents the three million people in Britain who are not eligible for the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) or the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).
Morning Star. More on work-related suicide.
ACTION! Use the Hazards e-postcard to tell the HSE to recognise, record and take action to prevent work-related suicides. www.hazards.org/hsesuicide Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Global: Unions demand end to violence against women
Union bodies representing workers across Great Britain and Ireland have called for urgent interventions to support victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence in work and in society. Global union confederation ITUC also issued a call for “governments to ratify and implement the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 and Recommendation 206, to end the scourge of gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work.”
TUC news release. STUC news release. ITUC news release. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Urgent action needed on firefighter cancers
Groundbreaking research has revealed the serious toxic health risks to UK firefighters during a fire. The independent University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) report commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) included a survey of moer than 10,000 currently-serving firefighters and found they were four times as likely to have been diagnosed with cancer compared to the general population (4.1 per cent of survey respondents, compared with less than 1 per cent of the general population).
FBU news release and full report. Morning Star.
IAFF list of presumptive legislation on cancer in firefighters across North American jurisdictions. TUC occupational cancer guide. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: Union outrage at Priti Patel bullying inaction
Civil service unions PCS and Prospect have said it is ‘outrageous’ and ‘frankly unbelievable’ that home secretary Priti Patel escaped being sacked after a highly critical report into her behaviour. The report by the prime minister’s adviser on ministerial standards said originally that the home secretary had “not consistently met the high standards expected of her,” however Boris Johnson decided that the ministerial code was not breached by the minister.
PCS news release. Prospect news release. Ministerial Code. UK Constitutional Law Association blog. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Usdaw violence campaign gives debate hopes a boost
A parliamentary petition that seeks to protect retail staff from violence, threats and abuse has passed 80,000 signatures following the annual Respect for Shopworkers Week, with ran from 16-22 November. The union, which picked up over 10,000 signatures during the week, is looking to hit 100,000 signatures to trigger a parliamentary debate.
Usdaw news release and petition. Co-op respect for shopworkers survey. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Recycling company fined after employee dies
Enva Scotland Limited has been fined £264,000 for criminal safety offences after employee Martin Kane, 28, was fatally injured whilst cleaning a mobile shredder. Mr Kane and another employee at the company’s Paisley site were trying to remove waste that was trapped between a heavy magnet and a hopper on the shredder machine when Mr Kane was struck by the magnet.
HSE news release. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Global: ReWORKing safety virtual conference, 30 Nov-3 December
Leading global safety standards group Electronics Watch is running a four-day occupational health and safety virtual summit, kicking off on Monday 30 November. The theme is ‘ReWORKing Health and Safety - Protecting Workers and Promoting Resilient Public Sector Supply Chains’.
ReWORKing Health and Safety - Protecting Workers and Promoting Resilient Public Sector Supply Chains, 30 November-3 December, opening session starts 9am UK time. Register. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Britain: UCU 'long Covid' briefing for workplace reps
Lecturers’ union UCU has published an online briefing for its safety reps and equality reps on 'long Covid'. It says long Covid is a collection of post-viral conditions, lingering effects or health problems in the wake of a coronavirus infection and is not limited to those who have suffered serious cases of Covid-19.
UCU long Covid briefing. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Global: Union call for rapid antigen testing for workers
The global union confederation ITUC is pressing for urgent and large-scale investment in rapid antigen testing for the virus that causes Covid-19, in order to bring the pandemic under control. Sharan Burrow, ITUC general secretary, said: “Adding these tests to the existing armoury of measures to tackle the pandemic would enable workplaces that have been shut down to reopen safely with a very high degree of confidence.”
ITUC news release, briefing paper and short video explainer. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

USA: Meatpacking linked to 1-in-12 early Covid cases
As many as one in 12 cases of Covid-19 in the early stage of the pandemic in the US can be tied to outbreaks at meatpacking plants and subsequent spread in surrounding communities, according to a study. Its findings show “a strong positive relationship” between meatpacking plants and “local community transmission” in cases through to late July, suggesting the plants act as “transmission vectors” and “accelerate the spread of the virus.”
Bloomsberg News. Bloomberg Government.
Charles A. Taylor, Christopher Boulos, Douglas Almond. Livestock plants and Covid-19 transmission, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, November 2020, 202010115; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2010115117 Risks 975. 28 November 2020

USA: OSHA’s slammed for ‘absurd’ Covid-19 reporting rule
Workplace exposures continue to be a major driver of the coronavirus pandemic, something that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) should be on top of, says David Michaels. But the former head of OSHA, writing in Stat News, warns a reinterpretation of a reporting rule is making that all but impossible.
Stat News. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

USA: ‘Essential workers’ set to get vaccine early
Essential workers in the US are likely to move ahead of adults aged 65 and older and people with high risk medical conditions when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signs off on Covid-19 vaccine priority lists, coming after health care workers and people living in long-term care facilities, a meeting of an expert advisory panel has made clear. There was no formal vote by the members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a group of outside experts that makes recommendations to the CDC on use of vaccines.
Stat News. Risks 975. 28 November 2020

Hazards news, 19 November 2020

Britain: Safety reps - tell the TUC what makes you sick
What health and safety problems are affecting union members in your workplace? The TUC wants to know and has just launched its biennial trade union Safety Reps’ Survey.
TUC health and safety reps’ survey 2020/21. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: BEIS contract staff to ballot on Covid strike action
Up to 100 contracted-out support staff at the Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) could walk out in December over a lack of Covid safety, civil service union PCS has warned. The union is balloting facilities management members who work in security cleaning, porterage and postal services at 1 Victoria street of the Brexit department, for strike action next month because contractor ISS is refusing to wind down support services sufficiently to enable members to shield safely.
PCS news release. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Bus strike warning as services ‘near normal’ levels
A return to near pre-Covid passenger numbers on West Yorkshire’s buses is leaving transport workers at risk as they struggle with reduced schedules and absent staff, Unite has warned. Nearly 400 bus drivers in Bradford, employed by First West Yorkshire, will be balloted for strike action from 23 November in a dispute over the company’s refusal to restore the bus schedule to pre-pandemic levels, leaving workers under a great deal of stress as they are made to work long shifts, covering for absent colleagues.
Unite news release. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: STUC survey uncovers Covid concerns at work
An STUC survey had exposed widespread Covid-19 related concerns in Scottish workplaces, including a looming mental health crisis. The research by Scotland’s national union body found the pandemic “has exacerbated a pre-existing lack of trust in employers when it comes to disclosing mental health conditions”. 
STUC news release and STUC worker safety website. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: UK vaccine allocation plan bypasses most key workers
UK government plans for the distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine bypass many workers in high risk professions, in a stark contrast with the French approach, according to Oxford University researchers. They note that under the French system, some jobs will qualify “as high priority due to their contact with the general public – for instance shop workers, school staff, transport staff and hospitality workers, as well as those working in confined spaces such as abattoir staff, taxi drivers, migrant workers and construction teams.”
The Conversation. Priority groups for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination: advice from the JCVI, 25 September 2020. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Black and Asian people at greater risk from Covid
Black people are twice as likely as white people to catch the coronavirus, a study of 18 million people suggests, with higher exposures at work one of the contributory factors needing attention. Researchers at the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham say their findings, based on an analysis of US and UK studies, are of “urgent public health importance” and raise questions about how vaccines will be prioritised within at-risk groups.
Shirley Sze, Daniel Pan, Clareece R Nevill and others. Ethnicity and clinical outcomes in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis, EClinical Medicine, Open Access. Published: 12 November 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100630 BBC News Online. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Vaccine rollout must not repeat PPE ‘fiasco’
The prime minister must appoint a cabinet minister to bring urgently needed coordination to the production and supply of vaccines in the battle to defeat Covid-19, the manufacturing union Unite has said. The union is also urging the government to issue a second 'call to arms' to UK manufacturing to produce the vaccine.
Unite news release. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Safety regulator had 'political' pressure to approve PPE
Britain's workplace safety watchdog felt leaned on by the government to make factually incorrect statements about lower standard PPE suits bought for NHS staff earlier in the Covid-19 pandemic, the BBC has found. Emails reveal how the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said protective suits, bought by the government in April, had not been tested to the correct standard and describe “political” pressure to approve them for use.
BBC News Online. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Royal Mail workers now wearing masks indoors
The introduction of mandatory facemask wearing in Royal Mail indoor work situations “is not an end in itself” insists postal workers’ union CWU. The move came after the company and the union agreed the measure, but with what CWU described as the “crucially important caveat” that this must not replace other preventive risk control measures.
CWU news report. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: DHL must adopt a sick and self-isolation pay scheme
Parcel courier DHL must adopt a “culture of responsibility” during the pandemic and introduce a genuine sick and self-isolation pay scheme for workers, the union CWU has said. The union’s petition is calling on DHL Parcel UK to introduce a proper pay plan for people who are sick with coronavirus or have been forced to self-isolate.
CWU news release. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Abuse of retail staff far worse during the pandemic
Over threequarters of retail workers say abuse on the job has worsened throughout the pandemic, according to an annual survey by shopworkers’ union Usdaw. Interim results from over 2,000 retail staff show that so far this year, 76 per cent report abuse has been worse than normal during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Usdaw news release and petition. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Covid-19 outbreak at Manchester rail station
Avanti, the train operator running the West Coast Mainline route from Manchester to London, has confirmed an outbreak at Manchester Piccadilly station, which is managed by Network Rail. The Manchester Evening News reported a staff member took a Covid test two weeks ago, a day before arriving for his shift, and receiving a positive test result later during that shift, when he informed his managers – more workers subsequently tested positive.
TSSA news release. Manchester Evening News. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Unite tribute to NHS safety rep Mark Simons
Unite Wales has paid tribute to Mark Simons, an NHS health care assistant and Unite safety representative who died on 10 November after contracting Covid-19. Mark, who worked at Royal Glamorgan Hospital, was a Unite senior health and safety representative, the lead rep within the Unite branch on health and safety, and the vice chair of the staff side health and safety committee.
Unite news release. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Working drivers denied access to toilets
Professional drivers are routinely and illegally denied access to toilets during working hours, a union survey of thousands of professional drivers has found. The research by the Unite involved over 6,000 of its driver members and found that during their normal working day, 70 per cent do not have adequate access to toilets and washing facilities.
Unite news release. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: McDonald's apologises for stopping couriers using loos
Fast food chain McDonald's has apologised to food delivery drivers after they were denied access to its toilets. “We are sorry to hear that on some occasions this guidance has not been implemented, and we will be reminding our restaurant teams about the policy,” the company said.
BBC News Online. Drivers’ welfare at delivery and collection sites during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, HSE. Joint DfT/HSE open letter on access to hygiene facilities for drivers. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Professional drivers put at greater risk of cancer
Professional drivers are facing a routine and serious health risk from diesel exhaust fume exposures at work. In what they described as “the largest real-world in-vehicle personal exposure study to date”, researchers from the MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group and Imperial College London, found that professional drivers are regularly exposed to hazardous levels of diesel emissions as part of their work.
IOSH news release and full report.
See the Hazards magazine feature Fuming, factsheet Diesel out and poster Die diesel die. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Criminal violence against journalists ‘must be punished’
The journalists’ union NUJ has called on the Scottish authorities to ‘hunt down’ the perpetrators of an attack aimed at silencing Glasgow journalists. On Sunday 1 November, the car belonging to the founder and publisher of The Digger magazine, James Cruickshank, was firebombed in Glasgow and local shops were visited and told to stop selling the publication, according to Press Gazette.
NUJ news release and NUJ safety report 2020. Hold the Front Page. The Press Gazette. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Court victory on access to PPE for gig workers
A “groundbreaking” court victory on workplace safety protection for gig economy workers has been welcomed by unions and safety organisations. In a judgment delivered in the High Court in London on 13 November, Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled that Britain had failed to properly implement an EU directive on personal protective equipment (PPE) in relation to self-employed workers who provide a service as part of a business.
IWGB news release. Old Square Chambers news release. IOSH news release. Morning Star. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Pilots launch new ‘Most Wanted’ safety strategy
UK pilots’ union BALPA has launched at ‘Most Wanted’ safety strategy that highlights the 11 issues pilots believe are most likely to cause a fatal accident. The union says its strategy aims to ensure flight safety and the health of everyone involved in aviation is not overlooked as the industry tries to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
BALPA news release and BALPA Most Wanted campaign. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Fears for maternity services as staffing shortages hit
The safety of maternity services is under serious threat, according to a new survey by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). The union survey found that more than eight out of 10 midwives (83 per cent) do not believe their NHS Trust or Board has enough staff to operate a safe service.
RCM news release. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Britain: Asthma risk linked to permanent night shift work
Shift workers, especially those working permanent night shift rotas, may be at heightened risk of moderate to severe asthma, new UK research has indicated. The new findings, published online in the journal Thorax, found there was a 36 per cent increase in the odds of having moderate to severe asthma in permanent night shift workers compared to those working normal office hours, while the odds of wheeze or airway whistling were 11-18 per cent higher among those working any of the three shift patterns.
Maidstone R, Turner J, Vetter C and others. Night shift work is associated with an increased risk of asthma, Thorax, Published Online First: 16 November 2020. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-215218 Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Australia: Gig worker deaths highlights need for rights
The recent deaths of three fast food delivery drivers illustrates the urgent need to provide these workers legal protection, the national secretary of Australia’s Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) has said. Michael Kaine, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, said the dead workers had “hustled for one-off jobs from digital platforms, where pay is dictated by opaque algorithms.”
Sydney Morning Herald and related story on risking injury rates. The Guardian. More on health and safety and insecure work. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Global: Systemic failures on seafarers’ hours
New research has identified “systemic failures” in the implementation of the regulatory regime protecting seafarers’ hours of work and rest, undermining the credibility of international regulations relating to working hours. ‘A culture of adjustment’, a report from a team at the World Maritime University (WMU), confirms previous research that suggested recording malpractices are widespread, which seriously undermines the capacity of the current regulatory framework to prevent fatigue and mitigate its effects.
ITF Seafarers’ Trust news release. WMU report. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Southern Africa: Site unions seek greater involvement
Construction unions across Southern Africa are calling for greater involvement in workplace safety. Global building workers’ union BWI said its training on labour inspections for trade union educators from Mauritius (CMWEU), Mozambique (SINTICIM), Namibia (MANWU), South Africa (BCAWU and NUM), Zambia (NUBEGW) and Zimbabwe (CLAWUZ and ZCATWU) “aimed to create greater union involvement in the monitoring and inspection of worksites and develop new indices to counter-check the usual occupational health and safety (OHS) descriptors of companies.”
BWI news report. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

USA: Meat giant fined over Covid crime
A California meatpacking plant owned by the multinational Smithfield company and where hundreds of workers developed Covid-19 has been fined for putting its employees and temporary staff at risk. More than 315 workers out of 1,800 at the Farmer John plant in Vernon have contracted the coronavirus since March.
UFCW news release. Risks 974. 19 November 2020.

Hazards news, 14 November 2020

Britain: ‘Union Improvement Notice’ served on British Museum
The British Museum must take action to remedy Covid-19 safety breaches – but it is a union and not a safety regulator that is laying down the law. Because of overcrowding and difficulties with social distancing, civil service union PCS said it “has been left with no alternative but to issue a Union Improvement Notice (UIN) on 30 October.”
PCS news release and webpage on Union Improvement Notices. TUC guide to union health and safety inspections and safety reps’ tools including UINs.  UIN form. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Prison union slams ‘absurd’ not-a-lockdown
Prison officers’ union POA has criticised as ‘absurd’ the new lockdown for England that leaves large parts of the economy working as usual. The union says it has worked cooperatively with prison management to help keep prisoners and staff safe during the pandemic, but says ‘inconsistencies’ in the new measures will ‘not assist’ these efforts.
POA news release. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Tube’s ‘dangerous’ positive virus test rules slammed
London Underground (LUL) union RMT has condemned the transport company’s dangerous policy on Covid-19. LUL is refusing to send staff home after a workmate reports a positive Covid-19 result.
RMT news release. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Country at risk until universities move online
The UK government's failure to instruct universities to move to online learning where possible is putting public health at risk, lecturers’ union UCU and the National Union of Students (NUS) have said. A UCU and NUS joint statement calls on the Westminster government to revise its guidance for universities, and issue a clear call for learning to be immediately moved online wherever possible during the lockdown in England.
UCU news release. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Support for union push to close schools and colleges
Less than 48 hours after teaching union NEU launched a campaign to include schools in England’s lockdown, over 150,000 teachers and support staff have voiced their support. The union said over 20,000 had also written to their MP and lobbied them on social media.
NEU news release and related release on infection rates.
Deepti Gurdasani and others. The UK needs a sustainable strategy for Covid-19, The Lancet, Online first, 9 November 2020. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: School virus spread needs ‘robust action’
There must be immediate and robust action from the government to ensure that all school and college employers carry out fresh risk assessments in light of the increased Covid-19 threat, the teaching union NASUWT has said. The union is calling on school employers to publish their risk assessments and to explain to parents and to employees the additional safety measures they are putting into place to prevent the spread of the virus.
NASUWT news release. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Whistleblower virus concerns dismissed by employers
More than 4-in-10 Covid-19 concerns raised by employees were ignored by bosses, who instead routinely victimised the workers raising safety issues, a legal charity has said. Research by Protect found 41 per cent of employees raising Covid-19 concerns were ignored by their employers and 20 per cent of whistleblowers were dismissed. 
Protect news release and report, The best warning system: Whistleblowing during Covid-19. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Workers need protection in mass testing pilot
As mass testing gets underway in Liverpool, the TUC’s North West region has called on employers in the city to support workers throughout the pilot. The union body is calling for financial security for workers to help them get tested and take action if needed, so that public health measures can be effective and the city can get on top of the pandemic.
TUC news release. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Shoppers urged to follow the rules and respect staff
As the second lockdown for England took effect, retail trade union Usdaw urged shoppers to follow the rules and respect shopworkers. The union is highlighting five simple steps to encourage considerate shopping: Shop for essentials only and alone if possible; queue patiently and maintain social distancing; follow instructions inside and outside shops; observe all necessary hygiene measures and pay by card if you can; and be respectful to shop staff and other customers.
Usdaw news release and related news release. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Unions calls for transparency on Scottish workplace policy
Scotland’s national union body is seeking reassurance from the Scottish government that public health considerations will be prioritised over short-term economic decisions when deciding the country’s pandemic response. STUC says unions from across Scotland have raised concerns over transparency in the use of data and the decision-making process where workplaces are excepted from closure.
STUC news release. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: 30,000 NHS staff off in Covid second wave
Around 30,000 NHS staff are self-isolating or off sick from work due to coronavirus as the UK faces a second wave of infections. NHS England head Sir Simon Stevens said the numbers underlined the need to control the spread of Covid-19 in order to protect the care offered by the health service.
Prime minister’s statement, 5 November 2020. Evening Standard and related story. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Work injury and sickness levels soar as enforcement falls
The Health and Safety Executive’s new workplace injury and ill-health statistics have revealed a major increase in the numbers being harmed at work. The figures show 1.6 million workers suffering from work-related ill-health, up from 1.4m the previous year; within this total, 638,000 were new cases of work-related ill-health, up over 28 per cent from 497,000 cases in 2018/19; and the non-fatal injury toll has seen a 20 per cent increase on the previous year, rising to 693,000 workers sustaining non-fatal injuries in 2019/2020 from the figure of 581,000 in 2018/19.
HSE news release and statistics summary for 2019 and 2018 comparison. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Undercover police spied on union reps ‘for decades’
Undercover police officers spied on union reps raising safety and employment rights concerns ‘for decades’, an inquiry has heard. In his 6 November opening statements, made on behalf of trade unions represented at the Undercover Policing Inquiry chaired by Judge Mittings, Lord John Hendy QC said the infiltration dated back to at least 1973.
Unite news release and Block the Spycops Bill campaign. NUJ news release. Morning Star. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Union campaign on facilities in Brexit lorry parks
Brexit lorry parks must provide decent facilities for the drivers who may end up stranded there, their union Unite has said. MPs and councillors in Kent are to be lobbied by Unite “to ensure that decent welfare facilities are installed at all lorry parks built in the county, to manage transport delays as a result of the UK’s transition deal with the European Union ceasing at the end of December,” the union said.
Unite news release. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Firefighter’s water training death an ‘avoidable tragedy’
Firefighters’ union FBU has broadly welcomed the recommendations of an investigation the into a water training accident that resulted in the death of 35-year-old firefighter Josh Gardener. The union was commenting after Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) chief inspector Andrew Moll said: “This tragic accident could have been avoided had the training activities been properly planned and communicated to all the fire and rescue crew on the water that morning.”
FBU news release. MAIB news release and report. BBC News Online. Wales Online. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Truck firm fined after employee engulfed in fireball
A haulage firm in Scotland has been fined for the serious criminal safety failings that left a young worker with horrific injuries after he was engulfed in flames in a gas cylinder explosion. A hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court saw Linwood firm A&D Logistics being ordered to pay £48,000 for failures that resulted in worker Dean Beggs suffering life-changing burns to his face, arms and hands.
HSE news release. Daily Record. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Covid transmission and killer workplaces – new film
A new Hazards Campaign film explains why the coronavirus is so dangerous indoors, where aerosols can build up in the air. The film, produced for the campaign by Reel News, “explains what you can do to keep yourself and your workmates safe – using the latest information about Covid-19, extensive case studies of superspreader events and successful collective struggles by well-organised workplaces.”
Covid transmission and killer workplaces, a Reel News/Hazards Campaign film, November 2020. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Britain: Face coverings in the workplace
The TUC has produced a new guide explaining why face coverings are used, the difference between face coverings and masks, exemptions from their use and the recommended standards for masks. The guide also spells out what union reps can do to support members.
Face coverings in the workplace, TUC guide. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Canada: Suicide highlights pressures in visual effects work
Malcolm Angell took his own life in May, a tragedy former colleagues and unions believe was linked to his working conditions in Canada’s visual effects industry. Colleagues of the 46-year-old New Zealander who moved to Montreal in 2019 to work in the city’s famed visual effects industry allege the work environment at his workplace, Mill Film, was toxic, with 80-hour work weeks common.
Kamloops This Week. More on work-related suicide.
UK ACTION! Use the Hazards e-postcard to tell the safety regulator HSE to recognise, record and take action to prevent work-related suicides. www.hazards.org/hsesuicide Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Denmark: Lockdowns as mutant mink Covid crosses back
Danish authorities have introduced a lockdown affecting large areas after the discovery a coronavirus mutation found in mink has spread back to humans. Originally transmitted from infected humans to the mink, genetic detective work has now shown that in a small number of cases, in the Netherlands and now Denmark, the virus seems to have passed the other way, from mink to humans, with 12 so far confirmed to be infected with the mutant strain.
WHO statement. BBC News Online and related story. Science blog. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

USA: Covid work safety fines near US$2.5m
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through to 29 October 2020, the US government’s workplace safety regulator OSHA has issued citations arising from 179 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totalling $2,496,768 (£1.9m).
OSHA news release and Covid-related citations list. OSHA’s short and long guides to employers on where they are getting it wrong and the laws they are breaking. Risks 973. 14 November 2020

Hazards news, 7 November 2020

Britain: Too little too late from the government
The UK government’s failure to act sooner on rising infection risks and to offer proper income protection for all workers affected by the pandemic has left families facing a ‘grim winter’, the TUC has said. Responding to the prime ministers’ announcement on 31 October of a new four week lockdown for England to take effect from 5 November, the TUC called for the Treasury to provide additional support to protect jobs and income.
TUC news release. Prime minister’s statement and news release, 31 October 2020. UNISON news release. Usdaw news release. BBC News Online. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Factory outbreak takes town’s infection to national high
Coronavirus cases in a small Norfolk town due to an outbreak at a food factory have caused its infection rate to soar to the highest in England. There were 125 new cases in Watton in the seven days to 27 October, taking the infection rate to 1,515.5 cases per 100,000 people; this figure has been heavily impacted by the outbreak at Cranswick Country Foods, which has reported hundreds of confirmed cases.
Norfolk County Council news updates. Eastern Daily Press and related story. BBC News Online. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Work contribution to virus spread going ignored
Workplace outbreaks are an increasingly large contributor to coronavirus spread, but are being largely ignored in the UK government’s prevention strategy, a top academic has warned. Stirling University occupational health professor Andrew Watterson said despite varying degrees of lockdown restrictions due to the pandemic, many people in the UK are still going in to work with inevitable consequences - hundreds of coronavirus clusters each week.
The Conversation. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: More than a third 'fear catching Covid at work'
More than one-in-three (35 per cent) workers have an active concern about the transmission of Covid-19 in their workplace – with low-paid workers most likely to be worried, but least likely to raise concerns or see their complaints resolved. ‘Failed Safe?’, a Resolution Foundation report, draws on an online YouGov survey of 6,061 adults across the UK. It found that nearly half (47 per cent) of workers that spend time in the workplace rate the risk of Covid-19 transmission at work as fairly or very high.
Resolution Foundation news release and Failed Safe? briefing note. BBC News Online. Risks 972. 7 November 2020.

REGISTER A COVID CONCERN:  The online link provided by on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website for union reps to register a Covid-19 concern is broken. After an intervention by the TUC, the HSE is now asking union reps to register their Covid-19 concerns directly by email to Union.Covidconcerns@hse.gov.uk until the HSE online glitch is resolved. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Work hazards group warns ‘don’t waste this lockdown’
A month-long lockdown in England must be used to sort out test and trace, and enforce health and safety in the workplace, the national Hazards Campaign has said. As Whitehall imposes new restrictions, the campaign has argued that the time must be used to rebuild the failing test and trace system, and to ensure those workplaces remaining open are ‘Covid-safe’.
Hazards Campaign news release. Environmental Health News. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: NASUWT calls for beefed-up Covid safety enforcement
The government’s lockdown will not work unless there is more effective enforcement of workplace safety standards, teaching union NASUWT has said. Patrick Roach, the union’s general secretary, said: “The government’s plans to extend national restrictions to tackle the coronavirus will be seriously undermined if it fails to ensure that schools and other workplaces are Covid-safe.”
NASUWT news release. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: NEU calls for school shutdown in lockdown
Teaching union NEU is calling for schools and colleges to be included in the government’s  English lockdown - and for rotas to be introduced at the end of the lockdown period. NEU’s analysis of ONS figures shows that virus levels are now nine times higher amongst primary pupils and an ‘astonishing’ 50 times higher amongst secondary pupils.
NEU news release. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 30 October 2020, ONS, 30 October 2020. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Reduce school opening and support remote learning - UNISON
The government should restrict school and nursery opening in England as in the first lockdown to help bring the national rate of infection down and ensure the safety of pupils, staff and the wider community, UNISON has said. The union has also called on the government to stump up the funding necessary so children from low income families can have access to tablets or laptops.
UNISON news release and National Schools Committee Statement. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Lockdown plan will not protect school kids and staff
The “exponentially” rising transmission of the coronavirus has “fatally exposed” the UK government’s failure to respond adequately to the pandemic, according to teaching union NASUWT. Commenting after the government announced a lockdown for England, NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach said: “The government has recklessly given up on the idea that social distancing can be maintained in schools, despite the evidence that this is the best protection against the spread of the coronavirus.”
NASUWT news release. Union News. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Unite warns school support must be fully protected
School support staff and school nurses across the UK must be protected through the lockdown and their ‘safety must not be compromised’, Unite has said. The union says if serious safety concerns are identified and immediate action is not taken to remedy them, “then Unite will instruct staff to exercise their legal right to withdraw their work until safety measures are fully instigated.”
Unite news release. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Universities urged to move learning online
Lecturers’ union UCU has written to vice-chancellors of universities in England calling on them to move learning online immediately. UCU’s move follows updated government guidance for England around the four week lockdown that said universities should ‘consider moving to increased levels of online learning where possible and - after repeated calls from UCU and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) - for a move away from in-person teaching.
UCU news release. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: STUC slams ‘complacency’ on workplace transmission
Scotland’s national union federation STUC has reiterated its concerns with the Scottish government over a lack of safety restrictions covering schools and non-essential workplaces in areas under the country’s highest ‘Tier 4’ restrictions. Accusing the authorities of ‘complacency’ around workplace transmission, the union body said workers should not be required to cross local authority boundaries to undertake non-essential work.
STUC news release. BBC News Online. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Alok Sharma faces office Covid safety questions
Business secretary Alok Sharma is facing questions after a union health and safety inspection identified concerns over social distancing in his private office days before a member of his inner circle tested positive for Covid-19. The Guardian reports that an employee in Sharma’s private office tested positive on 26 October after reporting Covid symptoms a day earlier, with other members of staff in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) forced to isolate.
The Guardian. Daily Mail. The New European. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Parliamentary unions demand return to hybrid parliament
Parliamentary unions have written to the leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg calling for a return to the hybrid operation of parliament, including remote voting. The letter was prompted by the UK government’s announcement of a new lockdown for England, and highlights what the unions see as the success of such arrangements during the previous lockdown.
Prospect news release. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Cabinet Office must send clear work from home message
Civil service union PCS has said it is ‘completely unacceptable’ that the Cabinet Office has failed to provide a clear statement that civil servants who can work from home should do so. The union is calling for jobcentres and courts to close and driving tests to be suspended.
PCS news release. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: GMB hails full sick pay win for carers in Wales
Social care staff in Wales are to be eligible for full sick pay under a new deal. The Welsh government announcement has been welcomed by the government GMB, which said it had been campaigning since the spring for full sick pay for social care workers.
GMB news release. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: UK not ready for two national emergencies at once
Fire and rescue services won’t be prepared to deal with major threats to the UK without more firefighters, the firefighters’ union FBU has warned. The union said the combined threats of climate change related events, terrorism, and the post-Grenfell building safety crisis will require the immediate funding for at least 5,000 firefighters in the next year, to ensure the fire and rescue service can tackle “the risks of today and tomorrow”.
FBU news release. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: NUJ demands action to protect and safeguard journalists
A survey by the journalists’ union NUJ has uncovered ‘shocking evidence’ of abuse and harassment, with journalists revealing they have been punched, threatened with knives, forcibly detained, kicked and spat at while doing their job. As well as physical assault, NUJ says it members are being threatened online and offline, including death threats, rape threats and other threats to their families and homes.
NUJ safety report 2020. IFJ news release, end immunity campaign and report, Dirty Hands; Still in Power. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Global: FBU backs investigation call into Beirut chemical blast
The UK Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has joined Amnesty International in calling on the UK government to press for a full international investigation into the devastating explosion in Beirut three months ago. In a new one-minute video, UK firefighter Holly Ferguson, 36, who has been in the fire service for 11 years, says the Lebanese firefighters were “badly let down” by officials who knew that dangerous chemicals were stored at the port but failed to pass on this information.
Amnesty International news release and video. Morning Star. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

RMT wants Serco thrown off the Caledonian Sleeper
Rail union RMT has launched a petition calling on Transport Scotland to take action to help resolve the union’s ongoing dispute with Caledonian Sleeper operator Serco over staff fatigue and safety. RMT says it has been seeking to reach a fair and reasonable resolution which addresses the main causes of staff fatigue over a period of months, but says Serco has continually refused to take action and rejected the union’s reasonable proposals.
RMT news release and petition. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Site firm fined for concrete pour injuries
Construction company Axio (Special Works) Limited has been fined after an employee was struck by the placing boom of a concrete pump during a pour, causing serious injuries. During the pour, the ground beneath one of the pump outriggers collapsed, causing the concrete pipe and boom to strike the employee, dislocating and fracturing his hip, fracturing his spine and tearing ligaments and muscles; he was later diagnosed with a brain injury.
HSE news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Britain: Covid at work - the rich get richer, the poor get sick
In a 12 November Zoom meeting, Hazards Campaign chair Janet Newsham and Open University criminology professor Steve Tombs will discuss the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis on health and safety at work. The free session organised jointly by the University of Manchester’s Work and Equalities Institute and Manchester Industrial Relations Society will examine how the government’s mishandling of the pandemic will further exacerbate pre-crisis economic and social inequalities.
Covid at Work: the rich get richer, the poor get sick, Zoom meeting, 6-7.30pm, Thursday 12 November 2020. Free. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Australia: Insecure work could lead to virus third wave
As restaurants and pubs around Australia reopen their doors, workers are coming out in force to demand permanent and secure jobs amid concerns casual work could increase coronavirus risks. Tim Kennedy, secretary of the United Workers Union, said insecure work “does a lot of damage to a lot of people” and added a lack of sick leave in the hospitality industry could increase the risk of a third coronavirus wave, because workers won’t ask for time off to get tested if they feel sick.
United Workers Union news release. The New Daily. More on the hazards of insecure work.
Lan F, Suharlim C, Kales SN and others. Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection, exposure risk and mental health among a cohort of essential retail workers in the USA, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Published Online First, 30 October 2020. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2020-106774 Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Global: Deadly failure to act on airborne virus risks
A precautionary approach to the spread of Covid-19 advocated by global unions has been validated by the emerging scientific consensus on the aerosol spread of the disease, the food and farmworkers international union federation has said. According to IUF assistant general secretary James Ritchie: “By failing to adopt the precautionary principle with regard to the spread of Covid-19, governments and employers have exposed workers to unnecessary harm.”
IUF news release. Laid bare, Hazards magazine report outlining the overwhelming evidence on airborne transmission.
WHO Knew. How the World Health Organization (WHO) Became a Dangerous Interloper on Workplace Health and Safety and COVID-19, New Solutions, first published 8 October 2020. https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291120961337 Risks 972. 7 November 2020

USA: Unions sue over shelved infection standard
US teaching and health care unions started legal proceedings against Donald Trump’s labour secretary Eugene Scalia and the safety regulator OSHA for unlawfully delaying rulemaking on an occupational standard to protect healthcare workers from infectious diseases transmitted by contact, droplets, or air - like influenza, Covid-19, and Ebola. The move comes in response to the Trump administration shelving a ready-to-go Infectious Diseases Standard in 2017.
AFT news release and the 29 October 2020 petition for mandamus (the court filing) and the full appendix.
JAMA news report. Wesley H Self and others. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Frontline Health Care Personnel in a Multistate Hospital Network — 13 Academic Medical Centers, April–June 2020, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), volume  69, number 35, pages 1221-1226, 4 September 2020. Risks 972. 7 November 2020

Hazards news, 31 October 2020

Britain: BME women over-represented in insecure, risky jobs
Black and minority ethnic (BME) women are around twice as likely as white workers to be employed in insecure jobs, according to a new TUC study. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Being trapped in insecure work has exposed BME women to extra risk during this crisis, with many losing their lives.”
TUC news release, blog and briefing paper, Black women and work, 28 October 2020. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Bad jobs and circumstances cause Covid race risks
A scientist advising the government on ethnicity and Covid has said the jobs Black and south Asian people do are a major reason they are at greater risk of illness and death. Dr Raghib Ali said: “The problem with focusing on ethnicity as a risk factor is that it misses the very large number of non-ethnic minority groups, so whites basically, who also live in deprived areas and overcrowded housing and with high risk occupations.”
Quarterly report on progress to address COVID-19 health inequalities, Race Disparity Unit, October 2020. Minister for Equalities Kemi Badenoch’s letter to the Prime Minister and Health Secretary on the first COVID-19 disparities report. BBC News Online. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Black staff need infection protection at work
Employers must do more to reduce the elevated risk from coronavirus faced by Black workers, public sector union has said. Responding to new government measures to address race disparities in the impact of Covid-19, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “The heightened risks to Black staff are now well-known, even if some causes remain unexplained.”
UNISON news release. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Union challenge to ‘unlawful’ reopening of universities
The government is facing a union legal challenge over its “unlawful” decision to reopen universities for face-to-face teaching. Lecturers’ union UCU is seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision to ignore advice from its own Sage committee of experts to move all non-essential university and college teaching online in September, and adds its own analysis shows over 27,000 university staff and students have tested positive for Covid since the start of term.
UCU news release. The Observer. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Universities pressuring staff to work on campus
Universities have come under fire for pressuring staff to work on campus. Jo Grady, general secretary of the UCU, said: “Universities are transmission hotspots, so it’s disappointing that Staffordshire and Birmingham universities are risking the health of their employees by pressuring them on to campus when there’s no need for them to be there.”
The Guardian. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Rota system call for secondary schools
The government should investigate moving secondary schools to a rota system, to make social distancing more practicable, teaching union NEU has said. Responding to an ‘alarming’ rise in secondary school pupils testing positive for the coronavirus, NEU joint general secretaries Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney have written to education secretary Gavin Williamson asking him to take decisive action to curb this trend, including the possibility of a rota system for secondary schools and colleges in Tier 2 and Tier 3.
NEU news release. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Scotland needs ‘enhanced mitigation’ for schools
The Scottish government must introduce ‘enhanced mitigation’ of Covid-19 risks in schools if it is going to reduce the need for a full lockdown, teaching union NASUWT has said. Commenting on the announcement by first minister Nicola Sturgeon of a five tier alert system of coronavirus restrictions due to come into force across Scotland on 2 November, NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach said: “It is alarming that at a time of rising threat of coronavirus transmission, the government’s plans do not include any extension to the safety mitigation measures required in schools, particularly in those schools in the highest tier areas.”
NASUWT news release. Daily Record. BBC News Online. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: STUC concerned by non-essential work in high risk areas
Scotland’s national union body STUC has given a cautious welcome of a five tier (zero to four) alert system of coronavirus restrictions due to come into force across Scotland on 2 November, but has said more workers need greater protection in high risk areas. Commenting on the announcement by first minister Nicola Sturgeon, STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: “It is difficult to understand that no consideration is being given to a more cautious approach in areas where infection rates rise to such serious levels as to merit tier four status.”
STUC news release. EIS news release. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Major workplace role in Covid spread has been buried
Around four in 10 people testing positive for Covid-19 identified ‘a workplace or education event’ as their activity in the days prior to onset of symptoms, ahead of all other causes, an analysis of official figures has revealed. Public Health England data examined by Hazards magazine reveals a sharp rise in Covid-19 outbreaks in workplaces in England tracked ‘an incubation period behind’ the UK government’s back-to-work messages.
Laid bare: The scandal of expendable workers before, during and after Covid, Hazards, Number 151, October 2020. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Health workers linked to 1 in 6 hospital Covid-19 cases
Healthcare workers and their families account for a sixth (17 per cent) of hospital admissions for Covid-19 in the working age population (18-65 years), a study from Scotland has found. Although hospital admission with Covid-19 in this age group was very low overall, the risk for healthcare workers and their families was higher compared with other working age adults, especially for those in “front door” patient facing roles such as paramedics and A&E department staff, say the researchers.
Anoop SV Shah and others. Risk of hospital admission with coronavirus disease 2019 in healthcare workers and their households: nationwide linkage cohort study, BMJ, 2020; 371: m3582. Published online 28 October 2020. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Scottish study highlight health care worker plight
A study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) showing health care workers in Scotland are at greater danger from Covid-19 should inform decisions about the organisation of health services, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and redeployment, according to a related editorial. The researchers at Skane University Hospital in Sweden note: “Superspreading events, a hallmark of previous coronavirus outbreaks, contribute substantially to community transmission of Covid-19 and to work related clusters.”
Ulf Karlsson and Carl-Johan Fraenkel. Editorial: Covid-19: risks to healthcare workers and their families, BMJ, 2020; 371: m3944. Published online 28 October 2020.Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Covid-hit jobcentre should close, says PCS
Civil service union PCS has called for the closure of Oldham jobcentre after a tenth case of coronavirus in a little over three weeks.  Staff who have come into close contact with those affected have been self-isolating and deep cleans have been carried out.
PCS news release. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: ‘Nonsensical’ rail contract changes ‘jeopardise track safety’
Railway track safety standards and jobs in Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Scotland are being put in jeopardy by ‘nonsensical’ Network Rail plans to switch its track component suppliers, Unite has warned. The long-time holder of the contracts, Progress Rail Services, has been informed that the work will be carried out elsewhere when the current contracts come to an end.
Unite news release. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Epidemic of ill-health revealed at Heathrow
A confidential survey of workers at London’s Heathrow Airport has revealed an ‘epidemic’ of work-related mental and physical ill-health. The findings of the Unite survey comes as Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) is gearing up to use a highly controversial ‘fire and rehire’ strategy to shift staff to worse contracts on lower pay.
Unite news release. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Recruiters banned after exploiting agricultural workers
A husband and wife have been banned from acting as company directors for a total of 21 years after they exploited and abused agricultural workers. Inspectors from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) discovered that between July 2017 and September 2018, Simon and Julie Melville failed to make holiday payments to 186 employees, charged employees for safety equipment which should have been supplied free of charge and didn’t provide employees with copies of their contracts.
Insolvency Service news release. GLAA news release. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Britain: Transport firm fined £5,000 for agency driver’s death
A transport company has been fined after a worker was fatally injured when the pallet of stone tiles he was attempting to deliver fell onto him. High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 23 November 2016, agency driver Petru Pop, 52, died while carrying out a delivery for Reason Transport UK Limited in High Wycombe.
HSE news release. Motor Transport. Buckinghamshire Free Press. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Canada: Quebec’s virus battle shifts to workplaces
As the second Covid-19 wave gathers force in Quebec, almost half the active outbreaks in the Canadian province have been traced back to workplaces including factories, construction sites, kitchens and hospitals. The provincial public health director, Dr Horacio Arruda, said 46 per cent of all outbreaks involve a workplace, adding “I think maybe we've forgotten them.”
CBC News. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Global: Decades of work virus warnings went ignored
Long before Covid-19, unions made repeat warnings about the need to prepare for ‘emerging’ infectious diseases but these were never acted on. A new report in the trade union workplace health magazine Hazards says decades of inaction ‘paved the way for the pandemic and left us without a workplace biohazards law,’ either globally or in the UK.
Biohazards. They were warned. They knew what to do. They did nothing, Hazards, number 151, October 2020, and related resources: Biological agent related diseases reportable in the UK under RIDDOR; and A-Z of work-related conditions eligible for UK state benefits and caused by biohazards. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

USA: Virus cases in public transport workers missed
More New York public transport workers were sick with Covid-19 than previously believed, according to a study by New York University (NYU) researchers. About 24 per cent of transport authority (MTA) workers who responded to a survey said they had been infected with Covid-19, according to the pilot study, higher than the 14.2 per cent positivity rate for antibodies found by state officials under a preliminary review in May.
Robyn Gershon. Impact of Covid-19 on NYC Transit workers: Pilot study findings, NYU School of Global Public Health, October 2020. TWU Local 100 news release. The Gothamist. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

USA: Minorities in food jobs hard hit by Covid-19
Racial and ethnic minority workers have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19 in food manufacturing and agriculture workplaces, according to a new study. “Reducing workplace exposures is critical for protecting workers in US food processing, food manufacturing, and agriculture workplaces and might help reduce health disparities among disproportionately affected populations,” the authors note.
CIDRAP report. Coronavirus Disease among Workers in Food Processing, Food Manufacturing, and Agriculture Workplaces, Emerging Infectious Diseases, volume 27, number 1, January 2021, early release 19 October 2020. Risks 971. 31 October 2020

Hazards news, 24 October 2020

Britain: Union calls for education ‘circuit breaker’
Teaching union NEU is calling for an urgent ‘circuit breaker’ to suppress Covid cases, in the face of rapidly rising infection levels amongst secondary pupils. Lecturers’ union UCU has called for universities to also introduce a two-week circuit breaker.
NEU news release. UCU news release. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey pilot: England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, 16 October 2020, ONS, 16 October 2020. Union News. The Mirror. The Guardian. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Civil servants in safety call as Covid cases soar
With coronavirus infection rates rapidly increasing, civil service union PCS has called on the Cabinet Office to introduce greater safeguards for staff and the public, including closing jobcentres and suspending driving tests in higher risk areas. In letters to Mervyn Thomas, Cabinet Office executive director for employee and trade union relations, and permanent secretaries Peter Schofield (DWP) and Bernadette Kelly (DfT), PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka called for urgent action to protect staff and the public.
PCS news release. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Racial bias in access to PPE, GMB survey finds
More than 1 in 4 Black, Asian and ethnic minority workers has not been given the personal protective equipment their jobs require, a GMB survey has found, with their health and safety concerns around Covid-19 frequently going unaddressed. The union’s ‘shocking’ findings, based on responses from 761 workers, come as updated ONS estimates revealed that black men are up to 3.8 times more likely to die from coronavirus than white men, with their jobs one of the key factors believed responsible.
GMB news release. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Higher ethnic death risk linked to jobs
Ethnic minorities’ higher risk of dying from Covid-19 is linked to where they live and the jobs they do, rather than their health, figures for England and Wales suggest. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysis concluded: “These findings show that ethnic differences in mortality involving Covid-19 are most strongly associated with demographic and socio-economic factors, such as place of residence and occupational exposures, and cannot be explained by pre-existing health conditions using hospital data or self-reported health status.”
Updating ethnic contrasts in deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19), England and Wales: deaths occurring 2 March to 28 July 2020, ONS, 16 October 2020.  BBC News Online. The Guardian. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Parliament restaurants breaking test-and-trace rules
MPs and peers are unable to utilise the NHS test-and-trace app at restaurants and cafes in the Palace of Westminster, union officials have said. The civil service union PCS said the parliamentary authorities were putting their members at risk by ignoring government advice to display QR codes around hospitality venues in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The Guardian. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Parliamentary unions demand return to hybrid sitting
Parliamentary trade unions have written to authorities in the Commons demanding that the UK parliament return to hybrid sitting. The four unions - Prospect, FDA, PCS and GMB -  warn that with London in Tier 2 and MPs being asked to travel to Westminster from all over the country including areas in tier 3, there is a real threat to our ability to function as democracy.
Prospect news release. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Public grounded but deadly firms still at large
The government’s new three tier system for England risks penalising the general public while leaving schools, colleges and workplaces packed to the gills without the necessary support and oversight to maintain Covid safety, a campaign group has warned. The national Hazards Campaign said there is a ‘recurring narrative’ by politicians and the media that the transmission of Covid-19 is fuelled by misbehaving families and students shirking their responsibilities to our communities - however, the campaign says this ignores the evidence that workplaces are the major sites of infection and transmission.
Hazards Campaign news release. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Pictures expose Covid chaos at Amazon site
Shocking images have emerged showing workers crammed onto buses at an Amazon warehouse in Coventry where ten workers have now tested positive for coronavirus at Amazon’s facility in Coventry. The influx of new temporary workers, thought to be as many as 1,000, to handle orders on Amazon Prime Day – 15 October – is thought to have led to a spectacular breakdown in social distancing.
GMB news release. Sign the petition. TUC blog and news release. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: ‘Monstrous’ ASOS profits as workers put at risk
‘Monstrous’ profits posted by fast fashion giant ASOS were possible because the firm put workers at risk during the Covid-19 pandemic, the union GMB has said. The union was commenting after the online retailer announced profits had risen a ‘whopping’ 329 per cent, in a ‘bumper’ £141 million payday for its shareholders.
GMB news release. ASOS news release. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: STUC welcomes workplace face coverings rule
Scottish union body STUC has welcomed a new requirement for mandatory face coverings in communal spaces including workplace canteens and corridors in Scotland. Commenting on the 15 October announcement by first minister Nicola Sturgeon, STUC deputy general secretary Dave Moxham said: “We would be highly concerned if the first minister’s statement that these additional measures are the individual employee’s responsibility were to lead to employers abrogating their responsibility for workplace health and safety and the updating of Covid-19 risk assessments.”
Scottish government news release. STUC news release. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Union concern on van sharing sick pay
Postal union CWU is calling on Royal Mail to be “honest” over whether workers sharing vans will receive full sick pay if they are forced to self-isolate. CWU acting assistant secretary Carl Maden has demanded a clarification from management after Royal Mail reinstated van sharing, but has also told managers that enhanced sick pay is “dependent on the absence not being caused by or aggravated by the employee.”
CWU news release. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Action call on airborne virus transmission
Following a statement this month from top US scientists that ‘airborne’ transmission is a major cause of Covid-19 spread, the opposing position taken by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has come in for further criticism. A paper published in the journal New Solutions, analysing WHO’s workplace safety guidelines on Covid-19 and comparing it to ITUC’s position, notes: “The WHO’s health and safety guidelines on Covid-19 at work are unacceptably complacent in parts, patently dangerous in others and contain serious gaps.”
Rory O’Neill. WHO Knew. How the World Health Organization (WHO) Became a Dangerous Interloper on Workplace Health and Safety and COVID-19, New Solutions, first published 8 October 2020. https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291120961337 Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Coronavirus testing lab 'chaotic and dangerous'
A scientist who processed coronavirus swab samples at one of the UK's largest labs has alleged working practices were “chaotic and dangerous,” with problems with overcrowded biosecure workspaces, poor safety protocols and a lack of suitable PPE. HSE visited the Milton Keynes lab and found five material breaches of health and safety legislation, included inadequate health and safety training for staff, and employees working too closely together.
BBC News Online. The Independent. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: More than 50 isolating after oil rig flights
Fifty-four oil workers have been asked to self-isolate after sharing North Sea rig helicopter flights with colleagues infected with Covid-19. The move last week forms part of oil and gas company TAQA's response to seven people testing positive after working in the Brae field, amd comes after workers been removed from two North Sea oil and gas platforms operated by Shell and BP after colleagues tested positive for Covid-19.
BBC News Online and earlier story. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Calls for public inquiry into Belly Mujinga's death
The family and union of a rail worker who died from Covid-19 after being complaining she was spat on at a London station have called for “an immediate public inquiry” into her death. The calls came after it emerged there were critical flaws in evidence gathering around the spitting incident prior to Belly Mujinga’s death.
BBC Panorama. TSSA news release. Morning Star. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Organisation not resilience tackles stressful work
Resilience, mindfulness or other ‘stress-busting’ initiatives aren’t the answer to stressful work – but organising in your union to tackle that stress is, the TUC has said. While measures to support affected workers are fine, “they ignore that stress is often a result of work itself, requiring a change to work structures, rather than a shift in the behaviours and attitudes of individuals,” points out TUC safety lead Shelly Asquith.
TUC blog. TUC and HSE joint guide to managing stress. Hazards magazine work stress resources. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Concern at Sumburgh helicopter crash inquiry findings
Offshore union RMT has said a ‘narrow’ inquiry had wrongly laid the blame for a helicopter crash on ‘pilot error’ when a critical safety system in the craft had not been enabled. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “The fact remains that the tragedy would have been avoided if the safety systems in the helicopter had been enabled.”
Fatal Accident Inquiry determination. RMT news release. BBC News Online. The Guardian. Press and Journal. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Footballer’s dementia death ‘an industrial disease’
A former Wales international footballer died from dementia linked to repeatedly heading the ball, an inquest has heard. Coroner John Gittins concluded former midfielder Alan Jarvis died from Alzheimer's “caused by his occupation.”
BBC News Online. PFA dementia support. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Britain: Council fined after assault on teacher by pupil
Luton Borough Council has been fined after a teacher in one of its schools was violently attacked and left disabled and unable to work. Assistant headteacher Gillian Stephens was left brain damaged after she was hit repeatedly over the head with a mobile phone by a female pupil in Putteridge High School on 17 June 2016.
HSE news release. Luton Today. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Europe: Major reforms signalled on chemicals policy
The European Commission has signalled the biggest reform of chemical regulation in over a decade, saying it will shift the focus of EU legislation away from the safe use of harmful chemicals to avoiding their use in the first place. The strategy includes a wide range of policy initiatives, including a phase-out of all the most harmful substances, measures to better take into account the effect of chemicals in combination and a commitment to ban the export of hazardous chemicals already banned in the EU
European Commission press notice and associated briefing and action points. EEB news release. ECHA news release. Environmental Health News. ENDS Europe. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Pakistan: Six workers suffocate in factory chemical tank
Six workers have been asphyxiated while trying to clean a chemical tank in a garment factory near Naurus Chowrangi, Pakistan. After receiving information on 17 October that some workers were trapped in the tank, police and rescue workers arrived at the factory and took the six victims to a nearby private hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead on arrival.
The News and follow up story. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

USA: Jobs behind Black, Latino virus exposures
Workplace exposures in frontline workers explain the high rates of Covid-19 in Black and Latino communities in the US, researchers have found. The massive study, encompassing data from 100,000 patients, was conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the National Institutes of Health, indicated Black and Latino workers were more likely to get infected on the job than white workers, and that they typically return home to larger households, magnifying the inequity.
New Orleans Advocate.
Thomas M Selden and Terceira A Berdahl. COVID-19 And Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Health Risk, Employment, And Household Composition, Health Affairs, volume 39, number 9, pages 1624-1632, 2020.
Gold JA, Rossen LM, Ahmad FB and others. Race, Ethnicity, and Age Trends in Persons Who Died from COVID-19 — United States, May–August 2020, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, ePub, 16 October 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6942e Risks 970. 24 October 2020

USA: Hospital giant cited over airborne Covid
California workplace safety officials have issued a serious citation against a Kaiser Permanente psychiatric facility in Santa Clara, accusing the centre of failing to provide workers with appropriate respirators and other protection against Covid-19. The citation, issued by the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health with a proposed fine of $11,200, is the first in an expected wave of citations against Kaiser Permanente facilities statewide for failing to acknowledge that Covid-19 can be transmitted via aerosol particles, according to a source inside the state safety regulator Cal/OSHA.
Cal Matters. Scientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and Potential Airborne Transmission, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), updated 5 October 2020. Risks 970. 24 October 2020

Hazards news, 17 October 2020

Britain: Government must stand up to Amazon
The government must use its purchasing power to stand up to Amazon on workers’ rights, unions have said. The call came joint TUC and GMB union research revealed Amazon was awarded national and local government contracts with a lifetime value of up to £630 million between 2015 and 2020, including contracts related to test and trace valued at £8.3 million.
TUC news release and TUC/GMB Challenging Amazon report. The Guardian. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Unite action pledge as second wave kills bus driver
Unite has vowed to escalate its campaign to introduce stricter safety measures for London buses after news that Unite member and bus driver had Kofi Opoku died from Covid-19. The 55-year-old, who worked for Metrobus, had been based at its Croydon garage.
Unite news release. The Mirror. Daily Mail. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Union slams ‘reckless’ shared post van plan
Post workers’ union CWU has criticised a “reckless” Royal Mail decision to bring back shared delivery vans, saying that the union’s first priority is to “protect postal workers’ lives”. Speaking to around 20,000 CWU members on a Facebook session, deputy general secretary for the postal sector Terry Pullinger accused Royal Mail management of basing workplace health and safety decisions on economic worries in the build-up to Christmas, saying that the decision had “operational overtones”.
CWU news release. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Most with positive tests in England have no symptoms
Over threequarters of people in England testing positive for the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19 – SARS-CoV-2 - had no symptoms on the day of the test, with another 10 per cent having none of the core symptoms, a study has found. The researchers said the findings were important because asymptomatic individuals can be “silent” transmitters.
Petersen I, Phillips A. Threequarters of people with SARS-CoV-2 infection are Asymptomatic: Analysis of English Household Survey Data, Clinical Epidemiology, volume 12, pages 1039-1043, 2020. The Guardian. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Airborne virus a ‘major’ transmission risk
There is ‘overwhelming evidence’ that inhalation of the coronavirus represents a major transmission route for Covid-19, scientists have warned. The warning from experts from six US universities contradicts a position promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has played down airborne risks and said transmission by larger droplets is the predominant mode of transmission.
Kimberly A. Prather, Linsey C Marr, Robert T Schooley and others. Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Science, 5 October 2020. DOI: 10.1126/science.abf0521
COVID-19: epidemiology, virology and clinical features, PHE guidance, updated 30 September 2020. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Virus harms mental health of two-thirds of workers
Two-thirds of workers said their mental health has been harmed by the coronavirus crisis, a new survey by GMB has found. In the poll of 13,500 public and private sector workers – thought to be the biggest of its kind during the pandemic – 66 per cent of respondents said that their work during the outbreak has had a serious negative impact on their mental health.
GMB news release. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Covid-19 crisis hurting most retail workers
A major survey by the retail union Usdaw has exposed the damaging impact of the coronavirus crisis on the mental health of shopworkers. Usdaw’s ‘Impact of Coronavirus’ survey of 7,357 members, primarily essential workers, found that 70 per cent are experiencing anxiety and raised concerns with their employer.
Usdaw news release, Impact of Coronavirus report and mental health campaign. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Women bear the brunt of Covid work stress
Women are being disproportionately affected by a rise in mental health problems caused by increasing workloads, as people do their jobs from home amid the pandemic. ‘Burnout Britain’, a report by the 4 Day Week campaign and thinktanks Compass and Autonomy, notes that women are 43 per cent more likely to have increased their hours beyond a standard working week than men, and for those with children, this was even more clearly associated with mental health problems.
Burnout Britain: Overwork in an age of unemployment, 4 Day Week Campaign, Compass and Autonomy, October 2020. The Guardian. The Independent. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Union concerns on Covid cases in Scottish pupils
Teaching union NASUWT has said it is ‘deeply concerned’ at a significant increase in the percentage of secondary age children testing positive for coronavirus in September. The union was commenting on figures in the Covid-19 Statistical Report released by Public Health Scotland on 7 October.
NASUWT news release. COVID-19 Statistical Report, Public Health Scotland, 7 October 2020. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Government ignored advice calling for online uni classes
Ministers ignored a series of measures recommended by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which included moving all university and college teaching online unless in-person teaching was absolutely essential, it has emerged. Lecturers’ union UCU called for university teaching to be moved online in August.
UCU news release. ITV News. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Sheffield University pauses face to face teaching
Unite has welcomed the University of Sheffield’s decision to pause face to face teaching after the union raised concerns about the spread of Covid-19 amongst staff, students and in the wider community. The union said it had warned the university it was opening up too quickly while “responding too slowly when Unite health and safety representatives pointed out potential hazard points.”
Unite news release. UCU news release. Sheffield Star. The Guardian. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Northumbria University goes online after action threat
Lecturers’ union UCU has welcomed the decision by Northumbria University to move learning online after its members threatened to ballot for industrial action over Covid health and safety failings. However, the union said the decision should have been taken earlier, and urged other universities to move their work online.
UCU news release. BBC News Online. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Rise in homeworking requires negotiation
Employers should reach homeworking agreements with unions to avoid an ‘industrial minefield’ when turning workers' homes into a place of work, Unite has said. It said the explosion in home-working caused by Covid-19, means trade unions will have an increasingly important role to play in minimising the dangers and maximising the advantages of working from home.
Unite news release and framework homeworking agreement. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Domestic abuse is a workplace safety issue
The TUC has said health and safety law requires employers to act to protect workers from domestic violence and has called for more to be done at work to protect victims. In a TUC response to a government call for evidence, the TUC calls on the government to: “Ensure the Health and Safety Executive has sufficient additional resources to prioritise compliance and enforcement of existing health and safety legislation in relation to preventing and tackling domestic abuse in the workplace.”
Support in the workplace for victims of domestic abuse: TUC response to BEIS call for evidence, 5 October 2020. Full TUC response. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Working drivers need Brexit lorry bottleneck guarantees
Lorry drivers need “cast iron guarantees” they won’t end up stranded without access to decent food and welfare facilities in Brexit bottlenecks, their union Unite has said. Commenting on the government's confirmation of 10 Brexit lorry park locations and the introduction of the Kent Access Permit scheme for HGV drivers, Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “Unite will be seeking cast iron guarantees that drivers will not be left twiddling their thumbs for days in concrete expanses where the only facilities are a few mucky portable toilets and an old burger van.”
Unite news release. The Mirror. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Second Sleeper safety strike goes ahead
A second ‘rock solid’ 48-hour safety strike by rail workers has taken place on the Caledonian Sleeper. The action by RMT members on the SERCO-operated service, angry at exhausting rosters, took place on 8-9 September.
RMT news release. The Herald. The Scotsman. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Global: XPO accused of safety crimes and causing deaths
Workers employed by the global logistics firm XPO have died of Covid-19 and as a result of other safety violations, a report has found. The report, ‘XPO - Delivering Injusticel’ by the global transport union federation ITF looks at practices at global firm, and also describes pregnant women miscarrying after being denied lighter shifts and drivers having to live in their lorries for months on end.
GMB news release. ITF news release. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Britain: Asbestos, real and present danger, conference, 27 November
A free online half-day conference for trade unions and others concerned about asbestos risks is to examine how the greatest industrial killer still poses a real danger today. The event, organised by asbestos support groups in Yorkshire and Humberside, Derbyshire and the Midlands, will take place on Friday 27 November. Speakers include occupational disease advocates and medical experts, and a fair trade expert looking at the implications of Brexit and trade deals on asbestos policies and practices.
Register for the Asbestos, real and present danger conference, Friday 27 November 2020, 09:30am–12:30pm. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Europe: Unions back ‘lighten the load’ campaign
Europe’s lead trade union body has backed a new EU-wide campaign addressing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) at work. A declaration from ETUC welcoming the campaign noted: “The European trade union movement believes that a more comprehensive EU legislation on MSDs is needed, and the member states should include MSDs in their national strategies.”
EU-OSHA news release and Lighten the load campaign website. ETUC declaration. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Europe: Major coalition aims to stop cancer at work
A Stop Cancer at Work Campaign has been launched by coalition of professional organisations, trades unions and patient groups. The groups say their objective is to ensure that the current fourth revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMD) includes groups of carcinogenic and mutagenic hazardous drugs, which cause cancer, and that have not been included by the European Commission in proposals published on 22 September 2020.
Stop Cancer at Work campaign news release, website and petition. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Global: Health and safety at work is ‘fundamental’
The global union body ITUC has condemned employer representatives and employer-aligned governments for blocking moves to get health and safety at work recognised formally as a “fundamental right.” Despite a pledge in the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Centenary Declaration adopted last year that all workers should have adequate health and safety protection, the industry lobby and compliant governments are blocking discussion of the issue at the ILO’s Governing Body meeting in November.
ITUC news release. IOE statement. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Korea: Overwork concern as another delivery worker dies
Unions in Korea are demanding rigorous safety measures to protect deliver workers after another death they say is linked to overwork. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) said the CJ Logistics worker, who was a 20-year veteran, had delivered around 400 parcels on average each day, working from 6:30am to around 9 to 10pm, adding: “Of the eight delivery workers who died from overworking, five of them worked for CJ Logistics.”
Korea Herald. Yonhap News. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

USA: Trump administration accused of Covid ‘forced labour’
Trade unions in the US have filed a complaint with the United Nations' International Labour Organisation (ILO), making the case that under the Trump administration, the US has violated a catalogue of labour laws during the coronavirus pandemic. National union federation AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) filed the complaint with ILO, detailing how the White House has undermined the quality and enforcement of labour laws and occupational health and safety measures.
Common Dreams. Mass Device. Risks 969. 17 October 2020

Hazards news, 10 October 2020

Britain: Government admits Covid airborne transmission risk
A UK government Covid-19 prevention strategy based on an assumption the disease was transmitted by close contact with viral-loaded droplets was wrong, latest Public Health England (PHE) guidance suggests. The recognition of airborne transmission indicates a much wider group of workerscould be at risk, and helps explain the higher Covid-19 death rates in some non-medical service sector jobs and in construction identified by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in a 22 September report.
COVID-19: epidemiology, virology and clinical features, PHE guidance, updated 30 September 2020.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) related deaths by occupation, before and during lockdown, England and Wales: deaths registered between 9 March and 30 June 2020, 22 September 2020.
Lidia Morawska, Donald K Milton. It is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19, Clinical Infectious Diseases, ciaa939, 6 July 2020. 
WHO knew? WHO’s complacency over work virus risks a world class disaster, Hazards special report, July 2020. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: We’ll be ‘policed all the way to the factory gates’
Larger penalties and £60m new money to enforce social distancing rules will mean ‘we’ll be policed all the way to the factory gates’, while workplace scrutiny remains threadbare. The warning from the national Hazards Campaign came after the UK government announced fines of up to £10,000 for individuals flouting Covid-19 rules, together with new enforcement cash and ‘Covid Marshals’ to police the rules.
Hazards Campaign news release and ‘where are the sirens?’ zoom recording. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Poor consultation and confusion hampers enforcement
New Covid-secure rules are being announced to the public before local authorities are informed or consulted, environmental health practitioners have warned. Mirroring the concerns mounting among MPs at the lack of parliamentary scrutiny of Covid-secure rules, the Association of London Environmental Health Managers (ALEHM) urged Whitehall to at least sense check with the people who are doing the work.
ALEHM statement. Environmental Health News. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Teachers don’t trust PM on school safety
Few teachers trust Boris Johnson’s government on schools safety, a teaching union survey has found. NEU joint general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said “84 per cent of NEU members in our latest survey have said they do not trust Boris Johnson’s government to keep schools safe, to protect workers, to listen to the profession, to support vulnerable or disadvantaged children, or to ensure exams and assessment are fit for purpose during Covid.”
NEU news release and survey findings. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Government failing on Covid secure schools promise
Overcrowded classrooms are a major barrier to maintaining school distancing in schools, NASUWT has found. The union said its survey findings show the UK government is failing on its promise that schools would be ‘Covid-secure’, with just 1 per cent of teachers told the union pupils are always practising social distancing from adults in their school, and over half (56 per cent) saying pupils are rarely or never doing so.
NASUWT news release. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Government failing self-isolating pupils
New UK government support for distance learning for self-isolating children is not sufficient for the task facing schools, teaching union NEU has said. Commenting on 1 October announcements from the Westminster government on the provision of remote education for children who are having to self-isolate, NEU joint general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said ministers were “once again trying to cut corners over Covid.”
NEU news release. DfE news release. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: School remote learning need extra resources
A switch to provide remote learning in schools will not be sustainable without substantial extra resources, including extra teachers, NASUWT has warned. As disruption increased in schools due to teachers being off sick with coronavirus or isolating, and more and more classes and year groups being sent home, the union said on 30 September that it was “increasingly likely a greater proportion of children’s learning may have to take place remotely.”
NASUWT news release. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Union launches school Covid-19 tracker
Teaching union NEU has launched an interactive Covid-19 map to give staff and parents up-to-date information on infection rates around their local schools.  The website gives information about the Covid-19 rate in the locality of every school in England and will be updated weekly.
NEU news release and Covid-19 map for schools. BBC News Online. Morning Star. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Skint schools can’t afford to handle Covid-19
Headteachers have warned they do not have enough funding from the government to meet the extra costs of the Covid-19 crisis. The new president of the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT), Ruth Davies, said schools are being expected to implement Covid safety arrangements “without any additional funding at all”, placing pressure on “exhausted” school leaders.
NAHT news release. The Guardian. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Lecturers and students in joint Covid action call
Lecturers’ union UCU and the National Union of Students (NUS) have called for online working, students to be allowed to return home if they wish and funding guarantees to safeguard universities' finances and protect jobs. A joint statement notes: “We are not prepared to take chances with the health and safety of students, staff or local communities and neither should government or vice chancellors. UCU and NUS are therefore demanding that the Westminster government take urgent action to support and protect staff and students on our campuses and the wider communities that they serve.”
UCU news release. Statement from education secretary Gavin Williamson, 29 September 2002. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Fire alert for Covid lock down universities
Firefighters and education staff have warned universities that it is “dangerous and illegal” to block or lock fire exits, after pictures emerged of a locked fire exit at a student accommodation block. Obstructing fire exits "can, and has, cost lives in the past", the leaders of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and University and College Union (UCU) warned, in a letter to all UK universities, demanding that the safety of students and staff be “absolutely paramount.”
UCU news release. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Unite wins free buses at Covid-hit Bernard Matthews
Bernard Matthews has suspended fares on company-subsidised buses to all of its sites to help prevent the spread of coronavirus through car sharing, following pressure from Unite. The move came after the company said the Covid-19 outbreak at its site in Holton, Suffolk, could be linked to low paid workers sharing cars on the work commute. 
Unite news release and earlier release. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Victory for union on bus remote sign on
Unite has scored a victory in its campaign against the introduction of highly controversial remote sign-on operating procedures. Bus operator HCT (Hackney Community Transport) confirmed to the union that it has withdrawn proposals to introduce remote sign on at its Walthamstow garage in North East London.
Unite news release. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Weekly testing of NHS staff needed to stop the virus
A call by the Health and Social Care Committee for the weekly virus testing of NHS staff has been welcomed by health service union UNISON. Commenting on the 1 October Commons select committee report, committee chair Jeremy Hunt said: “Weekly testing of NHS staff has been repeatedly promised in hotspot areas - but is still not being delivered.”
Commons Health and Social Care committee news release and report, 1 October 2020. UNISON news release. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: NHS testing contractor broke safety laws
NHS Covid-19 testing contractor The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) breached several criminal health and safety rules, and official investigation has found. TDL is one of the key providers of tests and courier services for the NHS, including by transporting Covid-19 samples from the Nightingale hospital in London to laboratories.
Morning Star. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Government figures contradict PM's PPE claim
Despite prime minister Boris Johnson's claim that 70 per cent of personal protective equipment (PPE) is to be made in the UK, his government's own figures suggest the total is likely to be closer to a third. More than 3.5 billion items, including aprons, goggles, facemasks and gloves, have been bought by the government this year to protect NHS and social care staff from the spread of coronavirus.
BBC News Online. Prime minister’s statement, 30 September 2020. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Concern at Unipres Covid site clock in
Unite has said a Sunderland manufacturing firm hit by a Covid-19 cluster has been ‘diligent’ in its efforts to prevent infections but said it has raised concerns about possible problems entering the site safely. The union was commenting on an outbreak at automotive parts manufacturer Unipres, which supplies major car firms including Honda, Nissan and Renault.
Unite news release. Northern Echo. The Chronicle. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Coal mine closed after ‘high rate’ of positive tests
An underground drift coal mine in Wales has been closed after several staff tested positive for coronavirus. ‘High rates’ have been linked to Aberpergwm Mine, near Glynneath, in recent days, Neath Port Talbot Council said.
Neath Port Talbot Council news release. BBC News Online. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Unions call for action after MP’s coronavirus breaches
Civil service and rail unions have called for action after a symptomatic MP travelled from Scotland to the House of Commons and completed the return train journey after testing positive for Covid-19. Following the ‘entirely unacceptable’ behaviour of SNP’s Margaret Ferrier, parliamentary union Prospect called on House authorities to suspend the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
Prospect news release. ASLEF news release. BBC News Online. The Guardian. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Global: Amazon ‘in denial’ over work injury ‘crisis’
Online retail giant Amazon is ‘in denial about its appalling safety record’ after a new report revealed accidents are significantly higher in warehouses with robots, the union GMB has said. The union was commenting after a Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) probe found serious injuries are 50 per cent higher for fulfilment centres that have robots than those without.
How Amazon hid its safety crisis, Center for Investigative Reporting, 29 September 2020. GMB news release. BBC News Online. CBS News. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Workers concerned about remote monitoring
Workers are ‘deeply uncomfortable’ about the introduction of remote monitoring technology by employers, a Prospect poll has found. Two-thirds of workers are uncomfortable with workplace tech like keystroke and camera monitoring and wearables being used when working remotely, the union said.
Prospect news release. Hazards workplace privacy webpages. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Sleeper staff in ‘rock solid’ strike for safety
Rail union RMT has said the first of two 48 hour strikes on SERCO Caledonian Sleeper that commenced on 4 October was ‘rock solid’, as its members continued their fight for safe working conditions‎. The RMT general secretary Mick Cash said “it remains a scandal that SERCO appear to have deliberately provoked this dispute and have never had any intention of entering serious talks.”
RMT news release. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Usdaw and retailers want shop violence inquiry
A retail industry coalition has written to Yvette Cooper, the chair of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, calling for an inquiry into violence and abuse against shop workers. The coalition includes retail union Usdaw and trade bodies the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NRFN).
Usdaw news release and petition. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Britain: Second censure for MoD over diving death
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been issued with a Crown Censure by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a military diver died during training. The censure followed an incident on 14 November 2018, where 26-year-old Marine Benjamin McQueen was brought back to surface after he became separated from other divers.
HSE news release. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Zimbabwe: Teachers refuse unsafe return to work
Teachers in Zimbabwe are refusing to return to work after the resumption of some classes, accusing the government of failing to adequately prepare for the opening of schools. Only a limited amount of hand sanitiser has been made available to schools, according to the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), and acute water shortages make handwashing impossible.
The Guardian. VOA News. AllAfrica News. Risks 968. 10 October 2020

Hazards news, 3 October 2020

Britain: Massive under-reporting of Covid cases at food firms
The number of Covid-19 infections at food factories could be more than 30 times higher than reported, according to research that concludes employers have too much influence over official data. A report from the ethical investments consultancy Pirc found just 47 notifications of Covid-19 workplace infections – and no deaths – had been reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) by food manufacturing companies, who employ 430,000 people in the UK, and calculated there have been at least 1,461 infections and six deaths in the sector, with the true toll likely to be even higher.
Unreported deaths. A PIRC sector briefing: Food production, September 2020.
RM Agius. COVID-19: statutory means of scrutinizing workers' deaths and disease, Occupational Medicine, 21 September 2020.
Abdication: HSE has been missing in action throughout the Covid-19 crisis, Hazards, June 2020.  The Observer. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Strict government Covid enforcement – except at work
A sharp disparity between enforcement resources directed at public and workplace breaches of Covid-19 rules has emerged. A funding pot of £60m is to be made available for police and local authorities in England to assist them in enforcing Covid-19 rules, and includes the introduction of Covid ‘marshals’; by contrast, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was provided with a boost to its coffers of just £14m and has not to date prosecuted any firms for breaching criminal safety laws over Covid.
DHSC news release. CIEH news report. UCL Constitution Unit blog. BBC News Online.
TUC crowdsourced database of companies that have published their Covid-secure risk assessment, in compliance with government guidelines. You can view the risk assessments identified so far at covidsecurecheck.uk. Prospect campaign for a fully funded HSE. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: TUC welcomes new short-term working scheme
The TUC has said the government’s announcement of a short-time working scheme ‘is a significant step forward’. The union body was commenting after a 24 September statement from chancellor Riski Sunak announcing a new Jobs Support Scheme.
TUC news release. Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s speech, 24 September 2020. Prime minister’s statement, 22 September 2020. BBC News Online. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: UCU says university teaching must go online
Face-to-face teaching at universities should be halted until the government fixes test-and-trace failures and curbs the spread of Covid-19, the lecturers’ union UCU has said. The warning comes as institutions increasingly take matters into their own hands by switching to majority online-only teaching.
UCU news release, update and letter to the prime minister and news releases on Manchester Metropolitan University and University of Liverpool outbreaks and Scottish university restrictions. The Guardian. BBC News Online and update. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Government must do more to keep schools open and safe
Giving all education staff priority testing, reducing the size of pupil ‘bubbles’ and making face coverings compulsory on school buses would help ensure schools can continue to stay open in the coming weeks, education unions have said. In a joint letter to education secretary Gavin Williamson, UNISON, GMB and Unite outline proposals to reduce the risk of infection for children and staff, and reduce the likelihood of entire schools closing.
Unite news release. GMB news release. The Observer. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Bus passenger face covering fines ‘vanishingly rare’
Over three months after the requirement for face coverings to be worn on public transport was first made compulsory, fines for those not complying with the order are 'vanishingly rare', the union Unite has said. The transport union – whose public transport members have been hit hard by Covid-19 - is warning that the government’s latest announcement of increased fines for not wearing face coverings could make little difference unless accompanied by properly resourced and consistent enforcement.
Unite news release. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Shop workers need respect as Covid rules tighten
Retail trade union Usdaw has called on the shopping public to respect shop workers and follow the necessary in-store safety measures to keep us all safe. The union comments came in its response to new workplace and other Covid-19 rules announced by the prime minister on 22 September.
Usdaw news release. BBC News Online. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Covid-19 is biggest violence flashpoint for shopworkers
Enforcing social distancing measures and the wearing of face coverings are now the biggest triggers for abuse of shopworkers, a survey by Usdaw has found. The union said earlier similar surveys had found consistently that theft from shops and age identification were the major flashpoints, but these had now been overtaken by Covid-related abuse.
Usdaw news release and petition. Morning Star. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Health and care staff need reassurance about the future
Health and care staff need reassurance about next stage of the pandemic, the public sector union UNISON has said. The union was commenting on the health secretary’s announcement of increased production and supply of personal protective equipment for health and care workers.
DHSC news release and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Strategy: Stabilise and build resilience. UNISON news release. NHS Confederation news release. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Coronavirus may cause 'wave' of neurological disease
Covid-19 can cause worrying neurological symptoms like a loss of smell and taste, but Australian scientists are warning the damage the virus causes to the brain may also lead to more serious conditions such as Parkinson's disease. Findings published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease describe a “two-hit hypothesis”: The brain gets inflamed from something like a virus, then something else comes along later causing more damage and eventually Parkinson's disease develops.
Leah C Beauchamp and others. Parkinsonism as a Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic?, Journal of Parkinson's Disease, published online pre-press, 22 September 2020. ABC News. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Brexit chaos could ‘strand’ HGV drivers at ports
Michael Gove has been accused of being ‘evasive and blame-shifting’ on Britain’s border readiness with 100 days to go before full Brexit. Transport union Unite was responding to the Cabinet office minister’s comments to the House of Commons on 23 September on the UK’s preparations for the end of the EU transition period on 31 December, after the government published its scenario document on the implications for the UK’s port trade hubs.
Unite news release. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Uber decision ‘a sad day for the travelling public’
The news that Uber has won its appeal against Transport for London's (TfL) decision not to renew its licence has been met with concern by Unite. The union, which represents nearly 1,000 taxi cab drivers in the capital, was reacting to the ruling by Westminster magistrates court that Uber was now ‘fit and proper’ to hold an operator’s licence.
Unite news release. London mayor statement. BBC News Online. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Call for immediate action on deadly silica risks
MPs are being urged to take immediate action to prevent avoidable deaths and illness caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), the scientific society on workplace health exposures, has written to MPs calling for action on a dust hazard which could put over 2 million workers at risk in the construction industry alone.
BOHS news release. Unite silica dust campaign and silica exposure register.
Biting the dust: HSE defends a silica standard six times more deadly, Hazards, number 148, December 2019.
ACTION: Send an e-postcard to HSE demanding it introduce a more protective UK silica standard no higher than 0.05mg/m³ and with a phased move to 0.025mg/m³. www.hazards.org/HSEstopkillingus. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: HSE inspections to target site dust
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors across Great Britain will be targeting construction firms to check that their health standards are up to scratch during a month-long inspection initiative, starting on 5 October 2020. The safety regulator says it will be looking at the measures businesses have in place to protect their workers’ lungs from potentially deadly hazards including asbestos, silica and wood dust.
HSE news release. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: RMT members to strike for safety on Caledonian Sleeper
RMT members on the Caledonian Sleeper have voted in favour of strike action and action short of a strike in a safety dispute. The union said this showed the clear desire to take industrial action against private operator SERCO's lack of concern for members’ safety and wellbeing and the company's refusal to negotiate with their union.
RMT news release and strike talks update. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: RMT says unfilled vacancies are causing safety hazards
Safety on Scotland’s rail network is being jeopardised by the ‘double whammy’ of 200 unfilled job vacancies at Network Rail and private contractors planning redundancies, rail union RMT has warned. A motion tabled in the Scottish parliament calls on the Scottish government to ensure safety on the network by employing sufficient workers to maintain the rail infrastructure.
RMT news release. Morning Star. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Progress on law to protect Scottish shopworkers
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the Scottish parliament’s stage one unanimous vote for a new law to protect shop workers from abuse. The vote on 24 September allows the Bill to go forward for detailed scrutiny in committee. The Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill is promoted by Daniel Johnson MSP.
Usdaw news release. Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Britain: Firm fined £2m after water jetting fatality
A company has been fined £2 million after a worker suffered a fatal injury while cleaning waste water pipes. Birmingham Magistrates Court heard how, on 18 June 2017, Joseph McDonald was using high pressure water jetting equipment to clear paint residue from pipes in the paint shop at a car manufacturing site in Solihull.
HSE news release. Leamington Observer. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Canada: Anger as ‘non-profit’ pushes asbestos globally
A lobby group promoting asbestos sales in developing nations and listed in Quebec as a public interest ‘non-profit’ should be deregistered by the provincial government, health campaigners have said. In a letter to Quebec Premier François Legault, Kathleen Ruff of RightOnCanada and Dr Jean Zigby, past president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, call for the International Chrysotile Association (ICA) to be stripped of its non-profit status under the Quebec Companies Act.
RightOnCanada blog and 21 September letter to the Quebec Premier. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Europe: Industry tries to stall hazardous chemicals database
A coalition of 40 manufacturing industry organisations has urged the European Commission to put the brakes on a new EU chemicals database requiring suppliers selling products containing hazardous substances to provide extra information about their chemical constituents. The trade bodies, which represent business across wide sections of the economy from aerospace to battery manufacturers, wrote to commission president Ursula von der Leyen on 21 September urging her to postpone by at least one year the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) new Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) database.
Ends Europe. Industries letter to EC president Ursula von der Leyen. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Europe: Work cancer action welcome, but not enough
Trade unions have welcomed action by the European Commission they say will protect over 1.1 million people from work-related cancer by putting binding exposure limits on three dangerous substances. The Commission has proposed Binding Occupational Exposure Limit Values (BOELs) on acrylonitrile, nickel compounds and benzene as part of an update to its Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMD).
EC news release and Commission Proposal for the fourth revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive. ETUC news release. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

USA: Fast line speeds linked to high Covid rates
Forty per cent of the poultry plants participating in the US agricultural department’s (USDA) controversial line speed waiver programme have had Covid-19 outbreaks, according to a new analysis by the Food and Environment Reporting Network. Unions and workers’ rights groups have warned continually that faster speeds on crowded processing lines could expose slaughterhouse workers to a greater risk of Covid-19.
FERN report. Covid-19 demands from the global food union IUF. Risks 967. 3 October 2020

Hazards news, 26 September 2020

Britain: Prime minister told to ‘get a grip’ on work safety
The prime minister must ‘get a grip’ on safety at work and extend support for jobs, the TUC has said. The union body was commenting after Boris Johnson told the Commons on 22 September that the UK had reached “a perilous turning point” as he set out new coronavirus restrictions for England which could last for up to six months.
TUC news release. Prime minister’s statement, 22 September 2020. Scotland first minister’s statement. Wales first minister’s statement. Sky News. The Express. Edinburgh News. The Herald. BBC News Online, changes at a glance and news update. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: Gove ‘safer’ workplaces claim exposes risks cover-up
The UK government’s refusal to admit the growing Covid-19 risks arising from work has been further exposed after Michael Gove claimed only limited work restrictions were necessary because “workplace are now safer”. The comments from the Cabinet Office minister, trailing the prime minister’s announcement, came four days after latest official Public Health England (PHE) figures showed workplace outbreaks are at a record high.
BBC News Online.  Weekly Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance report Summary of COVID-19 surveillance systems Year: 2020; Week: 38 and National COVID-19 surveillance data report: 18 September 2020 (week 38), PHE, 18 September 2020. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: Safety measures a priority to tackle infection spread
Decent sick pay, social distancing and an effective testing system are key to reversing soaring coronavirus infection rates, UNISON has said. The public service union was commenting after the UK's Covid-19 alert level moved up to 4 on 21 September, meaning transmission is “high or rising exponentially.”
UNISON news release and news releases on sick pay for care workers and a fit-for-purpose testing system. Update from the Chief Medical Officers on the Covid alert level, 21 September 2020. ONS mortality figures for England and Wales, 22 September 2020. BBC News Online. The Guardian. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: Many thousands of work Covid-19 cases unreported
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance outlining when employers should report work-related Covid-19 may miss ‘many thousands’ of cases and should be widened, according to a new study. Professor Raymond Agius of the University of Manchester’s Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health found the HSE guidance doesn’t correspond with Office for National Statistics (ONS) data on the highest risk jobs, adding: “Available evidence suggests that it might have failed in capturing many thousands of work related Covid-19 disease cases and hundreds of deaths.”
SOM news release.
RM Agius. COVID-19: statutory means of scrutinizing workers' deaths and disease, Occupational Medicine, kqaa165, 21 September 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqaa165 Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: UNISON recruits record numbers of safety reps
UNISON’s summer campaign to recruit new health and safety reps has already paid dividends, with over 1,000 members so far declaring an interest in taking on the role. UNISON said it will hold introductory webinars for potential new safety reps on 29 September and 13 October.
UNISON news release and safety reps’ campaign page. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: Improved coronavirus safety enforcement call
A warning that curfews could be imposed in London to fight a second Covid-19 wave, has prompted a union call for stricter enforcement of safety rules to protect workers. Commenting on an interview in the Evening Standard with Public Health England director Professor Kevin Fenton, Unite secretary for the London and Eastern region, Pete Kavanagh, said: “In workplaces, we need more inspections and fines on employers who are not safeguarding their employees, coupled with firms and the authorities working with trade union health and safety reps to keep outbreaks at bay.”
Unite news release. Evening Standard. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: Hospitals told not to test staff or patients
NHS hospitals have been told they should not run their own coronavirus testing for staff and patients who have symptoms – despite a nationwide shortage in tests. Leaked NHS documents, passed to The Independent, show the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has now capped funding for Covid-19 testing in the health service, even though the lack of tests has left hospital doctors, nurses, teachers and other key workers forced to stay at home.
The Independent. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: NEU demands urgent action on testing in schools
Teaching union NEU is urging the UK urging government to take emergency measures if schools and colleges are to keep safe and open. It says as the testing regime buckles under the strain of demand, staff and pupils cannot get tested, or get results, and schools cannot deal with outbreaks or sustain full opening if people are unnecessarily isolating.
NEU news release. BBC News Online. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: Education staff 'should have priority for tests'
Everyone working in schools in Wales should be prioritised for coronavirus testing, education unions have said. They said staff planning proved difficult without the “ongoing threat” of absences caused because employees cannot find out if they have Covid-19.
GMB news release. BBC News Online. Wales Online. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: Hundreds sent home in school outbreaks in Wales
Hundreds of children at one of Wales' biggest schools were sent home last week to self-isolate after a pupil tested positive for coronavirus. A total of 455 sixth formers at Olchfa Comprehensive School must stay at home for two weeks; itis believed that more than 50 schools across Wales have reported Covid-19 incidents to date, although additional cases have since emerged including five Cardiff primary schools where staff and pupils are self-isolating.
Swansea Council news release. BBC News Online and related story and update. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: SEN pupil transport a 'tragedy waiting to happen'
The UK government’s ‘heartless’ approach to vulnerable special educational needs (SEN) pupils’ transport to school is a tragedy waiting to happen, the GMB has warned. The union said while most school buses have a strict limit of 30 pupils on a double decker bus to stop the virus spreading, across England SEN pupils are being herded on to small mini buses crammed to capacity - meaning that social distancing is impossible.
GMB news release. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: More Wetherspoon pubs hit by staff infections
Two more pubs run by the JD Wetherspoon chain have been hit by coronavirus outbreaks among staff. Eight workers at a Swansea Wetherspoon’s pub tested positive for coronavirus, the chain said. And on 21 September, it said 30 staff from the Lime Kiln pub in Liverpool were self-isolating.
BBC News Online. Liverpool Echo. Daily Mail. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: Law firm closed over links to 18 Covid cases
A solicitors’ firm in Bolton linked to 18 cases of coronavirus has had its office closed by the local council. Accident Injury Solicitors was served a closure notice by environmental health officers on 18 September, with immediate effect, after family members related to employees working at the firm raised concerns about its practices.
Bolton News. Manchester Evening News. The Law Gazette. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: Unite anger at post-Brexit chaos revelations
Unite has called for the public release of a leaked government document warning of potential queues of up to 7,000 lorries across Kent after the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December. Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “The government must now release the leaked document on prospective impacts in Kent, as well as similar documents for other port regions across the UK, so workers, communities, councils and businesses can properly prepare
Unite news release. The Guardian. BBC News Online. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: ASLEF dismay at minister’s ‘glib’ train crash comments
Train drivers’ union ASLEF has accused the UK transport secretary of “treading on the feelings” of those bereaved in last month’s Stonehaven rail crash, after the cabinet minister said the site looked “like a Hornby train set thrown up in the air”. Kevin Lindsay, organiser for train drivers’ union ASLEF in Scotland, hit out at Grant Shapps’ comment in the Commons on 18 September, calling the remark “glib”.
ASLEF news release. Press and Journal. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Britain: Welcome move on spitting, no move on protection
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed official recognition that deliberately spitting or coughing at a worker is ‘assault’, but is concerned workers in the sector will continue to lack the necessary legal protection. The union was responding on 15 September to a Sentencing Council consultation on assault offences, which proposes the introduction of ‘intention to cause fear of serious harm, including disease transmission’ as a high culpability factor, with ‘spitting or coughing’ as an aggravating factor.
Usdaw news release and petition. Sentencing Council assault offences consultation, closed 15 September 2020. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Government refuses to protect shop workers
Retail trade union Usdaw has said it is ‘disappointed but not surprised’ by the UK government’s 15 September response to a parliamentary petition calling for a law to protect retail staff from violence, threats and abuse. Paddy Lillis commented: “We deeply disappointed by the government’s response to the petition.”
Usdaw news release and petition. Violence and Abuse Toward Shop Staff – Government Response. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

China: Factory leak spreads animal disease
Thousands of people in northwest China have been diagnosed with a highly infectious bacterial disease after an outbreak caused by a leak at a pharmaceutical company. Authorities in the city of Lanzhou confirmed that 3,245 people had tested positive for brucellosis caused by “contaminated exhaust” from a factory in Lanzhou producing vaccines for animals.
CNN News. The Independent.
Resources: Brucellosis in humans and animals, WHO. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

France: Burned out virus testers strike over conditions
Hundreds of workers at Covid-19 laboratories in France went on strike on 17 September over the poor working conditions in the over-stretched coronavirus testing system. The CGT union said the strike was disrupting testing in some towns and could drag on if laboratory owners failed to deal with staff shortages and increase pay.
US News and World Report. The Telegraph. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Global: Health workers hit hard by Covid infections
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said health care workers make up about 1 in 6 cases of coronavirus infection around the world and more than a third of cases in some countries. “While health workers represent less than 3 per cent of the population in the large majority of countries and less than 2 per cent in almost all low- and middle-income countries, around 14 per cent of Covid-19 cases reported to WHO are among health workers,” the UN agency said in a statement.
WHO news release, WHO director-general speech and Health Worker Safety Charter.
Other resources: Caring for those who care: National Programmes for Occupational Health for Health Workers, Policy Brief by WHO and ILO. Protection of health and safety of health workers: Checklist for healthcare facilities, WHO.
OpenWHO online course Occupational health and safety for health workers in the context of COVID-19, short free course aimed at health care workers.
The Hill. US News and World Report.
WHO knew? Complacency over work virus risks a world class disaster, Hazards magazine, number 150, 2020. Risks 966. 26 September 2020

USA: Safety regulator has abandoned at risk workers
Estimates based on data from the US government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that more than 150,000 US hospital and nursing home staff have been infected by the coronavirus at work, and more than 700 have died. As the epidemic has spread, many other workers, including emergency responders, corrections officers, transit workers, and workers in meat and poultry factories, farms, grocery stores, and warehouses, also have been infected, with “a devastating effect on communities of colour”, a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has warned.
David Michaels and Gregory R Wagner. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Worker Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic, JAMA, published online 16 September 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.16343 Risks 966. 26 September 2020

Hazards news, 19 September 2020

Britain: Many UK workplaces still not ‘Covid-Secure’ – TUC
Many workplaces are still not taking adequate measures to protect employees from coronavirus, the TUC has said. The warning came as the union body’s new polling revealed that fewer than half of employees (46 per cent) say their workplaces have introduced safe social distancing.
TUC news release and crowdsourced database of companies that have published their Covid-secure risk assessment, in compliance with government guidelines. You can view the risk assessments identified so far at covidsecurecheck.uk. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: BME workers shouldered more risk during pandemic
Black and minority ethnic (BME) workers have been asked to “shoulder more risk” during the pandemic, often working in insecure jobs with fewer rights at work, the TUC has revealed. The union body said BME people are far more likely to be in precarious work and in jobs with higher coronavirus mortality rates than white people.
TUC news release and analysis of BME people working in professions with higher mortality rates. NASUWT news release. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Weak labour law linked to high Covid death rates
The “lamentable” state of workplace rights in Britain is directly responsible for the devastating impact of Covid-19, a TUC Congress fringe meeting has heard. Professor Keith Ewing told the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) meeting: “It is no coincidence that we have one of the worst health outcomes in the developed world and one of the most highly deregulated labour law systems.” 
IER comment. Morning Star. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Safety reps are key to a safe economy
The statutory right of union health and safety representatives to paid work time to perform their functions is essential and must be protected, teaching union NASUWT has told TUC Congress. An NASUWT motion adopted at the national union event highlights the importance of trained health and safety representatives in reviewing Covid-19 risk assessments and ensuring workplace safety.
NASUWT news release. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Unions must work together to keep society safe
Civil service union PCS has said it will work with other unions to help keep everyone in society safe and to hold government to account. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka told the TUC Congress the handling of the coronavirus crisis by Boris Johnson’s government had contributed to thousands of deaths.
PCS news release. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: NHS staff forced off work due to testing shortages
A lack of coronavirus tests for NHS staff is leading to staff absences and services being put at risk, hospital bosses have warned. NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts in England, said staff are having to self-isolate rather than work because they cannot get tests for themselves or family members.
NHS Providers news release. NHS Confederation news release. BBC News Online. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Key workers need a fit-for-purpose testing system now
An effective system of testing is crucial to ensure workers aren’t isolating unnecessarily and can do their jobs, public service union UNISON has said. Commenting on shortages of coronavirus tests for key workers, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “A squeeze on capacity when schools reopened was entirely predictable, but the government still wasn’t ready,” adding: “It beggars belief that ministers aren’t even able to prepare for the expected.”
UNISON news release. BBC News Online. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Union slams PM’s failure to address school safety
The government must address school safety concerns after a sharp rise in Covid cases in in England in recent days, teaching union NEU has said. The union comments came after Office of National Statistics released on 11 September revealed Covid-19 cases had risen by 60 per cent in a week.
NEU news release and letter to the prime minister. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Only half of school staff given Covid training
Less than half of school support staff have received Covid-19 health and safety training, a GMB back to school survey has found. In the poll of more than 2,600 teaching assistants, caretakers, admin and catering staff from across England, 51 per cent answered no to the question ‘have you had training on Covid-19 health and safety measures and working practices including infection control and correct use of PPE?’.
GMB news release. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Wiltshire school sends home all 284 pupils
Nearly 300 pupils at a Wiltshire school have been sent home after one of them tested positive for coronavirus. The 284 year nine students at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy have been asked to self-isolate and take classes remotely for 14 days.
Wiltshire Council news releases. BBC News Online. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Unions must lead on second wave prevention
A second Covid wave is preventable if ministers follow the science and unions organise to make them act on it, UCU general secretary Jo Grady has told the TUC Congress. The lecturers’ union leader said unions are the only organisations with the power to keep workplaces and the wider population safe.
UCU news release and naming and shaming initiative. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Wetherspoons claims ‘no risk’ as 66 staff test positive
Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has said that 66 of its workers have tested positive for the coronavirus but maintains that visiting pubs is safe. The company, which employs more than 41,000 people, said had been one or more cases among staff at 50 of its 861 open pubs.
Wetherspoon update. BBC News Online. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Seven Covid cases linked to police training college
Seven people with links to the driving school at the Police Scotland training college in Tulliallan have tested positive for coronavirus. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank and file officers, said the news was concerning but not a surprise.  
SPF news release. NHS Fife news release and coronavirus news webpages. BBC News Online. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Unions welcome face coverings rule for shops in Wales
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed an announcement requiring the wearing of face coverings in shops in Wales. The Welsh government move comes after repeat calls from the union, and on the heels of a demand from Wales TUC for masks to be made compulsory in shops and secondary schools.
Usdaw news release. Wales TUC news release. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Prospect blasts ‘outdated’ attitudes to work safety
Outdated attitudes that saw health and safety regulation as a burden on business must be banished if we are to adjust to the impact of the global pandemic, Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy has said. He praised the work of Prospect members working for the HSE who have been trying to keep the public safe as they return to workplaces, but argued that the agency had been performing ‘regulatory gymnastics’, with the number of inspectors now lower than the number of MPs.
Prospect news release and campaign for a fully funded HSE. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: London bus drivers in strike ballot over remote sign on
London bus drivers employed by Singapore-owned Metroline will be balloted next week for industrial action in a dispute over the company’s proposals to introduce a controversial and ‘reckless’ remote sign on system. Remote sign on means drivers do not report to a depot to start work but meet their bus and begin work at an alternative location such as a bus stop.
Unite news release. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: RSPCA workers at risk from violent pet owners
RSPCA lone workers visiting violent animal owners face a risk of attack, as a ‘failure of management’ crisis continues to dog the 196-year-old charity, Unite has warned. The union said long-serving employees of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) could lose their ‘homes for life’, as the charity plans to sack nearly 300 workers to plug a £47 million funding gap, as well closing four animal centres.
Unite news release. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Usdaw calls for better protection of shop workers
Retail trade union Usdaw has repeated its call for a change in the law to better protect shop workers. Dave McCrossen, Usdaw’s deputy general secretary, said: “That’s why Usdaw has launched a petition calling on the government to make it a specific offence to abuse, threaten or assault a shopworker.”
Usdaw news release. Sign the parliamentary petition calling for protection of retail staff from violence, threats and abuse. Government response to the petition. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Jail terms for attacking emergency workers to be doubled
The maximum penalty for assaulting police officers, nurses or any other emergency workers is to be doubled from one to two years, the government has announced. A law will be introduced raising the maximum sentence to two years in jail and will, the MoJ said, offer greater protection to emergency workers, including police, prison officers, custody officers, fire service personnel, search and rescue services and frontline health workers.
The Guardian. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: UNISON in homecare worker travel time pay victory
The government must end the practice of employers denying care staff wages for time spent travelling between visits to the sick and elderly, UNISON has said. The call from the public sector union follows a significant legal victory by a group of homecare workers over illegal pay, in a case brought by UNISON.
UNISON news release. The Guardian. More on the hazards of low pay. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Britain: Can the tsunami of work clusters be stopped? Webinar, 24 September
‘Can the tsunami of work clusters be stopped to ensure the health, safety and welfare of workers and our communities, when the government is still waging a class war?’, the national Hazards Campaign is asking. The latest in the campaign’s highly successful series of Thursday webinars, to start at 6pm on 24 September, will discuss ‘how we prioritise workers’ health and safety in an unfair society.’
Where are the sirens? Can the tsunami of work clusters be stopped?, Hazards Campaign webinar, Thursday 24 September 2020, 6.00pm-7.30pm. Free. Register. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

DR Congo: At least 50 killed DRC gold mine collapse
At least 50 people are thought to have died when an artisanal gold mine collapsed near Kamituga in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a local mining NGO said. The cave-in occurred on the Detroit mine site at around 3pm local time on 11 September following heavy rains, said Emiliane Itongwa, president of the Initiative of Support and Social Supervision of Women.
Aljazeera. The Guardian. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

USA: Under Trump, worker safety has been abandoned
An editorial board statement in the New York Times has expressed dismay at the lack of protection afforded US workers by the Trump administration. “Even as the dangers and virulence of the coronavirus have become more glaring, infecting 6.5 million Americans and killing nearly 200,000, the nation’s top worker protection arm has been asleep at the wheel,” the editorial board noted.
New York Times. OSHA news release. UFCW news releases on the Smithfield Foods and JBS fines. Risks 965. 19 September 2020

Hazards news, 12 September 2020

Britain: Self-isolating workers plunged into financial hardship
The NHS Test and Trace system could fail unless ministers boost Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and ensure everyone is eligible for it, the TUC has warned. The union body was commenting as polling revealed more than 4 in 10 workers would be plunged into financial hardship if forced to self-isolate for two weeks on SSP.
TUC news release and blog. Sick pay and debt, TUC, 9 September 2020. The Guardian. Morning Star. More on work hazards and low pay. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: ‘Poverty’ sick pay drives care workers to work sick
Social care workers must be given full pay when sick, the union GMB has said. The union call came after its survey of thousands of care workers across the UK showed that a ‘shocking’ 81 per cent of the respondents across the UK would be forced into work if they became ill on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
GMB news release and Care Full Pay campaign. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: UCU slams PM’s ridiculous plan for uni Covid outbreaks
The prime minister’s plan to force students to stay in their university town or city in the event of a future lockdown has been slated as ‘ridiculously irresponsible’ by lecturers’ union UCU. The union said universities should instead move the majority of teaching online to avoid students having to travel across the country and risk being locked down in unfamiliar surroundings.
UCU news release and related news release. Principles for Managing SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Associated with Higher Education, SAGE, 3 September 2020. Principles for Managing SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Associated with Further Education, SAGE, 3 September 2020. Higher education: reopening buildings and campuses, Department for Education, updated 10 September 2020. Morning Star. Times Higher Education. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Brum university ‘putting city at risk’ warn unions
Unions at the University of Birmingham have expressed serious concerns about plans to reopen the Edgbaston campus. UCU and UNISON said there have been at least three confirmed cases of Covid-19 on campus among support staff, including one case that unions believe is likely to be the result of onsite transmission, before the campus has even reopened.
UCU news release and related release. BBC News Online. Birmingham Mail. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Colleges must prioritise student wellbeing, NUS warns
Coronavirus has had a huge impact on the wellbeing of students, with 60 per cent of students reporting low self-esteem, a new survey from the National Union of Students (NUS) has found. Students are also more likely to have experienced feelings of isolation during this period, with 73 per cent of students interacting less with students from their institution, 72 per cent less with their course mates and 59 per cent less with their friends.
NUS news release. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Dozens of schools hit by Covid outbreaks
Dozens of schools across England and Wales have reported coronavirus outbreaks, prompting some to shut their doors while others have sent warnings home to parents about infections. A week after children began returning to classrooms for the first time since lockdown in March, over 60 schools have been battling outbreaks.
The Guardian. BBC News Online on the Caerphilly school and Haverhill school outbreaks. Sheffield Star. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Scottish government urged to tackle teacher burnout
The heads and deputy heads running Scottish schools are facing a burnout risk from the “excessive” and “unsustainable” workloads they are facing, their union EIS has warned. The union said the additional workload demands being placed on school management teams (SMTs), compounded by ‘constantly changing’ official guidance, created a “risk to health in the current situation – stress-related illness as a result of ever-increasing workload, and increased risk of potential Covid infection as a result of working, often without physical distancing, with large groups of colleagues and/or pupils.”
EIS news release. Morning Star. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Wales TUC wants rethink on masks rules
Wales TUC has called on the Welsh government to re-think its approach to face coverings. Commenting after a rise in cases, union body’s general secretary, Shavanah Taj, said: “These developments also highlight the challenges in enforcing the Covid rules and we look forward to working closely with the Welsh government and other partners through the new National Health and Safety forum to ensure that employers are meeting their obligations to keep their workers safe.” 
Wales TUC news release. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Expert questions drive to get people back in work
One of the UK’s top infectious disease experts has suggested the government should “maybe pause at the headlong rush to get everybody back into offices” in England, as a minister admitted there was not yet a certified on-the-spot Covid test available. Prof Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist from the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, said it was still too soon to know if reopening England’s schools last week had contributed to a significant spread of the disease.
Prime minister’s speech, 9 September 2020. BBC News Online. Evening Standard. The Guardian and related story. The Telegraph. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Civil servants must not be forced into work - unions
Government plans to get 80 per cent of civil servants in England to attend their usual workplace each week by the end of September are not acceptable, civil service unions have said. The unions PCS and Prospect were commenting after the permanent secretaries running government departments were told to greatly increase the number of staff in workplaces.
PCS news release. Prospect news release. Daily Mail. BBC News Online. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Unite says no go on Go Ahead cuts
Transport union Unite has launched an international campaign to stop the owners of the Manchester bus company Go North West from using Covid-19 ‘as cover’ for making savage cuts to bus drivers' pay and conditions, while victimising and gagging a Unite union representative. Unite general secretary Len McCluskey has written to Go Ahead Group's CEO David Brown to warn him that Unite will be using all available resources to provide “immediate assistance to our members.”
Unite news release. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: RMT blasts Tory MP for temperature checks blunder
A call by a Tory MP for over-stretched rail staff to take the temperatures of passengers has been blasted by the union RMT. Nickie Aiken, the Conservative MP for Cities of London and Westminster, made the call for public transport workers to conduct temperature checks on commuters travelling into London hubs.
RMT news release. Comments from Nickie Aiken MP. Morning Star. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Peers back TUC call for help for vulnerable workers
A group of cross-party peers is backing calls from the TUC and charities for more government support for clinically vulnerable people going back to workplaces. The national union body and the coalition of charities including Age UK, Diabetes UK, Macmillan and the MS Society want a guaranteed decent income and job security for vulnerable people while infection risks remain high.
Morning Star.
Job security: Saving the jobs of those who cannot work at home, but who have to stay at home, TUC, July 2020. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Big outbreak on Amazon construction site
A dedicated coronavirus testing centre has been set up by construction contractor Bowmer + Kirkland after 39 construction workers tested positive on one site over a six-day period. Nottinghamshire County Council is stepping-up testing at the Amazon warehouse site in Sutton-in-Ashfield, to offer free tests for the 700 workers.
Nottinghamshire County Council news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Jaguar Land Rover hit by Covid outbreak
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed an outbreak of Covid-19 at its Solihull plant - with four workers testing positive. The company has also revealed other employees who may have come into contact with the confirmed cases were now self-isolating.
Birmingham Mail. Daily Mail. Morning Star. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Coronavirus means there ain’t no chicken tonight
A branch of KFC in Glasgow has been closed after six members of staff tested positive for coronavirus. The fast food restaurant on Pollokshaws Road has been shut for two weeks as a precaution, the company confirmed on 6 September.
BBC News Online. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: TUC Congress 2020, 14-15 September
The TUC’s Congress 2020 is about to kick off! The event will hear from Labour leader Keir Starmer, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady, as well as union leaders and frontline wrkers.
Sign up for TUC Congress 2020, 14-15 September – and see the dedicated TUC Congress webpages include the agenda, programme and details of fringe events. Sign up for Congress updates. Share on Facebook and twitter using #TUC20. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Britain: Webinar on Covid-19: LGBT+ and black workers
What has been the impact of Covid-19 on LGBT+ and black workers? Join TUC experts Quinn Roache and Wilf Sullivan on 16 September to find out how you can support colleagues facing redundancy and the effects of the economic downturn.
The impact of Covid-19: LGBT+ and black workers, Wednesday 16 September 2020, 14:00-14:45. Register for the webinar. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Ireland: Meat firms must look after their workers
The rights of workers in Ireland’s meat industry need strengthening, and collective representation for those workers is important, the leader of the Irish government has said. “That will form part of the government’s continuing engagement with the industry,” Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil (the Irish parliament).
Irish Examiner. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Pakistan: Many dead in marble mine collapse
At least 22 workers have been killed and dozens are battling for their lives after a 7 September rock collapse at a famed marble mine in Pakistan's Ziarat Ghar mountain. Kemal Özkan, assistant general secretary with the global union for the sector, IndustriALL, commented: “It’s a massacre,” adding: “Pakistan cannot wait for more workers dying and must work with national and international agencies, including the ILO and global unions, to improve mine safety.”
IndustriALL news release. The Hindu. Discourse on Development. Risks 964. 12 September 2020

Hazards news, 6 September 2020

Britain: Jobs, security, dignity – TUC Congress 2020, 14-15 September
The TUC’s Congress 2020 is going ahead – and is set to be the biggest ever. The national union body says every trade unionist is invited to join the event, the first to take place online. On the mornings of Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 September, trade union members from across the UK will discuss the huge impact of coronavirus on working lives and how to stop mass unemployment.
Sign up for TUC Congress 2020, 14-15 September – and see the dedicated TUC Congress webpages include the agenda, programme and details of fringe events. Sign up to Congress updates. Share on Facebook and twitter using #TUC20. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: PM told to drop the back-to-work scare campaign
Boris Johnson has been urged to produce a “credible plan” for persuading more workers to return to the office instead of relying on what unions have condemned as a “scare campaign”. The government is expected to launch a publicity campaign in the coming days to encourage more workers to return to the office, and advise employers about what they can do to keep staff safe.
TUC news release. Daily Telegraph. The Mirror. The Guardian and related article. The Independent. Evening Standard. Morning Star. BBC News Online. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Scottish unions reject ‘shambolic’ UK government push
Scotland’s national union body has dismissed the ‘shambolic’ UK government drive to pressure people back into their workplaces. Roz Foyer, STUC general secretary, said: “It’s highly dangerous for the UK government to be pressuring workers who don’t have to be based there back into the workplace and it needs to be made clear to all Scottish workers that this is not in line with public health guidance here in Scotland.”
STUC news release. BBC News Online. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Covid warning as a million students set for uni return
Universities in the UK are being urged to drop plans for face-to-face teaching until Christmas in order to prevent a second wave of coronavirus. With students set to return in September, academics' union UCU said more than a million students moving around the country was “a recipe for disaster.”
The Observer. BBC News Online.
Independent Sage Consultation Statement on Universities in the context of SARS-CoV-2, 21 August 2020.
Resources: How to measure ventilation in a classroom, Harvard University. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Government ‘abdicating responsibility’ on work risks
The UK government has been accused of “abdicating responsibility” for making workplaces safe before urging people back to offices, ahead of the launch of a publicity campaign aimed at reducing working from home. The Independent Sage (I-Sage) group of scientific advisers has called for a national system of inspections to make sure even the worst employers are complying with social distancing best practice to keep workers safe.
Independent Sage YouTube channel, 28 August 2020 and The COVID-19 Safe Workplace Charter and briefing document on ending work lockdowns in GB. Hazards Campaign news release. The Independent. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: 'Paltry’ £13 a day is not enough to help self-isolate
The UK government’s pilot of payments of £13 a day to people on low incomes who need to self-isolate is insufficient, unions have warned. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Every worker should have the right to decent sick pay so they can help stop the spread of the virus.”
Department of Health and Social Care news release. TUC news release. STUC news release. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Welsh care workers to get full coronavirus sick pay
All care workers in Wales will be entitled to full pay whilst off sick or self-isolating due to coronavirus. The commitment to top up wages by Welsh health minister Vaughn Gethin was welcomed by the GMB.
GMB news release. BBC News Online. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Arriva accused of ‘lax response’ to bus driver infection
Bus company Arriva has been accused of a ‘lax response’ to public and worker safety after one of its bus drivers tested positive for coronavirus. Unite, which represents over 60,000 bus drivers throughout the UK, raised its concerns following the news that a driver based at Arriva’s Southern Counties Northfleet depot in North Kent tested positive on 25 August.
Unite news release. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Death linked to poor PPE guidance for home care workers
A home care worker who did not wear protective equipment may have infected a client with a fatal case of coronavirus during weeks of contradictory UK government guidance on whether the kit was needed or not, an official investigation has found. The government’s confusion about how much protection care workers visiting homes needed is detailed in a report into the death of an unnamed person by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB), which conducts independent investigations of patient safety concerns in NHS-funded care in England.
HSIB news release and report, PPE: care workers delivering homecare during the Covid-19 response, HSIB, 27 August 2020. The Guardian. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Chicken plant with rising cases allowed to reopen
A food processing plant in Scotland that was closed due to a cluster of Covid-19 cases has been given the go-ahead to reopen, despite a rising number of infections. A 28 August update from NHS Tayside, just four days ahead of the scheduled reopening, said in the previous 24 hours the number of positive cases linked to the 2 Sisters factory in Coupar Angus has risen by 11 to 188.
NHS Tayside update. BBC News Online. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Banham Poultry must ‘step up’ on sick pay
Hundreds of workers at the Banham Poultry factory in Attleborough, Norfolk, and their families have been instructed to self-isolate. Authorities reported on 1 September that 104 staff had tested positive for coronavirus. Unite said the affected workers must receive ‘adequate sick pay’.
Unite news release. Norfolk County Council 28 August news update and 1 September update. Eastern Daily Press. Environmental Health News. BBC News Online. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Grantown abattoir shuts after rise in cases
An abbatoir centred cluster of Covid-19 cases in the Highlands has increased to 31, NHS Highland has said. By 3 September, 29 of the cases in the Grantown on Spey area are linked to the town's Millers of Speyside abattoir.
NHS Highland news release. BBC News Online. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Greggs depot deep cleaned after virus outbreak
A deep clean at a Greggs distribution depot in Leeds has taken place after an outbreak of coronavirus among staff. Leeds City Council, Public Health England, and Greggs said they were working closely together to ensure safe management of the outbreak at the Bramley depot.
Joint statement by Leeds City Council and Greggs plc. Telegraph and Argus. ITV News. Evening Standard. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Asda supermarket staff test positive for Covid-19
Eight workers from an Asda supermarket in the West Midlands have tested positive for coronavirus. The company said the employees had self-isolated and it had carried out a “comprehensive deep clean” at the store in Cape Hill, Smethwick.
Sandwell Council news release. BBC News Online. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: IKEA agrees to continue virus sick pay
Furniture giant IKEA has said it will pay full wages to staff forced to self-isolate for 14 days during the coronavirus pandemic. The move was welcomed by retail union Usdaw. Dave Gill, the union’s national officer for IKEA, said: “We will continue to work with IKEA on their absence policy, and welcome the clarification that IKEA will continue to pay our members who are affected by the coronavirus their full pay for the duration of their sickness or isolation period and this will not be counted towards any absence trigger points.”
Usdaw news release. Daily Record. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Unite call for clarity on face coverings on flights
Cabin crew union Unite has said the government and aviation authorities must publish clear policies requiring the use of face masks on flights. The union call came after travellers found to be infected were discovered to have travelled on packed passenger flights, with little or no regard paid to social distancing or use of masks.
Unite news release. The Guardian. BBC News Online. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Scottish schools failing on Covid safety measures
Schools and colleges in Scotland are failing to follow essential safety measures on physical distancing, cleaning, hand hygiene and dealing with suspected cases of Covid-19, a survey by the teaching union NASUWT has found. No teachers responding to the snapshot survey of their experiences since the reopening of their school or college at the start of the new academic year were able to say that pupils were always following physical distancing and only 5 per cent said adults in their school are always keeping a two metre distance from others.
NASUWT news release. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: ‘Outdated’ physical distancing rules criticised
Current rules on safe physical distancing are based on outdated science, with evidence suggesting the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19 may travel much further than 2m through activities such as coughing and shouting. In an analysis published in the British Medical Journal, Nicholas Jones of Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, and colleagues note the rigid physical distancing limit “overlooks the physics of respiratory emissions, where droplets of all sizes are trapped and moved by the exhaled moist and hot turbulent gas cloud that keeps them concentrated as it carries them over metres in a few seconds.”
Nicholas R Jones and others. Analysis: Two metres or one: what is the evidence for physical distancing in Covid-19?, BMJ 2020;370:m3223, published 25 August 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3223 Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Asbestos app could lead to blacklisting - Unite
An app which rates the performance of asbestos workers could potentially be used to blacklist workers, Unite has warned. The construction union says the app, launched by the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA), allows contractors to rate operatives which the union believes could be used to victimise and blacklist workers.
Unite news release. ARCA news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Shopworkers’ Protection Pledge backed by Usdaw
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw is supporting a campaign by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to improve legislation to protect shopworkers from violence. The BRC Shopworkers’ Protection Pledge has been signed by MPs who support legislation necessary to protect shopworkers.
Usdaw news release and petition. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: 'Shocking' lack of regulation at Leicester garment firms
Leicester’s garment district, which is home to more 1,000 factories, has received fewer than 60 health and safety inspections and only 28 fire inspections since October 2017 despite long-held concerns about working conditions, a Guardian investigation has found. The paper said the figures highlight the low rate of regulatory oversight of factories in Leicester despite the creation of a multi-agency group to try and tackle their problems in October 2017.
The Guardian. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: Isle of Wight firms fined over site worker death
Three firms have been fined for criminal safety failings after a worker was fatally injured on a building site. David Shayler, 53, died in hospital after he was hit on the head by masonry at the site in Newport, Isle of Wight, in October 2016.
HSE news release. BBC News Online. Island Echo. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Britain: MoD censured following death of military diver
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been issued with a Crown Censure by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a military diver died during training. On 26 March 2018, 27-year-old Lance Corporal George Partridge was brought back to surface after he stopped responding to lifeline signals while he was underwater.
HSE news release. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Scotland’s workers: No return to unsafe workplaces
Scotland’s national union body STUC has launched a new workers’ safety website. Whether you are a worker worried about returning to work, a business who wants to work with STUC to get things right or a union rep who wants to join our safety community, the union body says the ‘No return to unsafe workplaces’ is the place for you.
No return to unsafe workplaces, STUC. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Australia: Covid enforcement focus moves to firms
Workplaces have been a significant driver of Covid-19 spread in the Australia state of Victoria, especially in aged care, healthcare and the meat industry, state agencies have found. The state government said it is now starting to provide data on workplaces failing to provide safe and healthy conditions for workers, having earlier focused on penalising the behaviour of individuals.
Premier of Victoria news release. The Guardian. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Philippines: Government blamed for spike in work virus cases
An increase in Covid-19 clusters in workplaces in the Philippines can be blamed on the government’s refusal to look after workers’ welfare, a safety organisation has charged. The Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (Iohsad) said government guidance to companies was insufficient to curb infections when certain industries were allowed to restart operations in May.  
The Inquirer. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

USA: Workers left in jeopardy by government inaction
The top officials in the US Department of Labor and the government safety regulator OSHA should resign, as they failed to take basic steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus in workplaces. Paul Bland, the executive director the non-profit legal advocacy group Public Justice, said labour secretary Eugene Scalia and OSHA head Loren Sweatt “have profoundly failed” on Covid-19.
NBC News. Risks 963. 6 September 2020

Hazards news, 29 August 2020

Britain: Face coverings u-turn for England’s secondary schools
Secondary pupils will have to wear masks in school corridors in local lockdown areas of England, after the government reversed its guidance. UK education secretary Gavin Williamson said the shift follows advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that was updated, with the move also following repeat demands from unions for clarity on the issue.
Department for Education news release. Q&A: Children and masks related to COVID-19, WHO, 21 August 2020. NEU news release. GMB news release. BBC News Online and related story. The Guardian. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Government ‘negligent’ on school return safety rules
Unions have reacted angrily to claims that coronavirus is more likely to be spread by teachers than pupils, warning that everyone has a responsibility to try to avoid bringing Covid-19 into school and transmitting it to others. The union comments follow a report by Public Health England (PHE) and the Chief Medical Officer, trailed two weeks ago by the government, which found that though Covid-19 outbreaks were “uncommon” in English schools after they reopened in June, the virus more likely to be spread by staff than pupils.
Prime minister’s office news release. PHE news release. NEU news release. NASUWT news release and related release. UNISON news release. The Guardian. Morning Star. Evening Standard. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Union calls for on-site testing of school staff
GMB Scotland has called for routine on-site coronavirus testing of school staff. The union is urging the Scottish government to bring forward a Covid testing regime for every school in the country. It followed a survey of its members indicating two-thirds of school support staff do not feel safe at work.
Tayside Cares update. Scottish government news release. EIS news release. BBC News Online, related story and story on the South Lanarkshire outbreak. The Independent. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Prediction of ‘explosion in work cases’ proved right
The workplace is emerging as the new frontline for Covid-19 spread, after the UK government and health agencies ignored warnings on the dangers of a rush back to work, occupational health experts have warned. The campaign’s analysis of Public Health England (PHE) figures shows that over the last five weeks the ‘workplace’ has emerged as the second most common site of Covid-19 ‘situations/incidents’, trailing only care homes; PHE’s definition of workplaces does not include work-related Covid incidents in hospitals, schools or prisons, so under-estimates the real extent of work-related cases.
Hazards Campaign report. National COVID-19 surveillance report: 14 August 2020 (week 33) and National COVID-19 surveillance report: 21 August 2020 (week 34), PHE. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Virus risks fuelled by ‘shoddy’ guidance and HSE cuts
Unions have condemned official inaction on workplace Covid-19 risks. The unions were speaking out after the national Hazards Campaign revealed workplaces are suffering ‘an explosion’ of Covid cases because the government ignored warnings not to rush Britain back to work.
Morning Star. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: HSE hampered by ‘chronic’ resource shortages
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors “have been let down by a chronic lack of resources”, the safety regulator’s inspectors have warned. Neil Hope-Collins and Geoff Fletcher, both experienced HSE field inspectors and members of the union Prospect, said there are only 390 full-time equivalent band 3 (main grade) inspectors for the whole of mainland UK,” adding: “That is just not enough.”
Prospect blog. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Workers ‘sacked workers for raising Covid-19 concerns’
British Cables Company has sacked workers for raising Covid-19 safety concerns, the GMB has said. GMB members Steve Saxon and Mark Vernon expressed worries about management’s lax attitude to workers’ wellbeing after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19 in April and also contacted their GMB union official, highlighting several breaches of government rules by the company.
GMB news release. About Manchester.
Resources: Worksmart guidance on the Employment Relations Act and Pubic Interest Disclosure Act. Section 44 and Section 100 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. TUC/HSE Covid-19 concerns reporting form. Trade union reps can report coronavirus related concerns to the HSE by email, to union.covidconcerns@hse.gov.uk. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Thousands told to self-isolate after factory outbreak
Families of workers at a chicken factory hit with a large Covid-19 outbreak have been told to stay at home and self-isolate until the end of the month. Health bosses issued the 20 August urgent update to restrictions in place at the 2 Sisters plant in Coupar Angus. All 900 staff at the plant were told to enter quarantine after an outbreak of the virus last week, but on 25 August the official direction was refused to require their families to self-isolate too.
Unite news release. Scottish government news release. NHS Tayside news release. Tayside Cares alert. BBC News Online. The Herald. The Courier. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Norfolk chicken processing plant staff test positive
Seven workers at a Norfolk chicken processing plant have tested positive for coronavirus and five more are isolating as they await test results. The outbreak at Banham Poultry in Attleborough was announced on 25 August by Louise Smith, the director of public health at Norfolk County Council.
Eastern Daily Press. Diss Express. BBC News Online. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Meat processor hit by outbreak at second plant
A second plant operated by the UK meat processing firm Cranswick plc had been hit by a Covid-19 outbreak. The Ballymena pork processing plant of the company, which has its HQ in Hull, closed for mass testing of its 500 staff after a “significant” outbreak in which 35 workers tested positive for Covid-19 - the move comes less than three months after the company confirmed three workers at its food processing facility in Wombwell, Barnsley had died after testing positive for Covid-19.
Proactive Investors. Belfast Telegraph. Market Watch. Cranswick plc first quarter trading statement. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Work Covid-19 payouts stop welfare benefits
The families of low-paid frontline NHS and social care workers who die from Covid-19 will be stripped of eligibility for welfare benefits if they receive a payout under the government’s Covid-19 compensation scheme. Under the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme, the £60,000 lump sum breaches capital limits rules for most benefits, meaning that the recipient would be unable to claim universal credit, housing benefit or pension credit.
The Guardian. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Call to allow disabled workers to work from home
Disabled employees working from home during lockdown say they have been more productive and took fewer days off sick than when they were doing their jobs in the office, according to a UNISON survey. The union is now calling on the government to give disabled people a new right to work from home if they wish and for employers to face penalties if they don’t comply.
UNISON news release and related news release. BBC News Online. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: NHS Scotland workers at 'breaking point'
Scotland’s health service workforce is at ‘breaking point’, a union survey had found. The findings of the Unite Scotland survey of NHS Scotland workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, found a large majority of workers are suffering in the face of acute staff shortages, regularly work beyond their contracted hours and don’t feel valued by their employer.
Unite news release. Morning Star. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Midwives missing out on breaks, report reveals
Overworked midwives are missing meals and loo breaks while at work as they do not have enough time to take them, union research has revealed. Midwives are also working additional unpaid hours, on top of long shifts, according to a survey of 980 professionals in England carried out by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
RCM news release. Morning Star. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: HSE must end rumours on deadly crane collapse
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) must publish its initial findings into the causes of the fatal crane accident in east London in July, in which a member of the public died and worker was seriously injured. Construction union Unite wrote to the HSE last month urging it to not to delay publication of the initial findings in order to end ‘a cloud of suspicion’ about who was to blame.
Unite news release. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: TSSA raises concerns over deadly Stonehaven crash
The leader of the rail union TSSA has questioned why rail services across the country were allowed to continue on the day of a train derailment killed three people in Aberdeenshire. TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes has written to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) to “raise questions” relating to the fatal derailment of a ScotRail passenger train near Carmont, west of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire on 12 August.
TSSA news release. Network Rail news release. The Herald. The National. BBC News Online and related story. Press and Journal. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Britain: Celebs back Surrey ‘deadly’ fire cuts campaign
Surrey firefighters have welcomed a new petition campaigning against cuts to their fire and rescue service. More than 3,700 people have signed a petition from writer, actor and Celebrity Masterchef winner Emma Kennedy calling for a reversal of cuts to Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; the move comes after Queen star Brian May spoke out about the “criminally under-supported” fire service during August’s wildfires which highlighted the impact of cuts on the service.
FBU news release. Save our Stations petition. Surrey Live. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Australia: Banned asbestos found in new ferries
New ferries operating in New South Wales and manufactured overseas contain banned asbestos, a union has revealed. The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has called for “a full independent inspection” of all the new vessels.
MUA news release. Nine News. Junkee. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Global: Action call on big airborne Covid risks
Transmission of Covid-19 through an airborne ‘aerosol’ is “stronger than that for any other pathway”, greatly increasing the preventive efforts required, a US expert has warned. Jose-Luis Jimenez, a professor of chemistry and a fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado-Boulder, said the evidence on airborne transmission demonstrates why more stringent efforts are needed to control the virus, going beyond current official guidelines.
Time Magazine.
Lidia Morawska, Donald K Milton. It is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19, Clinical Infectious Diseases, ciaa939, 6 July 2020.
Song Tang and others. Aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2? Evidence, prevention and control, Environment International, volume 144, November 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106039
WHO knew? WHO’s complacency over work virus risks a world class disaster, Hazards special report, July 2020. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

USA: Empowering workers is key to safe reopening
Workers have a key role to play in designing and implementing new, on-the-job health practices - and even more so in the absence of enforceable federal standards, top US work practice experts have said. Writing in Fortune Magazine, Sharon Block, the executive director of the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School and Rachel Korberg of the Ford Foundation’s Future of Work(ers) initiative, warn that where workers “aren’t able to speak up when they spot a problem, we risk prolonging this crisis, deepening the economic pain, and ultimately losing more lives.”
Fortune magazine. Risks 962. 29 August 2020

Hazards news, 22 August 2020

Britain: Hundreds test positive at sandwich supplier
Almost 300 workers have tested positive for coronavirus following an outbreak at a factory in Northampton that makes M&S sandwiches. Workers at the Greencore factory were there would be no company sick n pay if they had to self-isolate, making it difficult for many to comply, their union BFAWU said.
Greencore statement. The Guardian and follow-up story. BBC News Online. Sky News. ITV News. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: McVities factory cluster linked to school cases
Staff at a Glasgow biscuit factory have claimed a cluster of Covid cases are linked to an outbreak that has affected pupils at a local school. A worker told The National newspaper that the cases at the McVities biscuit factory are linked to the outbreak that has affected 11 people in the north east of the city including pupils at Bannerman High School.
The National. Leicester Mercury. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: School Covid cases highlight dangers
Scottish teaching union EIS has repeated its call for enhanced procedures to protect pupils and staff from potential Covid infection. The union said since schools re-opened in Scotland on 11 August, pupils at a number of schools have tested positive for Covid-19, illustrating the risk of the virus spreading through school communities if safeguards are not in place.
EIS news release. BBC News Online. Morning Star. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: Nine coronavirus cases linked to Orkney fishing boat
Nine cases of Covid-19 in a cluster linked to an Orkney fishing boat have now been confirmed. NHS Orkney began contact tracing after a member of the crew of the unnamed trawler tested positive.
NHS Orkney news release. BBC News Online and related story. The Guardian. The National. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: New 2 Sisters chicken plant closed after virus cluster
A Scottish chicken processing plant has been closed after four members of staff tested positive for Covid-19. Two other workers at the 2 Sisters facility in Coupar Angus in Perth and Kinross are awaiting the results of a test for the virus; it comes after over 200 workers at a 2 Sisters processing plant in Anglesey tested positive in June for the infection.
The Courier. BBC News Online. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: More than 70 test positive at dessert factory
More than 70 staff at a Nottinghamshire dessert factory have tested positive for Covid-19. It was announced on 7 August that all staff would be tested after 39 cases were detected, but that figure has risen to 72 after 701 employees at the Bakkavor site in Newark were tested.
The Guardian. Food Manufacture. Evening Standard. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: Raise sick pay and extend furlough to tackle virus
Statutory sick pay should be increased and the furlough scheme extended on a flexible basis, a report from the Royal Society has concluded. Doing so would better manage a “crude” trade-off between lives and livelihoods as the UK economy reopens, Professors Sir Tim Besley and Sir Nicholas Stern state.
Royal Society news release and report, Economic Aspects of the COVID-19 Crisis in the UK, The DELVE Initiative,  August 2020. BBC News Online. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: Support and resources needed for safe school return
All schools in England must be supported and resourced so they have in place the practical safety measures recommended by the UK government prior to the return of pupils to schools in September, teaching union NASUWT has said. The union’s survey of 9,000 members concluded it was of ‘particular concern’ that three in ten of those who completed the survey said they believe budgetary constraints will affect their schools’ ability to reopen safely.
NASUWT news release, related release and self-audit checklist. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: Work hurts low paid twice as much
The government should make injury prevention a public health priority and take further action to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 in workplace, a new report from the IPPR think tank has concluded. Its analysis reveals lower earning workers are twice as likely to be physically injured or become ill at work than higher earners
IPPR publication alert and paper, Better than cure: Injury prevention policy, Lesley Rankin and Henry Parkes, IPPR, August 2020. More on work hazards and low pay. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: Three killed as landslip derails train
A 12 August 2020 train derailment which left three people dead happened after the train struck a landslip covering the track, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has said. Driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie and passenger Christopher Stuchbury died when the 06:38 Aberdeen to Glasgow service crashed near Stonehaven at 9:40am.
RAIB statement. RMT statement and tribute to Donald Dinnie. ASLEF statement and tribute to Brett McCullough. ASLEF/RMT joint family fund. FBU news release. BTP news release. The Courier. The Herald. BBC News Online. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: Usdaw petition to protect retail staff from abuse
Shopworkers’ union Usdaw has launched a House of Commons petition calling on the UK government to legislate to protect shopworkers. The move comes in response to what the union described as growing assaults, threats and abuse against shopworkers and a doubling of such incidents during the coronavirus emergency.
Usdaw news release and petition, Protect Retail Workers from Abuse, Threats and Violence. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: Union action call on rising Tube assaults
Tube union RMT has demanded action from London Underground (LUL) bosses over rising levels of violent assaults. The call came after a ‘horrific’ incident at Warren Street Station last week, when a physical attack on workers was continued when the assailant forced his way into the control room.
RMT news release. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: Openreach warned over dangerous hours move
Openreach has been issued a ‘stern warning’ by the union CWU after it moved to impose ‘contractual overtime’. In a communication sent to the union’s regional co-ordinators across the UK, CWU assistant secretary Davie Bowman urged them to ensure full compliance with statutory working hours regulations and safe working procedures, insisting: “We will not allow the business to place any of our members at greater risk through additional attendance.”
CWU news release. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: Dangerous understaffing warning on Surrey fire cover
Firefighters in Surrey have warned it is ‘only a matter of time until lives are lost’ after a shortage of firefighters left Surrey Fire and Rescue Service with just one fire engine to cover the entire county, as wildfires tore across the county this month. Their union FBU has called it a “stark warning” that understaffing can put residents and firefighters at risk.
FBU news release. The Guardian. The Express. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Britain: £5k fine after worker brain damaged at boss’s villa
A Scottish worker suffered brain damage after falling 15 feet on to concrete while he was helping to build a luxury villa for his boss. Dalgety Bay-based Brebner & Williamson Ltd pleaded guilty to criminal safety offences that took place during the construction of director Graham Williamson’s new home in Crook of Devon, Kinross, in July 2016.
HSE news release. The Courier. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Global: Nearly half schools lack basic handwashing facilities
As schools worldwide struggle with reopening, the latest data from UN agencies has revealed that 43 per cent of schools around the world lacked access to basic handwashing with soap and water in 2019. The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) findings reveal a stark failure to meet a key condition for schools to be able to operate safely in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
WHO news release. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Ireland: ‘Bogus’ work practices blighting meat plants
The meat processing industry contains “unrivalled vectors for the transmission of Covid-19,” with around 90 per cent of workers in the industry not receiving sick pay, the union Siptu has said. Siptu divisional organiser Greg Ennis revealed the extent of the crisis in evidence to the government Oireachtas Covid-19 committee.
Irish Times. Irish Independent and related article. RTE news. AgriLand. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Mozambique: Covid-19 has made workers’ health a union priority
With the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of occupational health and safety has returned to the union priority list in Mozambique, IndustriALL has said. The crisis has seen the crucial role of union health and safety reps reemphasised, the global union said.
IndustriALL news report. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Philippines: Alarm after spike in work Covid-19 cases
The Philippines government must identify and immediately address the real causes of widespread Covid-19 infection among workers, a workplace safety advocacy group has said. The Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (Iohsad) made the appeal as infection rates among workers spiked.
IOHSAD news webpages. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

USA: Race inequalities in Covid-19 linked to worse jobs
Higher rates of Covid-19 in Hispanic and other non-white workers are explained by these groups being over-represented in high risk jobs, a US study has found. A 17 August report in the US government’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) noted: “Systemic social inequities have resulted in the overrepresentation of Hispanic and non-white workers in frontline occupations where exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, might be higher; extra vigilance in these sectors is needed to ensure prevention and mitigation strategies are applied equitably and effectively to workers of racial and ethnic groups disproportionately affected by Covid-19.”
Bui DP, McCaffrey K, Friedrichs M, and others. Racial and Ethnic Disparities Among COVID-19 Cases in Workplace Outbreaks by Industry Sector — Utah, March 6–June 5, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 17 August 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6933e3 [also in pdf format]. Risks 961. 22 August 2020

Hazards news, 15 August 2020

Britain: School reopening ‘gamble’ criticised by safety advocates
A claim by the education secretary that schools must reopen because there is ‘little evidence’ of a Covid-19 transmission risk has been condemned by workplace safety advocates as an ‘unnecessary gamble’. The national Hazards Campaign points out that international studies have identified “robust spread” in high schools and “sizeable outbreaks” in schools overall.
Hazards Campaign news release. Weekly Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Surveillance Report, Week 32, PHE, 7 August 2020. BBC News Online. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Global: Studies undermine Williamson’s ‘little evidence’ claim
A series of studies, including two in the last three weeks from UK experts, have undermined claims by education secretary Gavin Williamson that there is ‘little evidence’ of a Covid-19 transmission risk in schools. A study by US and UK experts – including Muge Cevik from the NHS Lothian Infection Service – published online on 24 July found here is “evidence of robust spread of SARS-CoV-2 in high schools, and more limited spread in primary schools, with another study on the risks of school reopening warning: “Without sufficient coverage of a test-trace-isolate strategy the UK risks a serious second epidemic peak either in December or February.”
Edward Goldstein, Marc Lipsitch, Muge Cevik, On the effect of age on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in households, schools and the community, medRxiv preprint, 24 July 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.19.20157362
Jasmina Panovska-Griffiths and others, Determining the optimal strategy for reopening schools, the impact of test and trace interventions, and the risk of occurrence of a second COVID-19 epidemic wave in the UK: a modelling study, Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, Online first 3 August 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30250-9. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Clearer guidance needed on school face coverings
Parents and staff are still confused over the wearing of face coverings in schools in England, UNISON has said. The union has now written to secretary of state for education Gavin Williamson urging him to allow all school staff to be allowed to wear face coverings if they choose, with the teaching union NEU also noting: “It remains our view that no member of staff or pupil should be prevented from wearing a face mask if they wish to do so and we anticipate that the majority of schools and colleges will respect this.”
UNISON news release. NEU news release. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Boss demands blood from isolating school worker
A self-isolating school worker was horrified when bosses from her academy turned up at her home and bullied her into taking a Covid-19 blood test. Her union GMB said the ‘terrified’ teaching assistant, who had already requested a test from the NHS, let them take her blood – even though the NHS does not recommend home antibody test kits, as it has not been confirmed they are safe and reliable.
GMB news release. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Returning teachers not told of virus safety measures
A majority of teachers returned to schools in Scotland this week without knowing what safety measures their schools are taking to deal with coronavirus, an NASUWT survey has found. Two-thirds (67 per cent) of teachers responding to the NASUWT survey did not feel prepared to return to their school/college and the vast majority (87 per cent) felt anxious about returning to their school as it reopened to all pupils.
NASUWT news release and related news release. BBC News Online. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Most teachers concerned over Scotland schools return
The majority of teachers in Scotland still had serious concerns about Covid-19 school safety measures immediately ahead of the return of pupils to schools on 11 August. Only 1 in 5 expressed confidence that schools are currently safe – indicating that much more needs to be done to reassure staff that schools are safe to work in, said EIS.
EIS news release and survey report. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Unite's ‘unique’ support for extremely vulnerable workers
Unite has pledged to support vulnerable workers as the UK government increases pressure for them to return to work. Unite says its new checklist will help its workplace reps assist members who have been shielding to safely return to work where the workplace is “Covid-secure”.
Unite news release and vulnerable workers checklist. Updated government working safely guidance. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Worker safety can’t be an afterthought - Wales TUC
Wales TUC has renewed its call for workers’ health and safety to be at the centre of plans to reopen the Welsh economy. This call from the union body came following a Welsh government press conference where international relations minister Eluned Morgan announced that rules designed to keep people safe will be enforced by the police  and businesses flouting the rules could be forced to close.
Wales TUC news release, related news release and confidential whistleblowers form. Keep Wales safe at work guidance. Daily Post. ITV News. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Concern at spate of Swindon workplace outbreaks
A Tesco Extra store has become the latest Swindon workplace to see staff test positive for coronavirus. The news comes after an Iceland distribution centre, a Royal Mail depot, the Honda car factory and workers at the town's fire station were also found to have the Covid-19 infection.
BBC News Online on the Tesco, Iceland and Royal Mail outbreaks. The Mirror. Daily Star. Swindon Advertiser. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Smell and taste loss points to high NHS worker infections
A large proportion of UK healthcare workers may already have been infected with Covid-19, according to new research led by the University of East Anglia in collaboration with University College London (UCL). Senior author Prof Carl Philpott, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Cases like this most likely went undiagnosed at the time because of a lack of awareness about smell loss as a symptom.”
UEA news release. Matt Lechner, Nicholas Counsell, Jacklyn Liu, Valerie J Lund, Sam Jayaraj and Carl Philpot. Anosmia/hyposmia in healthcare workers with a SARS-CoV-2 infection, The Lancet Microbe, 6 August 2020.
Richard C Gerkin and others. The best COVID-19 predictor is recent smell loss: a cross-sectional study, medRxiv preprint, 26 July 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.22.20157263 Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Concern over fatigue and anxiety levels in NHS staff
The mental and physical health of staff will be a major concern for leaders of NHS trusts as they prepare for the next phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, a report has concluded. The report from the NHS Confederation, the body that represents NHS organisations, is based on interviews with 13 trust chief executives conducted in May and June.
NHS Confederation news release. BMJ news. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Surgeons told not to discuss lack of PPE
Surgeons were told by their NHS employers to stop discussing shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus crisis, a survey has found. The Confederation of British Surgery (CBS) said almost 70 surgeons working in major hospitals around the country – over 1-in-10 of those surveyed - had been warned off discussing a lack of PPE by their trust.
The Independent. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Benefits staff in safety action ballot
Members of the civil service union PCS are being balloted for industrial action over government plans to extend working hours in Universal Credit service centres and jobcentres. The union said despite tens of thousands of its members working “flat out during lockdown” to support claimants, they now face “ministers insisting jobcentres should open to the public, including beyond normal office hours without consulting us or doing a proper risk assessment.”
PCS news release. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: PR workers face stress and abuse during pandemic
More than threequarters of public relations (PR) workers have been working longer than usual hours during the pandemic, with almost four out of five feeling more stressed than usual. Two-thirds told their union NUJ they have suffered abuse or had to deal with abuse because of their employer’s work during the pandemic.
NUJ news release. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Concern as ex-Tory minister takes the helm at HSE
In a break with convention, a former Conservative minister has been appointed as the new chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Sarah Newton was minister for safety under the tenure of both Amber Rudd and Esther McVey as secretary of state at the Department of Work and Pensions, with Janet Newsham, chair of the national Hazards Campaign, commenting: “The Tory party has starved and neutered HSE over the last decade, and Sarah Newton as a former safety minister and MP is complicit in this disaster.”
DWP news release, public appointment details and Sarah Newton biography. IOSH news release. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Don’t let workers get overheated, warned TUC
Employers must ensure staff are protected from the sun and heat, the TUC has said. Commenting after temperatures in parts of the UK soared, the union body warned working in hot weather can lead to dehydration, tiredness, muscle cramps, rashes, fainting, and – in extreme cases – loss of consciousness and death.
TUC news release, blog and guide on dealing with high temperatures in the workplace. Personnel Today.
Sign the TUC petition: Tell Thérèse Coffey, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, we need a maximum working temperature. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Britain: Action call on ‘extreme heat’ risk to crane drivers
The extreme heat of recent days could be putting crane drivers at risk, their union Unite has warned. The construction union is calling for immediate action to be taken to support the workforce, writing to the UK’s largest construction companies to seek assurances that safety measures are in place to ensure that tower crane operators are not being placed at risk due to high temperatures.
Unite news release. Construction Enquirer. HSE temperature guidance. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Global: Beirut explosion shows lessons forgotten
A devastating port warehouse explosion in Beirut has exposed how well-known major workplace risks continue to be ignored with devastating consequences. The 4 August blast in the Lebanese capital killed over 200 and injured thousands and occurred when tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate exploded and came seven years after one of the deadliest fertiliser plant explosions in US history partly levelled the rural town of West, Texas, killing 15.
BBC News Online. AP News. WNBG News 12. The Guardian and related story.
FBU news release. Nautilus news release. US Lebanon Embassy news release. HSE ammonium nitrate webpages. IndustriALL ammonium nitrate briefing and statement. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Global: Covid led to ‘brutal crackdown’ on workers’ rights
Some of Europe’s biggest retailers are standing by while Covid-19 is used as a pretext for union busting and other workplace abuses, human rights activists have warned. A new report, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), portrays an “emerging and widespread pattern of supplier factories appearing to target unionised workers for dismissal”.
Union busting and unfair dismissals: Garment workers during Covid-19, BHRRC, August 2020. The Guardian. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Netherlands: Ventilation system spread led to outbreak
A Covid-19 outbreak at a Dutch retirement home that affected large numbers of staff and residents was spread by the ventilation system, a leaked official study has indicated. The report by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment into the incident in Maassluis, in the western Netherlands, provides additional evidence of the risks posed by ‘airborne transmission’ of the disease.
New York Times. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Risks 960. 15 August 2020

USA: Distancing key to preventing workplace outbreaks
Working too close to your colleagues is the main factor linked to major workplace Covid-19 outbreaks, new studies have shown. Two reports in the 7 August 2020 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) examine outbreaks at US meat processing plants, and both show those workers forced to work at less than 2m social distancing were those most at risk of getting the infection.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), volume 69, number 31, 7 August 2020. COVID-19 Outbreak Among Employees at a Meat Processing Facility — South Dakota, March–April 2020 and Notes from the Field: Characteristics of Meat Processing Facility Workers with Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection — Nebraska, April–May 2020. Risks 960. 15 August 2020

Hazards news, 8 August 2020

Britain: TUC warning over ‘heartless and reckless’ work return plan
The TUC has urged employers to prioritise the safety of shielded workers and not demand that they return to workplaces immediately. Official guidance ends shielding from 31 July in Scotland, 1 August in England, and 16 August in Wales, so shielding workers may face demands from their employers to return to workplaces.
TUC news release and report, Job security: Saving the jobs of those who cannot work at home, July 2020. Daily Mail. Personnel Today. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: Serious concerns over shielding ‘pause’
Serious concerns have been raised about the UK government’s plans ‘to pause’ its shielding policy and the challenges that will then face thousands of extremely vulnerable people returning to the workplace. Unite said that the world of work had changed dramatically since the lockdown was introduced in March and questioned if ministers had thought through all the implications of ‘pausing’, as Covid-19 was still prevalent across the UK.
Unite news release. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: RMT warning over ‘high risk’ back to work gamble
Transport union RMT has warned that ‘confused and conflicted’ government messaging could lead to widespread breaches of public health measures on masks and social distancing. The union was commenting as Boris Johnson urges people to “get back to work” on 3 August, a move that coincided with tightened restrictions being introduced in areas hit by Covid-19 infection spikes, including large areas of Lancashire and West Yorkshire.
RMT news release. The Guardian. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: Covid breaches at Oxford put reopening plans at risk
The University of Oxford has been accused of flouting government guidelines on reopening universities. The university has refused to share health and safety risk assessments as staff try to ensure the university is able to reopen safely in October.
UCU news release. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: Test, trace and isolate 'key to schools returning'
Current testing and contact tracing levels are not sufficient to prevent a second wave of coronavirus after schools reopen, scientists have warned. Researchers said getting pupils back to school was important - but more work was needed to keep the virus in check.
Jasmina Panovska-Griffiths and others, Determining the optimal strategy for reopening schools, the impact of test and trace interventions, and the risk of occurrence of a second COVID-19 epidemic wave in the UK: a modelling study, Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, Online first 3 August 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30250-9. CIEH news release. BBC News Online. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: UNISON condemns ‘chaotic’ track and trace
England’s ‘chaotic’ privately-run test and trace system is unlikely to prevent a second wave of Covid-19, public sector union UNISON has warned. UNISON has labelled the system ‘a mess’ after researchers at UCL and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) warned reopening of schools in September, combined with a sluggish test and trace system, could bring another spike in the virus.
UNISON news release. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: Listen to school staff on reopening, says STUC
The STUC has called on the Scottish government and local authorities to heed the advice of teachers and the whole education workforce to ensure that schools are safe environments for pupils and staff. Commenting after Nicola Sturgeon announced schools in Scotland would reopen on 11 August, STUC deputy general secretary Dave Moxham said: “Schools re-opening full-time is an enormous step which requires continuing suppression of the virus across communities, the full implementation of safety guidance and a proactive testing regime.”
STUC news release. Scottish government news release and related news release. BBC News Online. Daily Record. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: Teachers concerned over Scottish school reopening
‘Significant concerns’ have been raised by a teaching union over new guidelines for the reopening of Scotland’s schools. The executive committee of the EIS has written to deputy first minister John Swinney calling for urgent action to protect pupils, staff and the wider community from the risk of Covid-19 infection.
EIS news release, related news release and letter to John Swinney. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: Deep cleaning ‘vital’ for re-opening of schools
A regular deep cleaning regime must be in place for when schools reopen in Scotland, UNISON has said. Lorraine Thomson, chair of UNISON’s education issues group, said: “Crucial to ensuring a safe return is that schools get a regular deep clean, that’s why UNISON will continue to raise the needs school cleaners, janitors and other staff who have a role to play in getting kids back safely into schools.”
UNISON Scotland news release. Scottish government news release.
Webinar: The US Toxics Use Reduction Institute is to run a free Safer Cleaning and Disinfection for Schools webinar on Friday 14 August 2020, 3-5pm UK time. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: STUC welcomes Scottish call centre guidance 
Scotland’s national union centre has welcomed new stringent call centre guidance released by the Scottish government and has called on non-union firms to make use of the expert advice available through the union roving rep system. The guidance comes two weeks after health officials said they were investigating an outbreak of Covid-19 at an NHS test and trace call centre in run by Sitel in Motherwell.
STUC news release and Call Centre Collective campaign. Scottish government call centre guidance and publication note. BBC News Online. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: Call for workplace zero-Covid policy
The UK government should adopt immediately a zero-Covid-19 policy, with prevention of work-related infection and transmission a priority, campaigners have said. The union-supported Hazards Campaign said the action was necessary to drive down the infection rate.
Hazards Campaign news release. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: Homerton hospital workers in sick pay victory
Homerton Hospital’s cleaners, porters and security staff will be paid the London living wage and NHS sick pay “from day one” of a renewed, five-year contract with facilities firm ISS. Over half of the 200 staff employed by ISS were only entitled to statutory sick pay, meaning they were paid nothing at all for the first three days of sickness and just £94.25 a week thereafter.
UNISON news release. GMB London news release. Hackney Gazette. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

TUC says workers shouldn’t be feeling the heat
More needs to be done to protect workers from the risks of working in extreme heat, the TUC has said. “Time in the sun can be enjoyable for many, but it also creates serious hazards at work,” warned TUC safety lead Shelly Asquith.
TUC blog and guides on dealing with high temperatures in the workplace and organising for health and safety at work. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: New report calls for Scottish work safety shake up
The Scottish workplace safety system needs a ‘radical’ revision, a new report has concluded. The report released by the Jimmy Reid Foundation, authored by Professor Andrew Watterson of the University of Stirling, argues for new principles, policies and practices that reject the “deregulation on occupational health and safety throughout Britain.”
Jimmy Reid Foundation news release and report, Occupational health and safety in Scotland after the Covid-19 pandemic: the case for new principles, policies and practices involving lessons we have forgotten, lessons we have learnt and lessons we should apply in the future, Jimmy Reid Foundation, August 2020. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Britain: Concrete company fined after worker’s death
Concrete manufacturer Treanor Pujol Ltd has been fined for criminal safety breaches linked to the death of an employee and serious injuries to a second worker in two separate incidents. Treanor Pujol Ltd pleaded guilty to four criminal safety offences and was fined £285,000 and ordered to pay costs of £56,324.97.
HSE news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Australia: Cold store workers stop work over Covid concerns
Workers at JBS cold storage facility in Melbourne ceased work last week, saying they wanted safety assurances before they returned. Their union said the action was in line with the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act and came after 71 positive cases were linked to a JBS Covid-19 outbreak.
United Workers Union news release. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Global: Danone agrees to support workers post-Covid
The global food and farming union federation IUF and food multinational Danone have committed to opening negotiations on measures to support workers during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. A joint statement recognises that, as a priority, any future agreement will need to focus on identifying and protecting the most vulnerable workers within Danone.
IUF news release and IUF/Danone joint statement. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

USA: Reopening schools too dangerous while coronavirus lurks
Teachers and support staff at more than 35 school districts across the United States staged protests on 3 August over plans to resume in-class instruction while Covid-19 is surging in many parts of the country. The protesters, who formed car caravans and attached signs and painted messages on their vehicles, demanded schools hold off until scientific data supports a safe return.
Daily Maverick. Daily Mail. New York Times. New York Post.
Demand Safe Schools campaign. Risks 959. 8 August 2020

Hazards news, 1 August 2020

Britain: HSE accused of being ‘missing in action’ on Covid-19
The Health and Safety Executive’s “worrying lack of on the ground intelligence” on the workplace Covid-19 crisis and a shocking failure to inspect workplaces has been criticised in a new report. ‘Abdication’, an analysis of HSE’s performance throughout the crisis, says the ‘absentee regulator’ is unaware of outbreaks and is failing to either undertake inspections or enforcement action for criminal breaches of reporting and safety rules related to Covid-19.
Abdication: HSE has been missing in action throughout the Covid-19 crisis, Hazards, number 150, 2020, and Hazards infections special issue. ETUC note on occupational health and safety violations under Covid-19. Covid-19 disease reports to HSE.
EVENT: Safety reps taking the lead – during and after Covid-19, Hazards Campaign national Hazards Conference 2020 workshop, 12:00 noon, 1 August. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Data flaws exposed on Oldham spike link to high risk jobs
A surge in Covid-19 cases in Oldham has been linked to “at-risk occupations”, but concerns have been raised about poor or absent data on occupation in virus testing results. Katrina Stephens, director of public health for Oldham council, said the new cases involved younger people, aged 20 to 40, and many were in areas of high deprivation; she added they were likely to be among those in “at-risk occupations,” such as warehouse workers, taxi drivers, manufacturing jobs and health and social care workers.
BBC News Online. The Guardian. ITV News. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Royal Mail warned it could face Covid action
Royal Mail has been warned it could face enforcement action unless it acts on a catalogue of safety failings at a mail centre and a delivery office in Kent. The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) said the safety shortcomings identified by a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector had earlier been drawn to the attention of management by CWU area safety representatives (ASRs).
CWU bulletin. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: PCS says no return without consultation
Government departments must consult ‘properly’ with PCS over safe working before submitting plans to get more people back into their workplaces, the civil service union has said. The union was commenting after talks with Cabinet Office officials on 27 July, where they discussed civil service chief executive Alex Chisholm’s letter instructing departments to accelerate the return to the workplace from 1 August.
PCS news release, related news release and Mark Serwotka video message. Daily Mail. The Express. Civil Service World. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: More cleaners needed to make schools safe
Some cleaners in English schools are still having to work without protective kit and are not given the ‘deep-clean’ training needed to keep people safe, a UNISON survey has found. The union is calling on the government to provide schools with money to hire extra cleaners.
UNISON news release. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Earlier lockdown would have saved bus driver lives
Imposing an earlier lockdown in England would have saved workers’ lives, according to a report into the high death rate of London bus drivers in the pandemic by a leading expert on health and social inequalities. Male London bus drivers aged 20 to 65 were 3.5 times more likely to die from Covid-19 between March and May than men in other occupations across England and Wales, said Sir Michael Marmot of the Institute of Health Equity (IHE).
Institute of Health Equity (IHE) news release. London Bus Drivers Review, IHE, 2020. TfL statement. The Guardian. Morning Star. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Public inquiry call into bus worker virus deaths
Poor working conditions have been an unacceptable contributor to the high Covid-19 death toll affecting bus drivers, Unite has said. Commenting on the Transport for London (TfL) commissioned report that found an earlier lockdown would have saved lives amongst London bus drivers, Unite regional officer John Murphy said: “This report makes it quite clear that in its approach to lockdown the government tried to lock the stable door after the horse had bolted.”
Unite news release. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Bus report an indictment of ‘sluggish’ government
Transport union RMT has slammed the government and employers for a ‘sluggish and irresponsible’ response to the Covid-19 threat to bus workers. The union said among 13 deaths certificates provided by relatives of drivers who died of Covid-19, in seven cases hypertension was identified by the certifying doctor as a contributory factor to the death.
RMT news release. The Guardian. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Union welcomes face coverings across transport hubs
A requirement for face covering use in all indoor transport hubs in England has been welcomed by the rail union TSSA. TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said the mandatory use of face coverings from 24 July applies in all enclosed stations, ports, terminals and airports.
TSSA news release. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: School staff should be allowed to wear face masks
Unions have called for teachers, support staff and pupils to be allowed to wear face masks in schools in England, in order to protect them and help limit the spread of coronavirus. The government does not currently recommend the use of face coverings in schools.
The Guardian. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Union calls for public support for shopworkers
Retail union Usdaw is urging shoppers to support shopworkers, as the wearing of face coverings became mandatory in shops in England. The union is asking shoppers to follow the law by wearing a face covering, while following existing social distancing and hygiene procedures.
Usdaw news release. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Concrete plant shuts after Covid cluster
Balfour Beatty has closed down its concrete manufacturing plant in Bristol after 20 workers tested positive for Covid-19. The Avonmouth factory produces concrete segments for Balfour’s tunnelling contract at Hinkley Point C.
Construction Enquirer. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Firefighters agree to continue ‘vital’ coronavirus role
Firefighters have agreed to continue aiding the coronavirus response, warning that the virus threat “remains serious” despite the government’s easing of lockdown restrictions. Their union FBU has assured the public that “firefighters aren’t going to abandon their communities now,” as preparations for a second wave of Covid-19 infections commence.
FBU news release. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: HSE refuses to see the light on night work cancer risks
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) position statement on night work cancer risks has been dismissed as ‘nonsense’ by leading occupational cancer experts. Since a 2016 study backed by HSE and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) concluded the classification of night work as a cause of breast cancer was ‘no longer justified’, both organisations have stuck by this conclusion.
In the dark: HSE refuses to see the light on night work and cancer risks, Hazards magazine, number 150, 2020.  IARC Monographs Volume 124: Night Shift Work, June 2020. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Teacher took her own life due to work stress
A young primary school teacher took her own life after struggling with job related anxiety which had increased after school staffing changes. Esther Leonard-Williams overdosed the night before she was due to return to the classroom after half term last October, an inquest heard.
Falmouth Packet. Cornwall Live. More on work-related suicide. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Crossrail firms face safety blacklisting court test
A Unite member who believes he was blacklisted by London’s flagship Crossrail project is taking his case to court. Daniel Collins said Crossrail, as well as several agencies and contractors working on the project, had conspired to deny him work.
Thompsons Solicitors news release. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Britain: Costain fined £1.2m after cage collapse injuries
Costain and one of its subcontractors have been fined after two workers were injured when a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) was struck by a collapsing reinforcement cage during construction of a bypass. Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard that in the summer of 2015, to support the construction of the A556 bypass in Cheshire, work had started to build a pier designed to eventually support a bridge.
Construction Enquirer. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Global: Paper sector campaigns reinvented for Covid-19
Unions in the pulp and paper industry from around 20 countries have met online to analyse and formulate their organising response to Covid-19 on the sector. Sector co-chairs Leeann Foster, international vice-president of North American union USW and Pontus Georgsson, president of Swedish union Pappers, stressed the pandemic has underlined the importance of health and safety at work.
IndustriALL news release. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Malaysia: Union leader targeted for safety warnings
A Malaysian union leader has faced government harassment since airing safety concerns in a report for Channel 4 News in the UK. N Gopalkishnam, the targeted union leader, said the government should focus instead on taking serious steps to ensure the safety and health of workers in factories exporting personal protective equipment.
IndustriALL news report. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

USA: Regulator told to release work injury and illness data
The US workplace safety regulator OSHA must make public workplace injuries and illnesses records, a federal court has ruled. The just announced decision came in response to a legal challenge by rights advocacy group Public Citizen and means OSHA has until 18 August to provide the data from 237,000 employers, under a federal court ruling that ends a two-year battle over the agency’s controversial electronic record-keeping rule.
Public Citizen news release. Business Insurance. Risks 958. 1 August 2020

Hazards news, 25 July 2020

Britain: Government ‘passing the buck’ on workplace risks
Business leaders have joined trade unions in warning Boris Johnson he risks spreading confusion by making em ployers decide when to bring back their staff to offices and other workplaces. In a 17 July statement, the prime minister announced: “From 1 August, we will update our advice on going to work.”
TUC news release. Prime minister’s statement. CBI news release. BCC news release. The Guardian and related video. BBC News Online.
Find links to many employer Covid-Secure risk assessments at the TUC's new website. Workers and employers can add details of their own assessments to the database. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: Unions accuse PM of ‘dangerous’ return to work push
Unions have accused the prime minister of a failure of leadership as he passed responsibility for keeping people safe to employers and local authorities. Commenting after Boris Johnson’s call for a much wider return to the workplace from 1 August, GMB acting general secretary John Phillips said: “The prime minister has once again shown a failure of leadership in the face of this pandemic.”
ASLEF news release. GMB news release. RMT news release. TSSA news release. Evening Standard. Morning Star. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: Government was told poor sick pay was an infection factor
An admission by the government’s top medical adviser that it failed to recognise the workplace circumstances that helped spread Covid-19 has been slammed by the union GMB. In evidence to the Commons Health and Social Care Committee on 21 July, chief medical officer Chris Whitty said “we hadn’t recognised what in retrospect are obvious but were not recognised at the time... people who were working at multiple homes. People without sick leave etc.”
GMB news release. The Times. ITV News. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: Nearly half NHS workers were infected at Covid peak
Nearly half of NHS workers were infected with Covid during the peak of the pandemic, research suggests. Sir Paul Nurse, Francis Crick Institute director, told MPs that “up to 45 per cent” of healthcare workers were infected in April.
Francis Crick Institute news release. The Sun. Daily Mail. The Telegraph.
Catherine F Houlihan and others. Pandemic peak SARS-CoV-2 infection and seroconversion rates in London frontline health-care workers, The Lancet, Online First, 9 July 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31484-7 Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: Call centre outbreak reinforces union engagement call
A Covid-19 outbreak linked to a Scottish call centre underlines the need for strong safety guidance and union engagement, STUC has said. The Scottish national union body was commenting after health officials said they were investigating an outbreak of coronavirus at an NHS test and trace call centre in North Lanarkshire - Sitel, which carries out contact tracing for the NHS, said it was aware of a “local outbreak” at its Motherwell site.
STUC news release. BBC News Online. Glasgow Live. The Guardian.
Call centre report, Professor Phil Taylor, University of Strathclyde. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: STUC welcomes renewed ‘fair work’ deal for Scotland
The STUC has welcomed the signing of a ‘refreshed’ statement on fair work principles including commitments from the Scottish government, business groups, trades unions and leaders from local government and the third sector to put fair work at the heart of Scotland’s economic recovery. Organisations including STUC, the Institute of Directors (IoD), SCDI, COSLA and SCVO have signed a statement supporting the collaboration.
STUC news release. Scottish government news release. Glasgow Live.
Revised Fair Work Statement and Fair Work Convention website. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: PCS prioritises safety at under pressure passport offices
Civil service union PCS has said the safety of its members must be the ‘primary concern’ as pressure builds to deal with lengthy delays in processing passport applications. The union said small and often cramped offices mean social distancing is difficult to observe and as a result Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) is struggling to get its 4,000 staff members back into the workplace.
PCS news release. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: Dip and deli food processor in work virus cluster
All workers at a food processing plant in south Wales are to be tested for coronavirus after four people associated with the factory tested positive for Covid-19. Public Health Wales (PHW) said it was investigating the cause of the confirmed cases associated with Zorba Delicacies, which produces dips, deli fillers and soups.
South Wales Argus. Wales Online. BBC News Online. The Mirror. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: Government 'must stop garment worker exploitation'
More than 50 MPs and peers have written to the home secretary urging her to do more to protect UK garment factory workers from exploitation. It follows reports of staff at factories in Leicester being underpaid and unprotected from Covid-19.
BRC news release and joint letter. BBC News Online. The Guardian. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: Boohoo calls for licensing scheme for textile factories
Scandal-hit retailer Boohoo has called on the UK government to introduce a licensing scheme to ensure textile factories are fit to trade. The move comes after allegations of malpractice by the online fashion group’s suppliers.
The Guardian. Evening Standard. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: Stress-out Covid nurses told 'lives would be made hell'
Hospital nurses were told their “lives would be made hell” if they complained over conditions on a coronavirus ward, UNISON has said. The union has raised a group grievance for 36 employees, most of them nurses, at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust.
BBC News Online. ITV News. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: More talks needed on Scottish schools return
Teaching union EIS has welcomed the publication of the scientific advice on how schools in Scotland might reopen, but has said ‘significant discussion’ is still needed around actual practical guidelines. EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The recent experience of Israel, where levels of infection have soared again following the removal of mitigations, is a stark reminder that the virus remains a threat.”
EIS news release. Advice from COVID Advisory Sub-Group on School transport and Social distancing. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Britain: Belly Mujinga petition smashes 2m signature mark
Rail union TSSA has described as ‘incredible’ news that the petition calling for 'Justice for Belly Mujinga' has now garnered more than two million signatures. TSSA member died of Covid-19 in April after being redeployed to the concourse at London’s Victoria station despite having an existing respiratory condition.
TSSA news release. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Australia: Work linked to 4-in-5 new coronavirus cases
As New South Wales and Victoria face rising numbers of coronavirus cases, there are growing calls for Australia’s federal government to do more to protect workers. On 19 July, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews acknowledged the state’s spike could largely be traced back to spread between employees, noting: “About 80 per cent of our new cases since May are being driven by transmission in workplaces.”
Victorian state government news release. Business Insider. Daily Mail. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Global: Stop sending toxic chemicals to poor nations – UN expert
The practice of wealthy states exporting their banned toxic chemicals to poorer nations lacking the capacity to control the risks is deplorable and must end, a United Nations expert has said. The comments by the UN special rapporteur on toxics, Baskut Tuncak, were endorsed by 35 other experts from the Human Rights Council.
OHCHR news release. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

USA: Congress urged to slow meat plant line speeds
The US foodworkers’ union UFCW has called on Congress to pass immediately the Safe Line Speeds in Covid-19 Act. The measure, introduced in the House of Representatives, would mandate a reduction in the dangerously fast line speeds which have made many meatpacking plants coronavirus hotspots.
IUF news release. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

USA: Employees track Covid-19 outbreaks
Unions and advocate groups have taken up Covid-19 tracking, creating lists or building online maps of stores where workers can self-report cases they know about. Marc Perrone, the president of the union UFCW which represents grocery and meatpacking workers, called it “stunning” that this many months into the pandemic “some of America's largest companies still refuse to release this information.”
New York Times. CTV News. WFMJ News. United for Respect. Risks 957. 25 July 2020

Hazards news, 18 July 2020

Britain: Sick easyJet redundancy scheme is unsafe, warns union
An easyJet plan to use sickness records in its selection of pilots for redundancy is ‘outrageous’ and unsafe, the pilots’ union BALPA has warned. The union was commenting after the airline announced its proposals to select 727 pilots for the axe.
BALPA news release. BBC News Online. Daily Mail. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Face coverings in England's shops to be compulsory
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the mandatory wearing of face coverings in shops, but warns it will only be effective alongside existing social distancing and hygiene procedures. The union comments came after the government announced wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England is to become mandatory from 24 July.
Usdaw news release. BBC News Online. The Guardian and related report. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Shop unions and retailers must be consulted on face coverings
Retail trade union Usdaw has said it is concerned that the health secretary did not indicate he will engage with the union and retailers on detailed guidance for the mandatory wearing of face coverings in shops. Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis, commenting on Matt Hancock’s 14 July statement to the House of Commons, said: “We urge them to develop and agree that with Usdaw and retail employers, as we successfully did on joint safety guidance for the reopening of high street shops with the British Retail Consortium.”
Usdaw news release. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Shame of our high health worker death rates
The union GMB has said the UK government has ‘utterly failed’ health care workers after a report revealed more than 540 health and social workers have died of Covid-19 in England and Wales, compared to a worldwide total of 3,000 deaths in these jobs. The Amnesty International report makes wide-ranging recommendations, including provision of full PPE and other protections to all at-risk workers, recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease, compensation for all those made sick as a result of ‘work-related activities’, and protection of workers from any disadvantage for raising safety concerns.
GMB news release. Amnesty International news release. Exposed, silenced, attacked: Failures to protect health & essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Amnesty international, 14 July 2020. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: WHO shouldn’t gamble with our health
Health service workers could have been exposed to deadly Covid-19 risks because the World Health Organisation (WHO) refused to give their safety the benefit of the doubt, a global union has said. Public Service International (PSI) said u a 5 June recommendation on masks, WHO admitted its guidance – followed by the UK and other governments – was tailored to fit the “availability of medical masks versus respirators, cost and procurement implications, feasibility, equity of access to these respiratory protections by health workers around the world,” with PSI noting this approach has allowed “corporations’ wealth to be prioritised over people’s health.”
PSI news report. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: implications for infection prevention precautions, 9 July 2020 update, WHO. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Unite welcomes Welsh transport masks move
Unite has ‘warmly welcomed’ the decision by the Welsh government to make the use of face coverings mandatory on public transport. Three-layer face coverings will be mandatory on all public transport in Wales including taxis from 27 July, first minister Mark Drakeford said.
Updated Welsh government transport safety guidance. Unite news release. BBC News Online. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Unions welcome schools reopening plan for Wales
Unions in Wales have welcomed Welsh government plans for school reopening. The unions were commenting after education minister Kirsty Williams confirmed there would be a full opening of schools in September.
Welsh government news release and related news release. NEU Cymru news release. NASUWT news release. Wales TUC news release. GMB news release. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Large farm outbreak exposes new work hubs
Around 200 staff at the vegetable farm and packing business AS Green & Co in Herefordshire have been ordered to isolate on the property after at least 74 workers tested positive for the virus, prompting concerns about safety standards in agriculture.  Concerns have been raised about working conditions on the farm prior to the outbreak, with unions warning that coronavirus was “lifting up a stone” on the situation in workplaces such as textile factories, meat processing plants and now farms.
The Guardian. BBC News Online. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Food firm virus sick pay rethink welcomed
Unite has welcomed a u-turn by Covid-19 hit firm Rowan Foods which has now agreed to pay company sick pay to anyone testing positive or isolating. Unite regional officer Dave Griffiths, commenting after a meeting with the Wrexham firm, said: “Unite believes that the payment of sick pay for Covid affected workers at Rowan Foods will help enormously in containing this outbreak and limiting wider community spread.”
Unite news release. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: All workers in Blackburn told to wear masks
New measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Blackburn with Darwen have been introduced after a spike in cases. For the next month, residents are being told to wear cloth face coverings in all enclosed public spaces, including workplaces, libraries, museums, health centres and hair and beauty salons.
Blackburn and Darwen Council news update. BBC News Online. The Guardian. Lancashire Telegraph. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Hospitality businesses in Scotland must step up
As Scotland took its biggest step so far in the easing of lockdown, Scotland’s national union organisation STUC has warned employers to step up on staff safety. Commenting ahead of the re-opening of indoor hospitality on 15 July, Roz Foyer, STUC general secretary, called on workers to ensure that their employers do not skirt their safety obligations.
STUC news release and Better Than Zero webpages. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Unite concern at new site PPE and hygiene guidance
Construction union Unite has said it will not support latest industry guidance until major failings on personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene are addressed. It says the new version of the Construction Leadership Council’s site operating procedures (SOP) have major safety failings and potential ‘illegalities’, including the advice relating to the use and supply of PPE when a two metre distance cannot be maintained, and the ‘wrong and potentially illegal information’ regarding site deliveries.
Unite news release. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Regulators too weak and unprepared for pandemic
An occupational health and safety expert has said UK’s regulators were under-resourced and under-prepared when the coronavirus [SARS-CoV-2] pandemic hit, with the workplace enforcement agency the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) going ‘missing’. Stirling University professor Andrew Watterson said the Leicester lockdown “continues to expose even wider and still neglected policy failings along with inadequate national, regional and local capacity relating to information, surveillance and inspection of workplaces.”
BMJ Rapid Response, 11 July 2020. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Covid exposes need to address HSE’s ‘chronic’ problems
Prospect members in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have reacted angrily after it was revealed that inspectors who have left are being offered short-term contracts on beneficial terms to return to help with Covid spot checks. Retirees and people who left for other employment are being offered pay levels at the top of their former bands to return to work for eight months.
Prospect news release. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Tougher sentencing plan for attacks on emergency workers
GMB has welcomed a consultation on tougher sentencing for those who attack emergency workers. The union was commenting after the government announced a consultation on plans to double the maximum jail term for criminals who assault emergency workers to two years are being considered by the government.
Ministry of Justice news release. GMB news release. Police Federation news release. Labour Party news release. BBC News Online. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Unite calls for swift probe into deadly crane collapse
An urgent report into a deadly crane collapse must be published in ‘weeks’, construction union Unite has said. The union was commenting after a tower crane collapsed onto housing in Bow, East London, leaving an elderly resident dead and injuring four, including two of the crane firm’s employees.
Wolffkran statement. Unite news release. Construction Enquirer. Morning Star. The Mirror. BBC News Online. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: New plans to ensure safety of UK journalists
The National Union of Journalists has welcomed a new national committee to address the increasing violence facing journalists as they do their job. The first meeting of the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists took place on 13 July, focusing on developing a National Action Plan.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport news release. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Government must up UK radiation protection and fund HSE
A new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on standards of radiation protection in the UK has highlighted the urgent need for greater funding for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to meet its obligations, the union Prospect has said. The union for HSE specialists and inspectors says there are almost 17,000 UK employers using radiation sources, ranging from local dentists and vets to hospitals and industrial applications, but HSE employs just seven specialist radiation inspectors, which means there is one inspector for about every 2,500 employers.
Prospect news release. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Global: Bangladesh shipbreaking widow can pursue UK claim
A widow whose husband was killed while dismantling a large vessel in a shipbreaking yard on the beaches of Bangladesh can press ahead with her claim against the UK-based shipping company involved in the vessel’s sale. In a judgment handed down on 13 July,  an English High Court judge refused to strike out a claim for negligence brought by widow Hamida Begum against Maran (UK) Ltd.
Leigh Day Solicitors news release. The Guardian. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Britain: Tube cleaning contract puts profits before safety
A Transport for London contract with outsourcing company ABM shows the contractor is scored more for how successful it is in cutting jobs than in cleaning trains and stations, documents obtained by Tube union RMT have revealed. The documents disclosed under Freedom of Information legislation show the performance measurement matrix used by TfL bases only 8 per cent of the company’s quarterly score on how well it cleans the seats, hand rails, hangers, arms rests and floors of trains or how well they clean station platforms, seats and floors.
RMT news release. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Australia: New outbreak closes giant JBS abbatoir
Unions have warned that workers at a giant JBS abattoir in Melbourne hit by a Covid-19 outbreak must continue to be paid after the company was ordered to close its doors. United Workers Union said workers at JBS have continued to work at a backbreaking pace to keep up with panic buying, even during the worst of the pandemic, and in return the company needs to ensure all workers are paid during the site closure.
United Workers Union news release. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Global: Covid-19 seafarers’ rights agreement welcomed
New international measures to protect the rights of seafarers, stranded at sea because of the Covid-19 crisis, has been welcomed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). A joint statement signed by more than a dozen countries gives seafarers enhanced rights as ‘key workers’.
ILO news release. DfT news release. Joint statement on crew changes. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

India: ‘Industrial homicide’ during Covid-19 kills at least 75
There have been more than 30 industrial accidents in India since May, killing at least 75 workers and injuring over a hundred, IndustriALL has said. These numbers are based on reported incidents and the real number may be far higher, the global union has said.
IndustriALL news release. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Morocco: Berry plants ‘breeding grounds’ for coronavirus
A sharp rise in Covid-19 cases in Morocco has been linked to international berry processing plants. The plants owned by Spanish multinationals Frigodar and Natberry operate in the agricultural region between Larache and Rabat, and specialise in the packing and freezing of berries.
ETUI news report. Risks 956. 18 July 2020

Hazards news, 11 July 2020

Global: WHO urged to act on big Covid-19 airborne risks
A letter signed by over 200 scientists from around the world has urged the World Health Organisation (WHO) to recognise Covid-19 can be spread by ‘aerosol’ or ‘airborne’ transmission and called on the UN body to revise its guidance. On 7 July, WHO acknowledged there could be a problem and said it plans to review its advice.
Lidia Morawska, Donald K Milton. It is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19, Clinical Infectious Diseases, ciaa939, 6 July 2020.  New York Times and follow up article. CNN News. LA Times. BBC News Online. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Global: Workers are dying while WHO fails to move
Until the World Health Organisation (WHO) revises it guidance on personal protective equipment, physical distancing and other protective measures in the workplace, workers will continue to die unnecessarily, global unions have warned. WHO has denied repeatedly that there is evidence for the airborne mode of transmission, instead saying the risk was limited to droplet transmission from close contact with infected individuals.
A safe and healthy return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, ILO policy brief, 22 May 2020.  Key issues on the return to work, ITUC Covid-19 briefing, 15 May 2020. ITUC and Council of Global Unions letters calling for recognition of Covid-19 as on occupational disease. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Most testing positive for coronavirus have no symptoms
Only 22 per cent of people testing positive for coronavirus reported having symptoms on the day of their test, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figures published on 7 July demonstrate the importance of ‘asymptomatic transmission’ - spread of the virus by people who aren't sick or aware they're carrying it.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in the community in England: July 2020. Characteristics of people testing positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) in England from the COVID-19 Infection Survey, ONS, 7 July 2020. BBC News Online. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: One in ten Covid-19 cases in health and care workers
An estimated 10 per cent of all covid-19 infections in England between 26 April and 7 June were among healthcare workers or social care workers interacting directly with patients or care home residents, according to a new report. The research was carried out by Data Evaluation and Learning for Viral Epidemics (DELVE) – an independent group of researchers convened by the Royal Society.
Scoping Report on Hospital and Health Care Acquisition of COVID-19 and its Control, Royal Society DELVE Initiative, DELVE report number 3, 6 July 2020. New Scientist. The Telegraph. Daily Mail. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Chancellor backs down on Covid tests tax
The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has reversed a decision to force workers to pay income tax on Covid-19 tests purchased by their employers. HMRC guidance stated that workers would face a taxable benefit in kind when their employer pays for coronavirus testing, meaning a reduction in take-home pay.
The Guardian. Treasury Committee news release and letter to the Chancellor. HMRC guidance, 6 July 2020. BBC News Online. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Boohoo to investigate suppliers over exploitation claims
The online fashion retailer Boohoo is launching an independent review of its UK supply chain after allegations that some factories in Leicester that sell clothes to Boohoo paid workers below the minimum wage and failed to protect them from the coronavirus outbreak. The company had more than £1bn wiped off its value on 6 July as it pledged to investigate renewed claims staff making its products in the city were being exploited and put in danger.
Labour Behind the Label publication notice and report, Boohoo and Covid-19: the people behind the profits, June 2020. The Guardian and related story. BBC News Online and related story. Morning Star. Financial Times. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Second bed factory suffers outbreak
A West Yorkshire bed firm has been hit by a coronavirus outbreak just days after an outbreak at another bed firm just four miles away. Wakefield Council confirmed Deep Sleep Beds UK Ltd in Ossett has had four employees test positive for Covid-19, and follows one at Batley's DuraBeds factory a week earlier, where eight employees tested positive.
The Examiner. BBC News Online. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Second Asda meat factory hit by coronavirus cluster
A second Asda-owned meat factory in West Yorkshire has been hit by a coronavirus cluster, with 17 workers testing positive last week. Further cases are being investigated at Forza Foods in Normanton, with 300 staff offered tests and told to self-isolate at home.
BBC News Online. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Government has no plans to tackle PPE shortages
The government still has no proper plans to ensure that hospitals and care homes have sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) to deal with a second wave of coronavirus, MPs have warned. The cross-party Commons public accounts committee said the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was not treating the issue with “sufficient urgency.”
House of Commons Public Accounts Committee news release and report summary, conclusions and recommendations and full report. Morning Star. The Independent. BBC News Online. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Anger at huge national stockpiles of unusable PPE
Almost 80 per cent of respirators in the national pandemic stockpile were out of date when coronavirus hit the UK, a Channel 4 News investigation has found. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued safety warnings, notices for disposal, and distribution stoppages for 85 million masks and respirators, according to an investigation.
Channel 4 News. Morning Star. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Coronavirus sick pay win for 15,000 care workers
Unions have won full sick pay for at least 15,000 care workers employed by Four Seasons Health Care (FSHC). Negotiations by GMB, RCN and UNISON secured full pay for any coronavirus-related absence for all staff at the company's care facilities.
GMB news release. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: PCS challenges HSE on air conditioning and fan claims
Civil service union PCS has written to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) asking the regulator to revisit its position on the use of air conditioning systems and ceiling and desk fans in light of emerging scientific evidence. The union’s move came after HSE published a statement claiming air conditioning systems and desk fans pose ‘an extremely low risk’ in the transmission of coronavirus.
PCS news release. HSE statement. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Union demands clarity on English schools return
School leaders in England need clear guidance based on scientific evidence, teaching union NEU has said, but instead they are confronted by a government “rushing through ideas that seem more based on hope than on science.” Commenting on guidance issued today by the Department for Education, intended to prepare schools for full opening from September, Kevin Courtney, NEU joint general secretary, said: “A poor plan, such as this one, risks failing children, parents and staff alike.”
NEU news release. Department for Education guidance. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Scottish teachers have fears over August return
Only just over a quarter of teachers in Scotland think it will be safe for their pupils to return to their school or college in August, a survey by the teaching union NASUWT has found. Nearly half (49 per cent) of teachers who responded to the survey said they do not feel prepared to return to their school or college in August and just 22 per cent said they feel safe or very safe as a result of the provisions their employer is putting in place to mitigate the risks of Covid-19.
NASUWT news release. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Unscrupulous employers must not exploit distancing change
A relaxation of social distancing rules in Scotland must not be used by unscrupulous employers to risk workers’ health, national union federation STUC has said. Commenting after Scotland’s first minister's announced the country “will retain 2 metres as the default physical distancing requirement” but allow a relaxation of social distancing in transport, outdoor hospitality and retail, STUC general secretary Roz Foyer, said: “It is clear that the scientific advice has not changed – relaxing social distancing from 2 metres to 1 metre comes with increased risk – between two and tenfold.”
STUC news release. Scottish government news release. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Commons catering staff may refuse unsafe work
Catering staff at the House of Commons could be advised to walk out if health and safety measures are not put in place, their union has warned. The London region of the GMB union is calling on management to adhere to regulations and the government’s guidance on Covid-19, and to meet key coronavirus safety tests.
Morning Star. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Creating safe workplaces is more urgent than ever
New workplace death figures are a ‘devastating’ indictment of safety standards in UK workplaces, the TUC has said. The union body was commenting on provisional Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures showing there were 111 fatalities at work in Great Britain in 2019/20.
TUC blog. HSE news release and statistical summary, Fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2019/2020. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Sharp rise in site deaths as enforcement plummets
A large increase in construction deaths could be related to a steep fall in proactive inspections and prosecutions being undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Unite has said. The union was commenting after provisional figures released by HSE showed that construction fatalities increased by 33 per cent in a year from 30 in 2018/19 to 40 in 2019/20, and made up over a third of all work-related deaths.
Unite news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: HSE inspector calls for ‘desperately needed’ funds
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is desperately in need of more funds to meet the ‘expectations’ of politicians and the public, an HSE inspector had said. Neil Hope-Collins, who is also the vice-president of HSE union Prospect, said: “The country needs to invest in the health and safety of workers, and that means building the regulators that ensure workers go home at the end of the day.”
Prospect news release. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Britain: Driverless trains are an unsafe ‘nonsensical distraction’
Rail unions have hit back at the prime minister's suggestion that driverless trains should be a condition of the funding settlement for Transport for London this autumn. Mick Whelan, the general secretary of train drivers’ union ASLEF, commented: “It’s the usual signs of a failing Tory government that they'll attack trade unions and working people to try to distract from their own failings. Train drivers on London Underground have continued to work throughout this pandemic to make sure that fellow key workers can get to work and back. Now those very same workers are being treated with contempt and told they're not needed.” He added: “Driverless underground trains are simply not viable on London Underground. It would not be safe to run services without a trained member of staff onboard in case of emergency. Even the Docklands Light Railway, which was purpose built to be driverless, is staffed with a train captain who is able to drive the train if necessary.” The ASLEF leader concluded: “This is desperate stuff which is completely unworkable and unnecessary.” RMT senior assistant general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Linking additional funding for rail operators to cuts, or driverless trains on TfL as suggested by the prime minister, is a shameful attempt to make frontline transport workers pay the price of the global health crisis.” He added: “The government knows that rail privatisation has failed, and therefore, it must use this substantial additional funding to bring the rail network back into public ownership, rather than continuing to bail out the private operators at a significant cost to the public purse.”
ASLEF news release. RMT news release. ITV News. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Empty promise of 'zero tolerance' on shop violence
Retail trade union Usdaw has criticised the prime minister for failing to back a new law to protect shop workers from violence. The union said it took over a year for the Home Office to respond to evidence on violence against shopworkers, and the eventual response this week was ‘deeply disappointing’.
Usdaw news release and related news release. Home Office news release and response to a call for evidence on retail violence. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Post workers demand protection from dangerous dogs
With an average of seven dog attacks on post workers every day, the CWU and Royal Mail are highlighting the legal responsibility of owners to ensure their dogs are kept indoors when their postman or postwoman calls. Speaking ahead of of Dog Awareness Week 2020, which kicked off on 6 July, CWU national safety officer Dave Joyce said: “Of the 2,500 dog attacks on Royal Mail workers over the past year, 83 per cent of them happened either at the front door or in the garden, but with a few basic precautions, these could be prevented.”
CWU news release. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

One in five bosses not trained in health and safety
One in five companies don’t train their managers in health and safety, according to a new report. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) report, ‘How to manage your people safely’, found 96 per cent agreed that line managers are important in ensuring the people who report to them are safe and healthy in the workplace, with 21 per cent saying investigations into accidents had shown a management failure was a contributing factor.
IOSH news release and report, Managing your people safely, 7 July 2020. Personnel Today. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Australia: Welcome for work safety, diseases and suicides move
Unions have welcomed a new legal safety measures coming into force in the Australian state of Victoria.  From 1 July, employers in the state that fail to meet health and safety obligations face tough new workplace manslaughter penalties should their negligence lead to a worker dying on the job, and the state regulator WorkSafe has also broadened the definition of a workplace death to include killed on the road while working, suicides attributable to a workplace health and safety failure, deaths from industrial diseases such as silicosis, and workplace deaths resulting from a criminal act.
WorkSafe Victoria news release and workplace manslaughter law. ACTU news release. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Europe: Chemical restrictions drive use of safer substances
Replacing harmful chemicals with safer alternatives and greener technologies is strongly driven by regulation, with companies reporting that restrictions and authorisation are their main drivers for substitution, research by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has concluded. Based on a survey of industry associations and more than 80 companies, many of which were affected by authorisation or restriction, around 19 per cent indicated that restriction is their main reason for replacing hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives.
ECHA news release. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Global: OECD backs paid Covid-19 sick leave
Paid sick leave can be a particularly effective tool in addressing the coronavirus crisis, an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) analysis has concluded. The OECD concludes that paid sick leave can be a particularly effective tool, as part of a rigorous testing, tracking, tracing and isolating strategy
OECD TUAC news release. OECD policy brief on sick leave. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

South Africa: Thousands of miners hit by Covid-19
Mining industry figures show 18 mineworkers in South Africa have so far died from Covid-19, with nearly 3,000 workers testing positive for the virus. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) wants the government to shut down mines that fail to comply with healthy and safety regulations, and arrest mine managers found to be flouting the law.
News 24. Risks 955. 11 July 2020

Hazards news, 4 July 2020

Britain: UNISON safety rep recruitment drive amid Covid crisis
UNISON is launching a ‘Be on the safe side’ campaign to recruit more safety reps in workplaces across the UK. The public sector union said the move comes in the wake of its tireless campaign to protect its members at work during the Covid-19 pandemic. UNISON added it has supported its safety reps in carrying out their difficult role, whether ensuring that members have access to correct PPE, conducting workplace risk assessments or addressing the particular risks to Black and vulnerable workers.
UNISON news release and pointers on becoming a UNISON health and safety rep. UNISON campaign on twitter: #BeOnTheSafeSide. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Covid workplace guidance ‘not fit for purpose’
The GMB has slammed the government’s updated Covid-19 workplace guidance, warning it will not protect workers or head off a second spike. Commenting on updated guidance issued on 24 June, GMB national health and safety officer Dan Shears said: “The government's guidance is still not fit for purpose.
GMB news release. UK guidance on Working safely during coronavirus (Covid-19) and updates webpage. HSE guidelines: Working safely during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak; PPE guidelines; Manufacturing: returning to work safely during the coronavirus outbreak, HSE, June 2020. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Public enquiry ‘imperative’ on inequality and work practices
Unite is calling for an urgent ‘warts and all’ public inquiry into the death rates of workers from Covid-19 during the pandemic. The union made its call following the publication this week of the latest Office of National Statistics (ONS) report into deaths by occupation up to 25 May 2020.
Unite news release. Coronavirus (COVID-19) related deaths by occupation, England and Wales: deaths registered between 9 March and 25 May 2020, ONS, 26 June 2020. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Care staff death rate a national scandal, says UNISON
High Covid-19 death rates in men and women working in social care in England and Wales are a “national scandal”, public sector union UNISON has said. In its latest report, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported the “rates of death involving the coronavirus (Covid-19) among men and women social care workers were found to be statistically significantly higher than the rates of death involving Covid-19 among those of the same age and sex in England and Wales.”
UNISON news release. ONS figures of death rates in health and social care workers. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: 'Gruesome' figures show keyworkers need urgent protection
New Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures on Covid-19 related deaths show keyworkers need urgent protection, the GMB has said. The data show that workers in care, security, professional driving, nursing and other occupations are the most likely to die from Covid-19.
GMB news release. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Meat workers put at risk by safety check failures
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has failed to carry out basic on-site Covid-19 safety assessments, which has put hundreds of workers at risk of coronavirus infection in the meat slaughter and processing industry in England and Wales, UNISON has warned. The union raised its concerns in a letter to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on 3 June, which is now investigating whether there have been breaches of safety regulations over the failure to carry out proper workplace risk assessments.
UNISON news release and 3 June 2020 letter to HSE. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Welsh meat plant ‘must comply’ with new guidance
Unite has said a Covid-19 hit meat processing plant must comply with new Welsh government guidance aimed at the prevention and management of the outbreak in the food sector. The guidance states that employers in the sector should ensure that employees “do not suffer a financial detriment as a result of self-isolation.”
Unite news release. Welsh government statement, 26 June 2020. Wrexham News. The Metro. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Wales must not act like ‘reckless’ UK government
The Welsh government should not follow the ‘reckless’ example of the UK government and must instead continue to prioritise the safety of workers and maintain a cautious approach to the easing of the lockdown, the Wales TUC has said. General secretary Shavanah Taj said: “The greatest risk facing the Welsh economy remains a failure to get the coronavirus under control.”
Wales TUC news release. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: ‘Second spike’ danger from transport masks failings
A second spike in Covid-19 infections is becoming ‘ever more likely’ due to increasing non-compliance with face covering and social distancing rules on public transport, Unite has said. The union warning came after transport secretary Grant Shapps announced that bus and rail timetables will return to 85 per cent of normal services in early July.
Unite news release. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Two metre rule to stay on public transport
Transport union TSSA has said it is ‘pleased’ new government guidance for England continues to stress social distancing measures of at least two metres should remain in place across the transport network and says people should continue to work from home if possible. The Department for Transport (DfT) updated guidance, published on 29 June, says: “Passengers and people working on the transport network should maintain 2 metres distance from people outside their household or support bubble where possible, because the risk of transmission is small at this distance.”
TSSA news release. Department for Transport (DfT) updated guidance. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Leicester lockdown must come with job protection
Unite has said the lockdown intended to reverse the surge in Covid-19 cases in Leicester will not be effective unless jobs and incomes are protected. Health secretary Matt Hancock told the Commons on 29 June that non-essential shops in the city will shut on 30 June, and schools will close for most pupils on 1 July, with the stricter lockdown continuing for at least two weeks.
Unite news release. Leicester City Council news release. BBC News Online. Leicester Mercury. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Unions welcome Labour’s ‘Care for Carers’ call
The unions GMB, Unite and UNISON have backed Labour’s call for a ‘Care for Carers’ package to provide mental health support to 3 million NHS and care staff. GMB said MPs, including shadow minister for mental health Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, had heard GMB members tell of huge stress as a result of the lack of PPE and the risk that poses to their own health and the health of their families.
Labour Party news release. GMB news release. Unite news release. UNISON news release. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Concern at plans to scrap social distancing in schools
The government needs to agree a ‘coherent’ strategy for reopening schools safely, teaching unions have said. Commenting on leaked reports that the government will remove social distancing requirements in schools by September, they said schools and parents needed the government to provide the ‘necessary evidence’ and strategy for a return for all pupils.
NEU news release and NEU's 10 point National Education Recovery Plan. NASUWT news release. BBC News Online. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: School cleaners, janitors and support staff 'do not feel safe'
More than 1,700 school cleaners, janitors and support staff in Scotland have told the country’s leader they do not feel safe at work and are being put at risk every day. In an open letter to Nicola Sturgeon, the GMB members raised concerns over personal protective equipment (PPE) and risk assessments.
BBC News Online. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: PCS warns reopening jobcentres creates ‘perfect storm’
The reopening jobcentres as early as next week could create a perfect storm as staff and customers are faced with a lack of social distancing, inadequate personal protective equipment and the real risk of Covid-19 being brought into workplaces, civil service union PCS has said. While the reopening is understood to be gradual, the union said a lack of adequate protection for staff and customers “could lead to pandemonium.”
PCS news release. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Masks shortage must not put site worker lives at risk
Construction union Unite is urging workers not to risk their health if they are not supplied with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect against dust, fumes and other site hazards. The union’s warning came after a survey by trade bodies ECA, BESA, SELECT, SNIPEF, LEIA and the CICV Forum found over six in 10 engineering services businesses (63 per cent) were struggling to obtain respiratory protective equipment.
Unite news release. ECA news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Government plan for just 12 new fire inspectors criticised
The UK government expects to fund just a dozen extra staff to inspect and enforce fire safety in more than 2 million homes after Grenfell, a new analysis has found. Firefighters’ union FBU had said this is a “gross underestimate” of the resources needed to tackle the building safety crisis in England.
FBU news release. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: New law needed to protect shopworkers says Coop and Usdaw
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw and convenience store giant the Co-op have challenged “government inertia” on the protection of retail staff from violence and abuse. Their comments came on the first anniversary of the closure of the UK government’s call for evidence on violence against retail staff.
Usdaw news release. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Families criticise migrant crush deaths case delays The families of five migrant workers who were crushed to death at a scrap metal plant four years ago say they have been treated “as if our lives do not matter” after the criminal investigation was hit with further delays. The men, who were from the Gambia and Senegal and were employed on zero-hours agency contracts, were killed on 7 July 2016 when a 3.6-metre wall and 263 tonnes of metal collapsed on top of them at the Hawkeswood Metal Recycling site in Birmingham.
Birmingham Live. The Guardian. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Britain: Firm fined £200k after warehouse worker loses leg
Parcels firm DX Network Services has been fined £200,000 after a Scottish warehouse worker lost a leg. Les More was hit by a forklift truck and trapped under the vehicle for an hour. Surgeons couldn’t save his left leg which had to be amputated above the knee.
Daily Record. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Europe: Probe exposes trucking ‘pandemic of exploitation’
Road transport companies are using Covid-19 to further exploit truck drivers and cut transport prices, pay, conditions and health and safety across Europe, an investigation from union bodies FNV-VNB, ITF and IUF has revealed. A new report and documentary video released by the groups reveals that human trafficking is alive in European trucking, and has uncovered shocking human rights abuses on the doorstep of the European Union, said Stephen Cotton, general secretary of the global transport union ITF.
ITF news release, report and documentary video. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Germany: Meat union demands strict regulation and enforcement
New coronavirus hotspots in Germany's meat processing plants have highlighted the massive abuse of subcontracted migrant labour on which the industry depends, unions have said. Draft legislation published in May 2020 and due to take effect on 1 January 2021 would require the meat companies to directly employ their workforce, impose new oversight of working hours and payment and enforce strict liability for violations.
IUF news release. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Germany: Amazon workers walk out over outbreaks
Amazon warehouse workers in Germany walked out this week after staff at several logistics centres tested positive for the coronavirus. The strikes hit six of the e-commerce giant’s warehouses across the country.
CNBC News. The Verge. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

India: Advocacy group condemns release of LG managers
A workplace and environment health advocacy group has slammed an Indian court decision that has allowed three South Koreans managers at a LG Polymers plant where a deadly gas leak occurred to leave the country. The Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims (ANROEV) said the passports of the South Korean bosses had been confiscated because of the importance of their evidence in the ongoing investigation in the styrene monomer vapour leak from a storage tank at the plant owned by the Korean multinational LG Chem – the incident occurred as it rushed to restart production after the coronavirus shutdown.
The Hindu. Risks 854. 4 July 2020

Hazards news, 27 June 2020

Britain: Wide concern as lockdown relaxed and 2m rule eased
Unions have warned that workers could be put at risk as a result of a government decision this week to weaken lockdown rules in England. In changes announced on 23 June, prime minister Boris Johnson said people should remain 2 metres apart where possible but a “one metre plus” rule will be introduced from 4 July.
Prime minister’s statement and Prime minister’s office news release. Unite news release. ASLEF news release. RMT news release. TSSA news release. Usdaw news release. GMB news release. UNISON news release. BBC News Online. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Rules easing could boost virus, say UK scientists
The easing of multiple lockdown measures in England at once risks Covid-19 gaining a fresh foothold, scientists advising the government have warned. They raised concerns over the halving of the 2-metre physical distancing rule at the same time as reopening venues, saying the country was currently experiencing up to 4,300 Covid-19 infections a day and had no effective digital track-and-trace system, while highlighting research that showed transmission of the virus was more likely to happen indoors.
The Guardian. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Two-metre downgrade risks ‘more outbreaks’ for meat industry
Downgrading the two-metre social distancing rule risks causing ‘more outbreaks’ of coronavirus within the meat processing sector, Unite has said. Unite called for ‘significant intervention’ by both the government and employers to prevent Covid-19 spreading at meat processing factories to accompany any downgrading of the social distancing measures, including better health and safety regimes and improvements to testing and tracing.
Unite news release. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Mounting concern as coronavirus food plants close
Three large food factories have closed in England and Wales after hundreds of workers tested positive for coronavirus, as the Unite union said it was aware of suspected outbreaks at five other sites across the UK. Bev Clarkson, a national officer at Unite, said there were “major issues” with the health and safety of workers in the meat processing industry and urged employers to implement proper physical distancing and provide adequate protective equipment “to stop further spikes within the sector”.
The Guardian. BBC News Online. The Grocer. US Food and Environment Reporting Network. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Action needed to stem Welsh meat plant outbreaks
Employers and the Welsh government must take urgent action before workplace Covid-19 outbreaks spread elsewhere within Wales, the union Unite has said. The union was commenting on 19 June following confirmation of significant outbreaks of Covid-19 at two food production facilities in Wales.
Unite news release. Welsh government news release. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Local lockdown 'possibility' for chicken factory outbreak
A local lockdown could be enforced to bring under control a Covid-19 outbreak at a food factory, Public Health Wales has said. PHW’s Giri Shankar said “aggressive control measures” were being used on Anglesey to stop the outbreak which by 22 June had seen 158 workers at a 2 Sisters chicken processing plant in Llangefni test positive for Covid-19.
Unite news release. BBC News Online. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Experts warn keep your distance at work
Safety experts have said a reduction in the 2-metre physical distancing rule cannot be justified. The Stirling University commentary on the evidence for and against lowering the separation limit notes: “The arguments for a blanket reduction of 2m in the UK economy do not stack up.”
Keep your distance: Is two metres too far or not far enough to protect from COVID-19 and who benefits and who loses if it is reduced?, Stirling University commentary, 22 June 2020. Environmental Health News. Morning Star. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Coronavirus spreads more easily than other viruses
Measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus should have been more stringent because modelling was based on earlier, less transmissible viruses, a new study has indicated. New research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, indicates the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 seems to spread far more easily than either severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and can be transmitted by people with no symptoms, with “substantial infectivity” during the incubation period.
Qin-Long Jing, Ming-Jin Liu, Zhou-Bin Zhang, Li-Qun Fang, Jun Yuan, An-Ran Zhang and others. Household secondary attack rate of Covid-19 and associated determinants in Guangzhou, China: a retrospective cohort study, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, online first, 17 June 2020. Migrant Clinicians Network blog. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: HSE hasn’t earned public confidence during pandemic, say MPs
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not been visible enough during the pandemic and has not got the confidence of the public, a group of cross-party MPs has said. The Work and Pensions Committee report issued on 22 June, and which is highly critical of the safety regulator, noted that during the pandemic, the HSE has so far required just one business to close and had not inspected a single care home since 20 March.
House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee news release and report, DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak, 22 June 2020. The Independent. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Government urged to deploy safety rep ‘army’
Ahead of the UK government announcement on social distancing in England, Unite repeated its offer to deploy its ‘army' of health and safety reps to help keep the country's workplaces safe. The union has also written to the government to raise concerns that trade unions were not asked to contribute to the government's review of the social distancing advice.
Unite news release. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Transport unions warn reduced distancing increases risk
Transport unions have warned of the 'increased risks' of reducing social distancing on public transport. In a joint statement ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan, RMT senior assistant general secretary Mick Lynch and TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “The government’s own advisers have said that reducing social distancing to one metre will significantly increase the chance of infection by up to 30 times whilst the chances of Covid-19 spreading are increased in confined spaces such as train carriages and stations.”
ASLEF news release. RMT news release. TSSA news release. SAGE advisory on mitigating measures, 4 June 2020. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Usdaw urges retailers to maintain 2m rule
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw is urging retailers to maintain the already agreed joint safety guidance on social distancing in shops at two metres. The union call came after the prime minister announces a ‘one metre plus’ rule for situations where two metre distancing cannot be observed.
Usdaw news release. Review of scientific evidence on 2-metre versus 1-metre social distancing, Independent SAGE press statement, 18 June 2020. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Lidl store closure threat over staff distancing concerns
Bosses at a Lidl supermarket in Scotland caught repeatedly flouting coronavirus safety rules have been told by council enforcement officers the store could be closed if the dangerous practices continued. The Greenock store has been the focus of a series of secret unannounced visits by council health and safety officers after serious concerns were expressed by staff.
Scottish Hazards statement. Greenock Telegraph. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: For safety’s sake, schools need more teachers and space
While it is in favour of all children being back in school, teaching union NEU has warned that even with a one-metre rule, schools will need more teachers and more space. Dr Mary Bousted, NEU joint general secretary, said: “It is now more vital than ever that Boris Johnson and Gavin Williamson listen to the profession so that parents, teachers and pupils can be reassured that a return to school is as safe and as well planned out as possible for  the whole school community and wider society.”
NEU news release and NEU's 10 point National Education Recovery Plan. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Lockdown easing ‘must not let bad bosses put workers at risk’
Employer guidelines can’t just be theory, they need to be practical and enforceable to avoid a second Covid-19 wave in the autumn, unions have said. Responding to the easing of lockdown measures announced by the government, GMB acting general secretary John Phillips said: “Everyone wants to get back to normal as much as humanly possible but it has to be safe - we need quick and urgent progress on supplying everyone who needs it with PPE, testing and tracing if we’re going to avoid a second peak.”
GMB news release. UNISON news release. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Address inequality to protect Black workers
The government must act immediately to protect Black workers from Covid-19 by closing gaps that create health inequalities and poverty and ensuring workplaces are safe, UNISON has said. The union has written to the prime minister urging him to implement all Public Health England’s (PHE) recommendations such as developing comprehensive risk assessments for Black staff to reduce their chance of coronavirus exposure and infection.
UNISON news release. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on BAME groups, PHE, 16 June 2020. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Migrant workers forced to risk their lives and work
The government must suspend an immigration rule that forces migrant workers to choose between “financial ruin” or risking their lives to work during the coronavirus pandemic, a group of cross-party MPs has said. A report from the Work and Pensions Committee concluded the Home Office's no recourse to public funds (NRPF) policy – which prevents tens of thousands of migrants who live and work in the UK legally from claiming benefits and accessing financial support – was forcing people to make "invidious” choices, and leaving many at risk of destitution and homelessness.
House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee news release and report, DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak, 22 June 2020. The Independent. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: School cleaning firm says PPE or union – you choose
A cleaning contractor at a London academy school has been accused of ‘union busting’, after cleaners were allegedly told to ‘drop the union’ after they staged an unofficial walkout. Ridge Crest – a Hertfordshire-based cleaning company provide cleaning for Ark Globe Academy in Southwark, as well other schools – was hit by a walkout of cleaners on 4-5 June over weeks of unpaid wages.
Left Foot Forward. Morning Star. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: TSSA welcomes staff visors move at Govia Thameslink
The decision by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to provide visors in addition to facemasks for all non-safety critical staff has been hailed by rail union TSSA as ‘great news’. The union has been calling for visors at GTR and across Britain’s railways in the wake of the death from Covid-19 of Belly Mujinga, a GTR ticket office clerk and TSSA member who was redeployed to the concourse at London’s Victoria Station despite having an existing respiratory condition.
TSSA news release. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Call for universal access to occupational health
Swift action is needed in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis to ensure the UK population has access to occupational health (OH) advice and assessment, the Society of Occupational Medicine has said. The organisation for occupational health professionals said at the moment only half the UK population has access to occupational health support.
SOM news release. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Britain: Help build a database of coronavirus risk assessments
The TUC is collating the risk assessments published by employers as they start to open again after lockdown. The TUC said its aim is to support a safe return by increasing transparency about how safety is being addressed in each sector and to pressure non-compliant employers to conduct the proper risk assessments and publish them online. “You can help by checking out your own employer or others in your sector, and entering them into the database at https://covidsecurecheck.uk”, the TUC said.
COVID Secure Check portal. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Germany: Workplaces implicated in second wave fears
A sharp rise in Germany’s reproduction rate of Covid-19 has prompted concerns over a second wave of the virus. The country has also seen a new lockdown across a district with a meatpacking plant hit by a large outbreak. Workplaces including meatpacking plants and logistics centres have been implicated in a spike in the R number, up from 1.06 to 2.88 in the span of two days following a string of localised outbreaks.
The Independent. The Guardian. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

South Korea: Workplace focus for second wave of infections
Health officials in South Korea believe the country is going through a second wave of coronavirus based around workplace clusters, despite recording relatively low numbers overall. The country had been viewed as a success story in dealing with Covid-19, but now expects the pandemic to continue for months.
BBC News Online. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

USA: Why is the safety regulator OSHA AWOL?
As US states and municipalities relax lockdown orders, the nation seems to be racing to get the economy back to something resembling the pre-pandemic era. But an opinion piece by the New York Times editorial board notes “the federal agency meant to protect America’s workers continues to sit on the sidelines..”
New York Times. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

USA: Naming and shaming of safety criminals works
A single official press release naming a company that has violated workplace health and safety regulations can result in a 73 per cent improvement in compliance by other facilities, new research has found. The study in the American Economic Review reported that beginning in 2009, the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) sent press releases to the local newspaper near a facility, detailing serious health and safety violations found during an inspection.
Duke University news release. Matthew S Johnson. Regulation by Shaming: Deterrence Effects of Publicizing Violations of Workplace Safety and Health Laws, American Economic Review, 110, number 6, June 2020. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20180501. Business Insurance. Risks 953. 27 June 2020

Hazards news, 20 June 2020

Britain: Many businesses still flouting Covid-Secure guidance
Many businesses are ignoring government guidance to keep their workers safe from Covid-19, the TUC has warned. The union body said all employers with more than five staff are required to produce written risk assessments, in consultation with recognised unions.
TUC news release. Testing and tracing for Covid-19; How to ensure fair access and manage monitoring in the workplace, TUC, May 2020. Return to safe workplaces, TUC Education, May 2020. TUC proposals on ensuring a safe return to work, 4 May 2020. TUC video on coronavirus and employment rights at work. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: TUC sets up its own Covid-19 risk assessment portal
The TUC has launched its own online platform to collect risk assessments in one place and to name and shame employers who have failed to publish them. It says ‘COVID Secure Check’ will be used to monitor good and bad safety practice as the economy reopens, and to put pressure on government and employers to keep their workers safe.
TUC news release and COVID Secure Check portal. Government guidance on working safely during coronavirus, including risk assessments. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Protect jobs and workers, union bodies demand
A panicked rush to re-open workplaces could cause a second spike in infection rates followed by a double dip recession, the STUC said. The Scottish union body was responding to UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) unemployment figures released on 16 June that showed the number of workers on UK payrolls dropped by more than 600,000 between March and May, which STUC said was relatively low thanks to the furlough scheme allowing firms to retain workers and showed the scheme should be extended.
STUC news release. TUC news release and research on young workers and unemployment. BBC News Online. The Guardian. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: WHO warns against relaxing lockdown in England
England’s coronavirus lockdown should not be further lifted until the government’s contact-tracing system has proven to be “robust and effective”, the World Health Organisation has said. As shops across England prepared to reopen, and people were encouraged by the government to come out of their homes and on to the high street, Dr Hans Kluge, the WHO’s director for Europe, cautioned that the UK remained in a “very active phase of the pandemic”.
The Guardian. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Wider shop reopening must be safe and abuse free
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw is urging customers to respect staff and for employers to ensure safety in stores, as shops are allowed to reopen. Paddy Lillis, the union’s general secretary, said: “The safety of our members and the public is our top priority, so Usdaw worked with the British Retail Consortium on joint safety guidance for shops.”
Usdaw news release. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Government must protect BAME people from Covid-19
The TUC and doctors’ organisation the British Medical Association (BMA) have called for immediate action after a delayed official report concluded racism could contribute to the increased Covid-19 risks for Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups. The Public Health England report found “historic racism and poorer experiences of healthcare or at work” meant people in BAME groups were less likely to seek care when they needed it or speak up if they had concerns about risk in the workplace.
TUC news release. Covid-19: How racism kills, TUC blog, 1 May 2020. BMA news release. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on BAME groups, Public Health England review, 16 June 2020. GMB news release. NEU news release. PCS news release. UNISON news release. BBC News Online. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Teachers expected to clean classrooms
Threequarters of teachers are being expected to clean their own classrooms and equipment regularly amid concerns some schools are not implementing effective measures to control the spread of coronavirus, a survey by the teaching union NASUWT has discovered. As more schools reopen to pupils, the union’s survey found that teachers still have significant concerns over their own safety and access to personal protective equipment (PPE).
NASUWT news release. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Limited school reopening highlights dangers
Rushed government reopening plans have led to guidelines on ‘safe’ class sizes being ignored by some schools, according to a UNISON survey. More than one in five (22 per cent) support staff said primary schools have operated class sizes bigger than the 15 pupils limit recommended to maintain social distancing.
UNISON news release. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Fast food chains accused of ‘taking the pee’
Unite has demanded that takeaways and major fast food chains stop breaking the law and allow fast food couriers to use their toilets. The union said it has been contacted by several self-employed couriers who work via platforms such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats, who are concerned that Covid-19 is being used as a excuse to bar them from using a toilet when collecting food from takeaways.
Unite news release. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: RMT launches Covid-19 charter for Tube staff
On the day that face masks were made compulsory on public transport in England, London Underground union RMT has launched a Covid-19 charter for Tube workers. The transport union said its charter, announced on 15 June, offers support to the London Underground workers who have kept the Tube and other Transport for London (TfL) services running throughout the Covid-19 crisis.
RMT news release. British Transport Police news release. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Union warning as public transport masks come in
The compulsory use of face coverings on public transport in England must “not be seen as a green light” for wider use of public transport or the ditching of social distancing measures, the rail union TSSA has said. TSSA general secretary, Manuel Cortes, added that it must be police, rather than frontline transport workers, that enforce the new rules.
TSSA news release. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Arriva face coverings move should set Wales standard
Unite Wales has welcomed the decision by Arriva to make the use of face coverings compulsory on their bus services across Wales. The union said the decision by Arriva, which includes a small number of exceptions, is in line with Unite's call for the Welsh government to ensure face coverings are mandatory on public transport.
Unite news release. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Mandatory NHS masks rule requires more masks
Hospitals and GP practices must have clarity and adequate supplies as new NHS face covering rules come into effect, the doctors’ organisation BMA has said. Responding to new government rules which from 15 June made it mandatory for hospital staff in England to wear face masks and patients and visitors to wear face coverings, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, said it was “imperative” that there is wearing of masks by staff and face coverings by the public “to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare settings.”
BMA news release. New government recommendations. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: HSE says dodgy KN95 facemasks must not be used
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning against the use of KN95 facemasks as personal protective equipment (PPE). A safety alert from the regulator has told all employers and suppliers not to purchase or use KN95 facemasks. KN95 is a performance rating that is broadly equivalent to the EU standard for FFP2 facemasks, when working properly are not as protective as the better spec FFP3 masks - however, products manufactured to KN95 requirements rely on a self-declaration of compliance by the manufacturer.
HSE news release and alert. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Government errors linked to care deaths catastrophe
A catalogue of government errors that saw infected patients returned to care homes and gross shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) contributed to high Covid-19 death rates in residents, the National Audit Office (NAO) has found. An NAO report on how the UK government prepared the NHS and social care for the Covid-19 pandemic notes: “The central procurement route set up to supply PPE during the outbreak met the modelled PPE requirement (under a worst case scenario) for some items in NHS trusts, but distributed 50 per cent or less of the modelled requirement for gowns, eye protectors, or aprons.”
UNISON news release. NAO news release and full report, Readying the NHS and adult social care in England for COVID-19, 12 June 2020. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Care worker pay deductions fuel virus risks
Huge disparities in financial support for care workers during the Covid-19 pandemic show the government must act to ensure staff are not left in financial peril and forced to take health risks, UNISON has said. Staff in the care sector, who need to self-isolate, shield or have the virus, have told UNISON they’re being forced to take unpaid leave or survive on minimal statutory sick pay (SSP), leaving them hundreds of pounds out of pocket each week.
UNISON news release. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: Covid-19 deaths show selfless contribution of cleaners
UK unions have called for proper recognition of the essential role played by cleaners and security guards. The unions were marking International Justice Day for Cleaners and Security Workers on 15 June, a worldwide event coordinated by the global service sector union federation UNI.
GMB news release. RMT news release. UNI news release. BBC News Online. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: FBU ‘will not accept another year’ of Grenfell inaction
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said firefighters will not accept another year of inaction on building safety. Commenting on the 14 June third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, the union called for an end to “a politics that values profit over people.”
FBU news release. PCS news release. The Guardian. Evening Standard. Morning Star Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Britain: NUJ condemns attacks on journalists
UK journalists’ union NUJ has condemned the ‘outrageous and unacceptable attacks’ on reporters and photographers covering demonstrations in London on 13 June. The union was commenting after a demonstration, involving far-right activists claiming to be ‘defending statutes’, turned violent, with police and journalists among those targeted.
NUJ news release and statement. Vice. The Telegraph. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

China: Many dead as truck blows up destroying factories
A tanker truck explosion in southeast China has killed at least 20 people and left over 170 injured. The vehicle was carrying liquefied natural gas when it exploded on a highway in Zhejiang province on 13 June, with a second explosion occurring after the damaged truck was propelled onto a factory building near to the highway, destroying the building and causing serious damage to adjacent factories.
China Labour Bulletin. BBC News Online. Sixth Tone News. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Europe: Campaign wins Covid-19 guarantees for workers
European workers will benefit from better protection from Covid-19 following pressure from the union federation ETUC and MEPs on the European Commission. ETUC deputy general secretary Per Hilmersson said: “The ETUC would have preferred the virus to be classified in the highest risk level but it’s important Covid-19 is included in the Directive and we welcome the commitment to enforcing the measures and to a future review of the legislation.”
ETUC news release. Socialists & Democrats news release. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Global: Unions are key to return to work talks
As governments start to ease lockdowns, unions around the world are negotiating the return to work and say how this happens is critical for unions and workers. Global union IndustriALL cites the example of its UK affiliates Unite, GMB and USDAW, who it says “will not recommend a return to work for their three million members until the government and employers agree to a nationwide health and safety revolution as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
IndustriALL news report. A safe and healthy return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, ILO policy brief, 22 May 2020. Key issues on the return to work, ITUC Covid-19 briefing, 15 May 2020. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

USA: America pays a high price for cheap meat
Workers’ rights in the United States are exceptionally limited, while the coronavirus pandemic is exceptionally widespread. James Ritchie, of the global food and farming union IUF said slaughter line speeds could make it impossible to comply with coronavirus precautions, noting: “You can’t even stop to cough into your hand or your elbow because the line speeds are so, so fast.”
New York magazine. The Food and Environment Reporting Network. Risks 952. 20 June 2020

Hazards news, 13 June 2020

Britain: Employers illegally forcing pregnant women out
A quarter of pregnant women have faced discrimination at work during the coronavirus outbreak, according to a new TUC survey. The poll of more than 3,400 women who have been pregnant or on maternity leave during the Covid-19 pandemic found that one in four (25 per cent) had experienced unfair treatment at work, including being singled out for redundancy or furlough, and one in four (25 per cent) saying felt unsafe at work.
TUC news release and report, Pregnant and precarious: new and expectant mums’ experiences of work during Covid-19, 11 June 2020. GMB news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: New, enforced rights needed to protect pregnant women
The TUC’s new report on pregnancy discrimination during the Covid-19 crisis shows working women do not have the protection they deserve. ‘Pregnant and precarious: new and expectant mums’ experiences of work during Covid-19’ calls for wide-ranging changes to improve and enforce legal curbs on discrimination.
Pregnant and precarious: new and expectant mums’ experiences of work during Covid-19, 11 June 2020. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Scottish tourism reboot must include roving union reps
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has sounded a serious note of caution at the Scottish government’s plan to re-open tourism and hospitality next month. STUC said any reopening of the largely non-union sector should occur only in full consultation with staff. They should be supported by union roving reps and union organisers provided access to their workplace, it added.
STUC webpage. BBC News Online. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Government backtracks on school mission impossible
The government has had to concede the need to ensure social distancing has made a quick return to school impossible, teaching unions have said. The unions NEU and NASUWT were commented after the government said primary schools and secondary schools in England will not now re-open to all pupils until September at the earliest
NEU news release and related news release. NASUWT news release. BBC News Online. The Independent. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Unions ‘pleased’ school opening plan has been dropped
Unions GMB and UNISON have welcomed a decision to shelve plans to bring all pupils in England back before the summer holidays.
GMB news release. UNISON news release. BBC News Online. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: NASUWT not happy with Welsh schools plan
Teaching union NASUWT has ‘serious concerns’ at the Welsh government’s back to schools plan for the end of the month. Commenting on the publication of new operational guidance for schools on reopening more widely to more pupils, Dr Patrick Roach, the union’s general secretary, said: “The Welsh government must not press ahead with its plans for the wider reopening of schools unless it can demonstrate it is safe to do so.”
NASUWT news release. NEU Cymru news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Care home firm probed after Covid deaths
A major social care company has been reported to regulators after the deaths of ‘multiple’ residents from Covid-19. The three homes in Sheffield where the deaths occurred are run by Horizon Care, and are now under investigation by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after staff raised safety and hygiene concerns with UNISON.
UNISON news release and petition demanding the government “step up and deliver on its promises around PPE and do much more to protect care staff and elderly people.” Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Unite action call on ‘massive alarm’ in call centres
Unite has called for urgent action after a survey of nearly 3,000 staff working in call centres throughout the UK found what the union described as ‘massive alarm’ amongst the workforce about the safety conditions. The independent research was conducted by Phil Taylor, a professor at the University of Strathclyde, who found 47.2 per cent of respondents ‘strongly agreed’ and 30.7 per cent ‘agreed’ with the statement, ‘I think it is likely that I will catch Covid-19’.
Unite news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: RMT condemns ‘botched’ passenger masks plan
Transport union RMT has written to transport secretary Grant Shapps to warn a lack of consultation and proper discussion in the transport industry means that the requirement for face masks on public transport from 15 June risks being marred by “confusion and conflict.” RMT general secretary Mick Cash said he had received representations from both transport workers and transport employers that the “botched” announcement means there are “high levels of concern and confusion over how these new arrangements will apply and basic issues do not appear to be have been consulted on or resolved.”
RMT news release. ASLEF news release. TSSA news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Unite welcomes face coverings on the buses
Unite has welcomed the announcement that passengers on public transport will be required to wear a face covering before boarding and throughout their journey. The new requirements will come into effect from 15 June in England.
Unite news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Union fury at BAME ‘same risk’ line on the Tube
Tube union RMT has expressed fury after London Underground bosses said Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff are at no greater risk from Covid-19 at work than if they stayed at home. RMT was commenting on a London Underground document, ‘Covid-19 Risk Assessment for BAME and clinically vulnerable employees: Guidance for all line managers’, which states: “You can reassure them that we have assessed the risks and put controls in place; and assure them that the risk is no greater at work than not being at work (unless they stay in their home and go nowhere).”
RMT news release. Morning Star. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Derbyshire PCC backs under fire shopworkers
Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has warned that his force will take action against those who abuse the ‘unsung heroes’ working in shops. In a move welcomed by shopworkers’ union Usdaw, Hardyal Dhindsa said: “I urge people to come forward and report incidents of this kind to the police,” adding: “They will take it seriously I assure everyone.”
Usdaw news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Sunday trading move a ‘slap in the face’ for retail staff
The unions Usdaw and Unite have criticised government plans to relax Sunday trading rules, with Usdaw saying it would be ‘a slap in the face’ for the key retail workers that have toiled through the Covid-19 outbreak. Unite national officer Bev Clarkson said: “The government must understand that many retail workers have to work around childcare and by extending Sunday opening hours it will create additional stress and make it impossible for many workers to juggle work and their caring duties.”
Usdaw news release and related news release. Unite news release. Morning Star. The Times. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Health chiefs tell PM to prepare for new Covid wave
Senior figures from across the NHS have issued an urgent plea for a comprehensive plan to tackle a second wave of coronavirus infections, no relaxation to the lockdown until track and trace is working properly and a strategy to ensure the correct PPE is available. The calls came as Boris Johnson continued to lose public confidence in his handling of the pandemic.
The Observer. The Express. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: HSE adviser calls for better health worker protection
A top expert adviser to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said current evidence justifies far more extensive health worker protection than is provided in the UK. Professor John Cherrie, who is a member of HSE’s Workplace Health Expert Committee (WHEC), cites HSE advice and evidence of good practice, but points out the UK follows neither HSE’s preventive hierarchy nor the masks requirement the evidence indicates is required.
John W Cherrie, Miranda Loh and Robert J Aitken. Editorial: Protecting HCWs from inhaled SARS-CoV-2 virus. Occupational Medicine, 2020. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqaa077. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Imperial Covid-19 scientists' outcry at staff cull
Members of the Imperial College Covid-19 Response Team have warned against plans to cut the staff who have made their life-saving work possible. UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “It is incredible that Imperial would risk undermining the fight against Covid-19 by starting an eight-month restructure to get rid of over a quarter of the staff in such a vital department in the midst of this global pandemic.”
UCU news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Firefighters’ coronavirus response agreement extended
Firefighters’ work responding to the Covid-19 pandemic has been extended until July, as the UK continues to battle coronavirus. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), and National Employers agreed the extension to the national agreement stating that the virus “continues to be a risk in our communities”.
FBU news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: TUC calls for UK to take lead on seafarer crisis
The TUC has warned the UK government of the threat posed to Britain's economic recovery from the mounting crisis on board merchant vessels, where up to 200,000 seafarers remain stranded at sea by Covid-19 travel restrictions. The union body urged the UK government to lead the international effort to facilitate crew changes in the world's merchant fleet.
Nautilus UK news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Global: IARC confirms night work cancer link
An association between night work and breast and other cancers has been confirmed after a major review by an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) expert group. IARC’s 2007 ‘probably carcinogenic in humans’ Group 2A ranking was challenged in 2016 after an Oxford University study co-financed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) concluded “night shift work, including long-term night shift work, has little or no effect on breast cancer incidence.”
IARC Monographs Volume 124: Night Shift Work, June 2020. Volume 124 webpage. Graveyard shift: Cancer all-clear for night work based on ‘bad science’, warn scientists, Hazards magazine, number 136, December 2016. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Sick pay for outsourced civil servants must stay
All outsourced staff working on civil service contracts should be eligible for full occupational sick pay from day one, PCS has said in a letter to prime minister Boris Johnson. The union is launching a new national campaign, ‘Dying for Sick Pay’, to press the claim, after winning sick pay rights for outsourced civil servants for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.
PCS news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Britain: Firm fined after worker fatally injured
IFG Drake Ltd has been fined after a worker suffered fatal crush injuries whilst working on a machine at its site in Huddersfield. Leeds Crown Court heard how, on 24 March 2017, Javeed Ghaffar, 51, was using a knife to clear a blockage in a stretch roller at around 2am on 24 March 2017 when he was suddenly dragged into it and pulled around the roller at least twice.
HSE news release. Yorkshire Evening Post. Huddersfield Examiner. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Canada: Thousands get Covid-19 workers’ compensation
Workers compensation boards across Canada have approved thousands of claims from employees who believe they contracted Covid-19 at work, underscoring how the pandemic has become a new workplace hazard for many Canadians. Nurses, orderlies and other health-care workers - especially those at long-term care homes - have filed the largest number of claims, followed by municipal workers, agricultural labourers and firefighters - by late May, claims totalled 5,786 in Quebec, 4,156 in Ontario, 1,366 in Alberta and 541 in British Colombia.
National Post. Global News. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Global: WHO ignores evidence for greater worker protection
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has so far ignored the findings of a major medical review it commissioned and part-financed and which called for high quality respirators as the ‘minimum’ necessary to protect health care workers at risk from Covid-19. The review, published in the Lancet on 1 June, also noted that physical distancing of two metres is twice as protective as WHO’s ‘at least one metre’ recommendation.
Advice on the use of masks in the context of Covid-19, WHO interim guidance, 5 June 2020. Comments from WHO director-general, media briefing, 5 June 2020. WHO press briefings.
Derek K Chu, Elie A Akl, Stephanie Duda, Karla Solo, Sally Yaacoub, Holger J Schünemann, on behalf of the COVID-19 Systematic Urgent Review Group Effort (SURGE) study authors. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis, The Lancet, published online 1 June 2020.
C Raina MacIntyre and Quanyi Wang. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection for prevention of COVID-19, The Lancet, published online 1 June 2020. Migrant Clinicians Network blog. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Global: WHO criticised for downplaying transmission risks
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has faced a barrage of criticism for failing to keep on top of rapidly evolving research that shows the extent of the risk posed by Covid-19, which could be transmitted in far more circumstances than the UN agency has acknowledged. WHO faced the concerted pushback from leading researchers and backtracked after an official asserted that transmission of the coronavirus by people without symptoms is “very rare.”
WHO press briefings. New York Times. Washington Post and earlier article. BBC News Online. CNBC News.
Oran DP. Topol EJ. Prevalence of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Narrative Review, Annals of Internal Medicine. 3 June 2020. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Global: Call to free seafarers trapped on ships
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called for urgent and coordinated action to release the 150,000 to 200,000 seafarers trapped on board ships around the world because of measures to contain the Covid-19 virus. The ILO has urged governments, immigration, health and maritime authorities to work together to recognise seafarers as ‘key workers’ who ensure the flow of trade and the movement of vital medical supplies, safety equipment, food and other critical goods during the pandemic.
ILO news release. Nautilus news release. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

USA: Black workers face more retaliation over Covid concerns
In a national US survey on workplace retaliation during the pandemic, Black workers were found to be twice as likely as white workers to report that they or someone at work may have been punished or fired for raising concerns about Covid-19 risks in the workplace. The research by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) asked respondents if anyone had been victimised or fired in their workplace for raising Covid-19 safety concerns.
NELP news release and report, Data Brief: Silenced About COVID-19 in the Workplace. Risks 951. 13 June 2020

Hazards news, 6 June 2020

Global: Lancet review backs better masks and physical distancing
Reducing physical distancing advice from 2 metres to 1 metre could double the risk of coronavirus infection, according to the most comprehensive study to date. The research, commissioned and part-funded by the World Health Organisation (WHO), also concludes respirators rather than less protective surgical masks should be the ‘minimum’ requirement for health care work.
Derek K Chu, Elie A Akl, Stephanie Duda, Karla Solo, Sally Yaacoub, Holger J Schünemann, on behalf of the COVID-19 Systematic Urgent Review Group Effort (SURGE) study authors. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis, The Lancet, published online 1 June 2020.
New York Times. The Guardian. The Independent. CNN News. The Telegraph. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Global: ‘Unacceptable risk’ to frontline workers, says expert
Health care workers are not being give the protection they deserve and are contracting deadly infections as a result, a top biohazards expert has warned. Writing in the Lancet, Raina MacIntyre, an epidemiologist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, noted the World Health Organisation’s current Covid-19 guidance, which has been the template for health worker protection in the UK and elsewhere, is failing health workers by refusing to recommend respirators for a wide range of health care work.
C Raina MacIntyre and Quanyi Wang. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection for prevention of COVID-19, The Lancet, published online 1 June 2020.01, 2020. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Global: Public health experts say 2m distancing essential as firms reopen
Pressure from some business sectors to reduce social distancing between individuals to one metre rather than two metres must be resisted by government, the environmental health practitioners’ body CIEH has said. CIEH said it has demanded that the government holds its ground on the two metre distance, especially as the riskier businesses gear up to open from the beginning of July, including pubs, restaurants, and hairdressers.
CIEH news release. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Poll finds two-thirds of workers want real inspections
The vast majority of UK workers want the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to carry out physical spot inspections to check employers are sticking to social distancing and other safety plans, new research for HSE union Prospect has found. Prospect, which represents HSE staff, revealed how reliant the HSE had become on telephone checks to ensure safe working.
Prospect news release. The Independent. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Test and Trace only works if isolating workers get paid
The TUC is calling on the government to make sure that all workers have financial support to comply with social isolation requirements under the NHS Test and Trace scheme. The union body warns that inadequate sick pay could stop people acting on public health requests to self-isolate. 
TUC news release. Testing & tracing for Covid-19: How to ensure fair access and manage monitoring in the workplace, TUC, May 2020. The Guardian. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Track and Trace will spread problems without full sick pay
The union GMB said the new Track and Trace app will spread either poverty or infection - unless it is backed up by full sick pay for all. GMB national officer Rachel Harrison said: “Ministers on whopping salaries expecting the keyworkers who've been keeping our country going to self-isolate on £95 a week.
GMB news release. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Short-time furlough move another union win, says TUC
Changes to the job retention scheme for furloughed workers, which will allow some wages to be reimbursed by government where workers return on reduced hours, have been described as ‘another union win’ by the TUC. General secretary Frances O’Grady added: “The government must start planning now to build on the job retention scheme with a national recovery plan that prioritises protecting and creating jobs.” 
TUC news release. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Qualified union welcome for furlough plan ‘lifeline’
Unions have described the revised furlough plans announced on 29 May by Rishi Sunak as a ‘valuable lifeline’ but have warned extra safety and pay protection is needed, particularly for industries hardest hit by the lockdown.
Labourlist. Prospect news release. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: All staff should be assessed before return to work
Staff should be assessed individually before they return to workplaces during the Covid-19 pandemic, civil service union PCS has said. The union has laid out tests it wants carried out in workplaces to ensure they are safe.
Morning Star. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: ‘Stay alert’ shift left workers more worried about safety
Workers have become increasingly concerned about health and safety since the government encouraged those who can to return to work, official research has found. The survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also revealed working adults have become increasingly concerned about health and safety since the government eased lockdown rules and encouraged those who can return to work to do so.
ONS opinions and lifestyle survey. The Guardian. Morning Star. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: ‘Class and race’ biggest coronavirus risk factors
Class and race are the biggest factors in determining those that have died or been taken ill by Covid-19, Unite has said. The union has called for a raft of policies to tackle ‘systemic failures’ that have led to the disproportionate death toll amongst the Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities and the poorest groups in society.
Unite news release. PCS news release. TSSA news release. GMB news release. UNISON news release. BBC News Online.
Disparities in the risk and outcomes of Covid-19, PHE, 2 June 2020. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Inquiry is welcome, but action is already overdue, says TUC
A new inquiry in the risks faced by black and minority ethnic people is welcome, but we need action on the known inequalities responsible right now, the TUC has said. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The government needs to put in place a funded action plan to tackle the egregious inequality BME people still face, and must be fully transparent about how it is considering BME communities in its policy decisions.”
TUC news release. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: NEU warning on school reopening risks
As many primary schools in England prepared to accept back more pupils on 1 June, teaching union NEU warned the move was premature and could increase the risk to staff and parents. The union was commenting after four prominent members of the government’s own scientific advisory body SAGE broke ranks to express worries about the safety of wider primary school opening.
NEU news release and five tests. Morning Star. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Government's wider reopening of schools ‘disappointing’
Unions have warned school staff are deeply concerned by the government’s rush to reopen schools. Their comments came after Sir David King, a former government chief scientific adviser and the chair of Independent Sage, said 1 June “is just too early,” adding “we are really concerned that the level of infectivity across the country as a whole is too high to open schools.”
GMB news release. UNISON news release. Independent SAGE report, 28 May 2020. The Guardian. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: School closes as 7 staff test positive for Covid-19
Seven members of staff at the same primary school have tested positive for Covid-19. Arboretum Primary School, in Derby, has shut after the positive test results. A spokesperson for the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust confirmed the school had been closed “due to a number of staff having confirmed cases of Covid-19”.
Derby Telegraph. The Mirror. Daily Mail. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Big challenges before Scottish schools can reopen
There are ‘significant concerns’ to address before the planned reopening of Scottish schools on 11 August, teaching union EIS has found. Over 26,000 EIS members responded to it online survey, which the union said made it the biggest survey of teachers’ opinions to have been carried out in Scotland.
EIS news release. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Great deal more to be done on early years return
Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement that early years and childcare services in Scotland will start to expand from 3 June could be really problematic, UNISON Scotland has warned. The union pointed to the need for risk assessments, staff training and clear guidance on safe working practices prior to a resumption, with full trade union involvement.
UNISON Scotland news release and survey findings. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: PCS warns parliament is not safe from Covid-19
Speaking ahead of a resumption of parliament on 1 June, civil servants’ union PCS warned there are inadequate measures to control the numbers coming on to the parliamentary estate. While the government insists MPs will be kept safe from coronavirus with new working practices, PCS said there is pressure to return to ‘business as usual’.
PCS news release. Thompsons Solicitors news release. BBC News Online. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Unite calls for masks for site workers
Construction union Unite is demanding that workers are provide with masks when they cannot keep to the two metre social distancing guidelines on site. The union has written to the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) highlighting its concerns about the current site operating procedures (SOP).
Unite news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Unite demands strict safety checks on new bus plan
Unite has given its qualified support to the announcement by Transport for London (TfL) that has seen the start of a phased return to front door entry on London buses. Unite officer for London buses John Murphy said: “Unite has been working closely with experts at UCL, TfL and London bus operators to ensure that the return to front door loading does not adversely affect driver safety.”
Unite news release. TfL news release. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Rail union hopes Covid-19 tragedy leads to improvements
After the British Transport Police (BTP) said it had concluded its investigation into the incident at Victoria Station that preceded the death of railway ticket office clerk Belly Mujinga from Covid-19, rail union TSSA said it hoped it would lead to better protection of transport workers. Manuel Cortes, TSSA general secretary, said: “What is clear is that protective equipment is absolutely vital to protect frontline workers like Belly.”
TSSA news release. BTP statement. Morning Star. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Britain: Get your essential TUC guide to Hazards at Work
The newest update of TUC’s best-selling Hazards at Work guide is now available. The mammoth 6th edition is packed with advice on health and safety laws and good practice at work, and covers all the 'classic' hazards and has new Covid-19 related advice and reworked chapters on mental health, bullying, harassment, and all other modern workplace causes of illness and injury.
Reps, unions, employers can order online from the TUC shop. For large orders, email the TUC. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Europe: Despite the virus, safety doesn’t make EC’s to-do list
Trade unions have said they are ‘shocked and concerned’ that the European Commission still has no official plans to make workplaces safer in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. An updated work programme published by the Commission on 28 May includes 43 new initiatives, including proposals ranging from airport charges to crypto assets and ‘better regulation’.
ETUC news release. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Global: Health and safety ‘paramount’ for return to work
Ensuring health and safety in workplaces must be the highest priority as people return to work in many countries emerging from Covid-19 restrictions and closures, the global union confederation ITUC has said. “Re-opening workplaces is much more complicated than closing them, and it is crucial that occupational health and safety regulations, procedures and systems provide the basis for return to work, as well as in situations where work has continued,” said Sharan Burrow, ITUC general secretary.
ITUC news release. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Japan: Health care workers face coronavirus discrimination
While medical workers in many nations have been heralded as heroes in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, many nurses and doctors in Japan have faced discrimination and ostracism despite heightened social media efforts to recognise their contribution. In an April survey conducted by the Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Unions, 9.9 per cent of its 152 offices across the country responded that medical workers in their jurisdictions had encountered discrimination or harassment due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

USA: Senators call for review of workplace Covid enforcement
A group of US senators has asked the inspector general of the Labor Department to review the actions of its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the letter from Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren, Tim Kaine, Tammy Baldwin and Robert Casey and Tammy Duckworth and independent senator Bernie Sanders, OSHA citations have dropped 70 per cent since the national emergency was declared on 13 March; that the inspection rate has dropped, and that not a single citation related to the virus has occurred.
Government Executive. Risks 950. 6 June 2020

Hazards news, 30 May 2020

Britain: Roving union safety reps in Scotland’s reopening plan
Official return-to-work guidance in Scotland is recommending the deployment of union roving health and safety reps to ensure reopening of workplaces is safe. The roving reps are to be on call for workers and employers in non-unionised workplaces, according to a joint statement from the Scottish government, Police Scotland, Health and Safety Executive and local authorities.
STUC news release. Scottish government news release and Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer workplaces statement. BBC News Online. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Quarantine cash needed for testing and tracing to work
Test, track and trace systems to control Covid-19 infection risks will only work if those quarantined have financial support, the TUC has said. Commenting on the launch on 28 May of the NHS Test and Trace programme, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “If workers can’t afford to self-isolate, then they will be forced to keep working,” adding: “That will put them, their workmates and their local community at risk, and undermine the entire test and trace programme.”
TUC news release and report, Testing and tracing for Covid-19; How to ensure fair access and manage monitoring in the workplace, TUC, May 2020. Return to safe workplaces, TUC Education, May 2020. BBC News Online. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Covid-19 workplaces must face safety inspections
The government must ‘rescind’ measures preventing the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities undertaking proactive, spot check safety inspections in many of the sectors most at risk of Covid-19 transmission, Unite has said. The union said sectors where local authorities and the HSE are prevented from making unannounced inspections include social care, health, transport, agriculture, shops, offices, pubs, clubs, postal services and light manufacturing, employing millions of UK workers.
Unite news release. Thompsons Solicitors briefing on return to work. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Call for enforcement forum to keep Wales workers safe
The Wales TUC is calling for the creation of a national enforcement forum to coordinate workplace health and safety compliance and enforcement activity once lockdown is eased. The trade union body says it believes that workplace social distancing and other health and safety measures in Wales are best achieved and sustained in partnership between employees and employers.
Wales TUC news release. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Models show big infection risks in ‘low risk’ office work
New studies from the UK and the US, modelling virus risks in offices and other indoor environments, have concluded there is a potentially substantial risk of Covid-19 infection. Matthew J Evans of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conclude: “ Generally, office spaces should not be occupied by more than one person”; and Professor Clive Beggs of Leeds Beckett University said his computer modelling study, which simulated transmission in an office building, “suggest that individuals who share enclosed spaces with an infector may be at risk of contracting Covid-19 by the aerosol route, even when practising social distancing.”
Matthew J Evans. Avoiding Covid-19: Aerosol guidelines, medRxiv preprint, 25 May 2020.
Clive B Beggs. Is there an airborne component to the transmission of COVID-19?: a quantitative analysis study, medRxiv preprint, 25 May 2020. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Four in five workers worried about work return risks
Four in five workers are think returning to work will put their family at risk, a GMB survey has revealed. The poll, which was completed by almost 3,500 workers across a wide range of sectors, showed 60 per cent are worried about being pressured into returning to work, with 95 per cent worried about catching Covid-19; fewer than 1-in-5 (18 per cent) respondents said they believed returning to their workplace will be safe.  GMB news release. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: ‘Massive’ GMB sick pay win at giant care provider
Care provider HC-One has pledged to pay full Covid-19 sick pay for all its 27,000 workforce, following a GMB campaign. The company, which operates about 350 homes, has also promised to retrospectively pay any carer who has been diagnosed since the outbreak began.
GMB news release. BBC News Online. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: PCS wins vital concessions at the Home Office
Home Office border officers are to be allowed to wear face masks in operational and public facing settings, following a PCS campaign. The union said its ‘constant pressure’ has led to a change in the employer’s position and Border Force officers and other public facing Home Office staff are now being provided with face masks to be worn when social distancing in a public setting is impossible.
PCS news release. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Covid response team a hit with PCS members
More than 1,600 PCS members have been helped and supported by the union’s Covid-19 response team since its launch seven weeks ago. The civil service union said in order to support PCS members during the Covid-19 emergency, it had changed the way it worked, so it could provide safety information more quickly.
PCS news release. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: HSE must intervene in schools reopening moves
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) must be urgently tasked by government with providing guidance and advice to schools and colleges about the safety of reopening to more pupils, teaching union NASUWT has told ministers. NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach has written to both the education secretary Gavin Williamson and work and pensions secretary Thérèse Coffey calling on them to exercise their powers to direct the HSE to provide support and advice to schools and colleges.
NASUWT news release. Prime minister’s office news release. The Guardian. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: NEU ‘does not agree’ school reopening can be right
Teaching union NEU has said it is ‘not convinced’ that it is safe to open schools more widely on 1 June, and “does not agree” the plan is right. The union was commenting after the prime minister’s 24 May announcement that primary schools could move to wider opening from 1 June, though Boris Johnson also acknowledged that many wouldn’t be ready to do it by that date.
NEU news release and 5 Tests. Should Schools Reopen?, the draft report of Independent SAGE, 22 May 2020. Prime minister’s office news release. ASLEF news release. Morning Star. BBC News Online. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Government should ‘step back’ on school restart
Public sector union UNISON has reiterated its call on the government to ‘step back’ from its unsafe plan to see thousands of schools reopen on 1 June. Commenting on the report on school safety from the committee of independent scientists chaired by Sir David King, UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “Not only do these scientists say the government’s plans for schools in England are premature, they also suggest any risks to children would be halved by waiting a fortnight.”
UNISON news release and survey news release. Full Independent SAGE report, 22 May 2020. BBC News Online. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Scotland’s schools to stay shut
Scottish teaching union EIS has welcomed official confirmation that the country’s schools will not reopen before 11 August. The union said it has called consistently for three conditions to be met before schools reopen: full test trace and isolate capacity to be established; a programme for implementing operationally in schools all public health advice eg. physical distancing; and demonstrable evidence that the virus is under control.
EIS news release. BBC News Online. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Retailers must put safety first when reopening stores
Usdaw is urging retailers to work with the union to complete thorough risk assessments and to ensure reopening stores are safe for staff and customers. The retail union has also called on the government for tougher guidance and more rigorous enforcement of safety measures.
Usdaw news release. Prime minister’s office news release. BBC News Online. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Bakers’ union says ‘let’s stay protected’
As attention moves to reopening the economy, the bakers’ union BFAWU has said the enhanced coronavirus safety protections it has obtained so far must be maintained. In a blog post, the union’s national president Ian Hodson noted: “Many of those that work in the food industry have continued to attend work throughout, working together with employers and our safety representatives to put in place measures to protect people.”
BFAWU blog. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Government must improve food processing guidance
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) must open a dialogue with food producers and unions to address the “inadequacy of the government guidance” on coronavirus risks, the union GMB has said. The GMB call came after confirmation that three workers at a Cranswick food processing facility in Wombwell, Barnsley, which supplies UK supermarkets, have died after testing positive for Covid-19.
GMB news release. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Eurostar incident shows visors are ‘absolutely vital’
The “absolutely vital” provision of visors for all staff on Britain’s railways has been highlighted after a customer travelling from London to Brussels was given a police caution for displaying aggression when he was challenged for not wearing a face mask, the union TSSA has said. Face masks are compulsory on public transport and in many outside spaces in Belgium.
TSSA news release. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Firefighters call for UK-wide moratorium on fire cuts
The firefighters’ union FBU has called for a UK-wide moratorium on fire cuts, calling on the prime minister and devolved administrations to halt fifteen years of “unprecedented” austerity and to invest in the fire and rescue service. Firefighters have taken on 14 new areas of work to support their communities through the pandemic, delivering “important results for the health service and the public”, the union says, which “may be needed in case of further waves or future outbreaks”.
FBU news release and related news release. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Firms must address all work risks, says IOSH
As lockdown restrictions are eased and workplaces reopen in many countries, businesses have been again urged to ensure new working practices do not cause health and wellbeing problems for staff. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) says reopening premises cannot happen overnight as employers may need to adjust policies, procedures, working conditions and other factors to manage the risk of Covid-19 being transmitted.
IOSH news release and Returning Safely resources. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Violent threats to journalist must be stopped
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned hundreds of threats of violence directed at reporter Amy Fenton and her family. Amy - Newsquest's chief reporter in South Cumbria, a local trade union rep in Barrow and a member of the NUJ - is staying in a secret location with constant police protection following the on- and off-line harassment, including death threats.
NUJ news release. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Real costs of retail crime and violence revealed
Retail trade union Usdaw has called for government action after a new report exposed the high cost to business and staff of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers. Commenting on ‘Retail violence: abused and attacked at work’, the online report by broadcast journalist Jamie Long, Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “Violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers are unfortunately nothing new, as this report sets out, but we were shocked to see that incidents have doubled during the coronavirus emergency.”
Usdaw news release. Retail violence: abused and attacked at work, Jamie Long, May 2020. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Britain: Refurb firm convicted and fined £1.1m after engineer’s fall
Rrelocation and refurbishment company Modus Workspace Limited has been fined £1.1 million after a worker was seriously injured in a fall from a ladder. Luton Crown Court heard that, on 5 September 2016, an engineer was testing a sprinkler system for leaks at a site in Hemel Hempstead, suffering injuries and severe blood loss, estimated at about half the blood in his system.
HSE news release and construction and work at heights webpages. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Asia: Wide-range of jobs linked to high Covid-19 risks
Greater preventive efforts and surveillance strategies are ‘warranted’ to tackle work-related Covid-19, a study on infection patterns in Asia has concluded. The paper concludes “our study demonstrates that occupational infections are considerable in early Covid-19 local transmission,” and adds “several specific professional groups were at higher risk during early domestic outbreaks.”
Fan-Yun Lan, Chih-Fu Wei, Yu-Tien Hsu, David C Christiani and Stefanos N Kales. Work-related COVID-19 transmission in six Asian countries/areas: A follow-up study, PLoS ONE 15(5): e0233588, 19 May 2020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0233588. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Australia: Deep cleaned classrooms ‘not a real thing’
As Australian pupils head back to school with the promise of deeply cleaned classrooms, cleaners say the concept doesn’t exist. A United Workers Union survey revealed nine in 10 cleaners say they have to rush essential work, and eight in 10 revealed they do not have enough adequate equipment, including suitable disinfectant.
United Workers Union news release. The New Daily. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Global: Don’t return to work until you are ‘confident’ it is safe
Workers should not return to their jobs until they are ‘confident’ it is safe to do so, the UN’s top labour standards body has said. Launching its new return to work guide on 22 May, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) also called for consultation with workers’ organisations and a physical distancing requirement of at least two metres.
ILO news release. A safe and healthy return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, ILO policy brief, 22 May 2020. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

USA: Trump breaks safe work rule to force work return
US workers who fear a return to work may not be safe have been told the will be denied unemployment benefits if they don’t go back. President Trump ramped up his coronavirus rhetoric throughout May, referring to himself as a ‘wartime president’ and telling workers to be ‘warriors’ for the economy.
NELP statement and letter to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia. Disaster Unemployment Assistance regulations. Huffington Post. Politico. Washington Post. Risks 949. 30 May 2020

Hazards news, 23 May 2020

Britain: Government creates illusion of Covid-19 safety spot checks
The government is talking workplace safety “without actually doing anything about it,” the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors’ union Prospect has charged. Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy was responding to reports that HSE is carrying out no physical spot checks and has no date set for their restart.
Prospect news release. i news. The Guardian. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: Studies cast doubt on Covid-19 restart safety assurances
A light breeze can spread a viral plume over 6 metres in under two seconds, a new study has shown, casting doubt on claims Covid-19 risks are insignificant in construction and other outdoor work, while other studies have warned that apparently healthy ‘presymptomatic and asymptomatic’ individuals can present a significant infection risk, and normal speech can spread the virus.
Talib Dbouk and Dimitris Drikakis. On coughing and airborne droplet transmission to humans, Physics of Fluids, volume 32, issue 5, published online 19 May 2020.
Furukawa NW, Brooks JT, Sobel J. Evidence supporting transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 while presymptomatic or asymptomatic, Emerging Infectious Diseases, volume 26, number 7, July 2020.
Lucy Rivett and others. Screening of healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2 highlights the role of asymptomatic carriage in COVID-19 transmission, CITIID-NIHR COVI Bioresource Collaboration, medRxiv, published online 15 May 2020.
Krystal J Godri Pollitt and others. COVID-19 vulnerability: the potential impact of genetic susceptibility and airborne transmission, Human Genomics volume 14, article number 17, published online 12 May 2020.
Working safely during coronavirus (Covid-19): Construction and other outdoor work, BEIS, updated 19 May 2020. All government guides by sector. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain; Almost all teachers concerned at school opening plans
The government must provide the scientific evidence to justify the decision to reopen some schools from 1 June, the teaching union NASUWT has said. It warned that teachers ‘remain far from unconvinced’ that reopening can be safely or practicably achieved by this date.
NASUWT news release and call on the government to release the scientific evidence. BBC News Online. Morning Star. The Guardian and related editorial and article on the local authority ‘rebellion’. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: NEU calls for openness on school reopening plan
The government must make public the evidence informing its plan to start reopening schools on 1 June, the teaching union NEU has said. The union was commenting after challenges to Boris Johnson’s claim 25,000 contact tracers, able to track 10,000 new cases a day, would be in place by 1 June.
NEU news release and related news release. NHS Confederation news release and letter to health secretary Matt Hancock. BBC News Online and related story. The Guardian. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: School support staff say 1 June reopening ‘unrealistic’
Reopening schools on 1 June is unrealistic as key safety tests have not been met, UNISON has warned. UNISON head of education Jon Richards said “the DfE guidance has a number of holes, and the government has neither met unions’ safety tests nor its own,” adding: “That’s why the beginning of June for reopening is unrealistic.”
UNISON news release. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: EIS lays ‘red lines’ before Scottish school can reopen
Unresolved ‘challenges’ must be overcome before any Scottish schools reopen, the teaching union EIS has said. Over 26,000 EIS members – including teachers from every local authority in Scotland – took part in a survey which identified solid support for the union’s ‘red lines’.
EIS news release. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: University reopening plans ‘only adding to confusion’
The government needs to step in and underwrite fees and teaching grants lost by universities and universities must in turn promise to work together on plans for safely reopening, lecturers’ union UCU has said. Plans from universities to either ban face-to-face lectures, try blended learning and to try and reopen fully in September are only adding to the confusion for students, the union said.
UCU news release. UNISON news release and Protect higher education campaign. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: Tube drivers sent home after raising safety concerns
At least 30 Tube drivers were sent home from work on 18 May after they expressed concerns about their safety and that of their passengers, their union said, as more people returned to work after the coronavirus lockdown was eased in England. Train drivers’ union ASLEF accused the government of regarding Transport for London (TfL) workers as “nothing more than collateral damage” after rail and Tube operators increased services this week.
ASLEF news release. The Independent. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: RMT calls for binding Covid-19 rail transport rules
Rail union RMT is calling for new compulsory protections for passengers and rail workers on trains. Commenting as the increased rail service timetable came into effect on 18 May, the union said there must be compulsory 2-metre social distancing, reflecting official guidance to the public.
RMT news release.  Morning Star. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: Answers needed on high rates of Covid-19 in BAME workers
Transport union RMT has written to industry bosses and safety regulators seeking ‘answers and protections’ to address the high rates of Covid-19 in Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) workers in the transport sector. The union said it has reminded employers that there is ‘concrete evidence’ regarding the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME workers and has raised a series of questions with transport bosses and safety regulators.
RMT news release. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: Belly Mujinga’s death has ‘touched the nation’
Rail union TSSA has said it has been ‘overwhelmed’ by the response to the death last week of union member Belly Mujinga from Covid-19. Belly was working as a ticket office clerk at London’s Victoria Station when she and a colleague were spat and coughed at on the concourse by a man claiming to have the infection.
TSSA news release. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: London transport advice and funding a mess
The government is at ‘sixes and sevens’ over its London transport policy and plans to get commuters back to work, Unite has said. The union said that the £1.6bn government bailout - a combination of grant and loans -  for Transport for London (TfL), after the dramatic slump in passenger numbers, had too onerous conditions attached to it, such as the reintroduction of congestion charges and that the funding was only for four months.
Unite news release. TfL news release. Evening Standard. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: Bereavement scheme extended after backlash
A bereavement scheme set up to support the families of workers who die of coronavirus has been extended to the families and dependants of all NHS support staff and social care workers. The Home Office made the announcement following criticism from unions and others that care workers, cleaners and porters had been left out of the scheme, which only applied to certain occupations including nurses, biochemists and radiographers.
Home Office news release. GMB news release. Evening Standard. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: G4S sick pay fails prison officers at high virus risk
Private prison operator G4S is failing to give guarantees on sick pay for prison officers -revealed as among the most likely workers to die from Covid-19 - their union GMB has said. An analysis this month by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed prison workers are a high risk occupational group for the infection.
GMB news release. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: Care home deaths expose ‘unfit’ social care system
New Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showing UK care home deaths linked to coronavirus have now exceeded 10,000 show the social care system is ‘unfit for purpose’ and needs a ‘complete overhaul’. UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “These deaths show the government’s failure to support those in society who are most in need of care.”
UNISON news release. ONS care home statistics. BBC News Online. The Guardian. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: A full return of parliament could put MPs and staff at risk
A government plan for parliament to return to normal operation from the start of June has been condemned by a civil service union. Prospect said the announcement by Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, risked “putting MPs and staff at risk.”
Prospect news release and related news release. Morning Star. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: Warning on deadly Legionnaires’ risk on return to work
Businesses have been warned to flush out the water supply in their building before they reopen as potentially deadly Legionella bacteria may have built up in water systems during the coronavirus lockdown. The Public Health England (PHE) guidance came on the heels of workplace hygiene experts this month warning “all of the processes that are there to keep people safe from harmful exposures to chemicals, biological agents and other hazards have not been in operation,” creating serious return to work risks including Legionnaires’ disease.
PHE guidance. The Independent. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: 5G conspiracy related abuse must be reported
Telecommunications sector field engineers are being reminded by their union of the ‘paramount importance’ of ensuring any abusive behaviour they encounter in the course of their duties is formally reported and logged – especially where it relates to ‘fake news’ that coronavirus is being spread by the rollout of 5G. The communications union CWU said so far 76 Openreach engineers had reported abuse, the ‘vast majority’ while conducting work that had nothing whatsoever to do with 5G.
CWU news release. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: East Sussex fire authority faces backlash over cuts
East Sussex fire authority has been deluged with concerns from firefighters and members of the public, as a campaign against sweeping fire and rescue service cuts in the county gathers pace. More than 14,000 concerned residents have signed a petition calling on members of the fire authority to reject the proposed cuts, which the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says will “decimate” the county’s fire service.
FBU news release. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Global: Union campaign for safe fashion retail after Covid-19
As shops around the world roll up their shutters and open their doors, unions for the retail sector are kicking off a global campaign for a safe return to work in fashion retail shops. The campaign, coordinated by the global union UNI, supports its new guidelines to help its union affiliates negotiate in-store measures to protect retail workers, customers, and external vendors in the wake of Covid-19.
UNI news release, guide and graphic summary. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Britain: Return to safe workplaces – new TUC guide
If employers want workers to return to their normal place of work, they must make sure it’s done safely, to protect the health of workers, customers and the public. A new TUC Education online publication gives a step-by-step how-to guide, and goes in turn through Covid-19-specific risk assessments, employers’ duties, consultation, and steps to address risks to all workers, including vulnerable workers, and to get approval for plans before going ahead.
Return to safe workplaces, TUC Education, May 2020. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Global: UN rights experts say ‘no worker is expendable’
As countries begin to ease restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, UN human rights experts are calling on governments and businesses to ensure all workers are protected from exposure to Covid-19. In a joint statement, 16 UN human rights special rapporteurs and UN working group leaders concludes: “We urge states and businesses to work with labour unions and other worker representatives to help ensure necessary safeguards are in place… Our message today is simple, but crucial: every worker must be protected, no matter what.”
OHCHR news release. IUF news release. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Global: Meat plant line speeds speed up Covid-19 spread
Despite US president Donald Trump's 27 April executive order requiring meat plants to remain open, 47 meat and poultry plants were temporarily closed as of 11 May due to the rapid spread of infections through their workforce. According to the global food and farming union federation, IUF, at least 30 meat workers have died and thousands have been infected.
IUF news release and news release on the Canadian outbreaks. Philadephia Inquirer. Huffpost. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

USA: Call for more return to work protection
As US states consider reopening and Americans head back to work, there is still no federal mandate in place to prevent the transmission of airborne viruses. Instead, politically powerful industries like meat processing plants aren’t operating under any federal controls, only voluntary guidance.
ABC News. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

USA: Unions sue safety watchdog for a coronavirus law
The US national union federation AFL-CIO has filed a petition in the US Court of Appeals to compel the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) protecting workers against the coronavirus. AFL-CIO warns that as the economy reopens and people return to work, person-to-person contact will increase and health experts predict the already ‘shocking’ number of infections and deaths among workers will rise.
AFL-CIO news release. Risks 948. 23 May 2020

Hazards news, 16 May 2020

Britain: Inquiry call as low paid dominate Covid-19 worker deaths
Unite is calling for a full public inquiry after figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed workers in ‘low skilled elementary occupations’ (21.4 deaths per 100,000) were almost four times as likely to die from the virus as ‘professionals’ (5.6 per 100,000). The 11 May age-adjusted figures for the working age population show the highest number of deaths were recorded in the social care sector, with 131 deaths recorded.
ONS publication note and analysis of deaths in England and Wales related to Covid-19 by occupation the occupations in the UK that have the highest potential exposure to Covid-19. Unite news release. Morning Star. The Guardian. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Unions call for action at ‘horrifying’ death figures
Urgent action must be taken to address high Covid-19 death rates in low paid workers, unions have said. Commenting on the latest figures Office for National Statistics (ONS) Covid-19 statistics, acting GMB general secretary John Phillips said: “These figures are horrifying,” adding: “If you are low paid and working through the Covid-19 crisis you are more likely to die - that’s how stark these figures are.”
GMB news release. RMT news release. ONS publication note. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Care home workers need for PPE and testing
Public sector union UNISON has said latest official Covid-19 deaths statistics show the need to reduce the ‘shocking’ risk of infection in care workers. Responding to figures published on 12 May by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing care home deaths linked to coronavirus have increased by more than 2,400 in a week, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “It remains vital that care workers are given sustained supplies of proper safety kit to stop the spread within homes.”
UNISON news release and related news release. ONS publication note. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: TUC spells out your right to refuse deadly work
The prime minister’s haste in “actively” encouraging people to return to work “poses a serious threat to workers’ safety,” the TUC has warned. Pointing out that no work should start until a full, legally required risk assessment has taken place, TUC safety specialist Shelly Asquith said “the first thing to do is to talk to your workmates and your union if you have concerns about safety in your workplace.”
TUC blog. TUC/HSE Covid-19 concerns reporting form. Government return to work guidance. PCS news release.
Trade union reps can report coronavirus related concerns to the HSE by email, to union.covidconcerns@hse.gov.uk. Section 44 and Section 100 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: The return to work can only happen if it is safe
More must be done to ensure employers manage safe working properly, the TUC has said. Commenting on the ‘confusion and anxiety’ caused by the prime minister’s 10 May call for a return to work, the union body said: “The UK needs a safe and managed return to normal working.”
TUC blog. Prime minister’s 10 May speech. HSE risk assessment guidance. Thompsons Solicitors news release. UNISON news release and blog. Usdaw news release. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: STUC slams PM’s broadcast as ‘confusing and dangerous’
Scotland’s top trade union body, the STUC, has condemned the 10 May return to work speech by Boris Johnson as ‘confusing and dangerous.’ STUC general secretary designate Roz Foyer, commenting on the UK prime minister’s “woeful” management of the crisis, said the back to work policy shift came ahead of any official guidance on how workers will be kept safe.
STUC news release. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Do not reopen without coronavirus safety measures, says HSE
Employers who are unable to introduce adequate measures to protect staff from coronavirus should not reopen their workplaces, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has told parliament. HSE chief executive Sarah Albon said every workplace should carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment before staff return, and that the “vast majority” will be able to implement social distancing and hygiene measures.
HSE at the Work and Pensions Committee and 12 May 2020 evidence session on Parliament TV live. Express and Star. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: HSE needs ‘proper support’ to enforce new safety regime
Prospect has warned that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) needs proper support if it is to enforce the government’s new guidelines on workplace safety and manage the transition back to work safely. The union representing HSE inspectors has raised concerns about the regulator’s levels of funding and staffing to effectively police the new regime.
Prospect news release. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Johnson accused of ‘criminal negligence’ and ‘social murder’
A top safety law academic has accused prime minister Boris Johnson of criminality and ‘social murder’ after he called for an early return to work. Steve Tombs, professor in social policy and criminality at the Open University, said “the government must know that construction workers are exposed to and unwitting carriers of coronavirus,” adding: “In my view this is criminal negligence, it’s manslaughter, it’s social murder.”
Reel News. Shut the Sites blog. Deaths in England and Wales related to Covid-19 by occupation, ONS, 11 May 2020.
The Guardian. Good Morning Britain. Construction Enquirer. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Experts warn the virus isn’t the only return to work threat
The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) has warned that entire areas of risk have not been addressed by government advice on a safe return to work. The guidance released this week by the health protection body emphasises the wider problems in return work, beyond the Covid-19 risks, noting: “The unprecedented shutdown of plants, workplaces and processes designed to be in continual operation will give rise to really serious challenges.”
BOHS news release and return to work guide.  Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Prosecutors to investigate virus deaths in Scotland’s key workers
Deaths of key workers and care home residents linked to coronavirus in Scotland are to be reported to prosecutors for investigation. Lord Advocate James Wolffe said the Crown Office was setting up a dedicated unit to examine Covid-19 deaths.
STV News. The Herald. The Scotsman. BBC News Online. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Union conditions on going back to school
A joint statement sent by the TUC to the government on behalf of unions with members in the education sector has outlined the measures needed for the safe reopening of schools. In the 8 May document, sent to the secretary of state for education ahead of the government’s announcement that there could be a phased reopening of schools from 1 June, the unions GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, UNISON and Unite set out key principles and tests for the reopening of schools in England to ensure the safety of children, parents, staff and the communities they serve.
TUC news release and full statement to the Education Secretary and follow up 13 May statement. Department for Education news release and related guidance. NASUWT news release and related news release. NEU news release. UNISON news release and related news release.
Morning Star. Evening Standard. The Independent. BBC News Online. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: School support staff worried at ‘careless’ reopening plans
Almost all school support staff are worried reopening schools too early will put children and their families at risk, a GMB survey has found. According to the poll, which received more than 14,000 responses from workers in England including teaching assistants, caretakers and admin staff, an ‘overwhelming’ 96 per cent of respondents are worried about the health of children under current proposals.”
GMB news release and related news release. UEA news release. Evening Standard.
Paul Hunter and others. ‘Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions against Covid-19 in Europe: a quasi-experimental study’, published on the preprint server MedRvix, 6 May 2020. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Parents wary about schools reopening
An NEU poll of 1,074 parents of school-age children in England has identified widespread concern about the reopening of school. The research was undertaken between 5 May and 7 May 2020, before the relaxation of lockdown measures and the government’s announcement that schools could start to reopen from 1 June.
NEU news release and related news release. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Unions set out tests for college restarts
Staff and student safety must be guaranteed before colleges can reopen, trade unions have said, setting out five tests that must be met by government and colleges. Unions representing staff working in further education colleges called for stringent hygiene measures, protection for vulnerable people and isolation for all suspected cases to avoid colleges becoming Covid-19 hotspots.
UCU news release. Unite news release. Department for Education guidance. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Nursing body must stand by nurses
The GMB has written to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) calling on it to support members during the coronavirus pandemic. The union said while nurses continue to struggle to get access to the PPE they need, nurses and other healthcare workers are being threatened with disciplinary hearings if they speak out about the lack of protection.
GMB news release. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: DIY virus visors could put workers at risks
The British Standards Institution (BSI) says that A4-sized face shields do not always protect healthcare workers' faces from exposure to Covid-19. Nathan Shipley, PPE group certification manager at the BSI said: “Some people say, 'any PPE is better than no PPE', but if you are wearing something you think will protect you and it won't, you are in more danger.”
BSI news release. BBC News Online. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Call for face masks and cap on transport numbers
The government must establish clear rules about maximum passenger capacity and make the wearing of face masks compulsory to keep buses and other forms of public transport safe during the pandemic, Unite has demanded. The union, which represents over 80,000 public transport workers, issued its warning following the 12 May publication of the government’s safer transport policy, which provides basic guidance for employers in protecting passengers and workers during the pandemic.
Unite news release. Statement to parliament by the transport secretary, 12 May, and new transport guidance for passengers and operators. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Safe work, safe travel and safety reps go together
Safe work and safe travel must go hand in hand to beat Covid-19, Unite has said, and the approach must deploy the skills of union safety reps. Commenting on the government's guidance on safer working and the coronavirus crisis, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey stressed the union role in securing a safe return to work.
Unite news release. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Union fears on transport overcrowding were justified
The crowds witnessed on packed on station platforms, commuter services, and the Tube in London, have borne out union warnings about the dangers of the government urging people back to work. Commenting on 13 March, Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers’ union ASLEF, criticised the prime minister, who on l0 May said those who couldn’t work from home were “actively encouraged to go back to work”, noting “we will only increase services when it is safe to do so.”
ASLEF news release and earlier release. Sky News. The Guardian. The Telegraph. Evening Standard. BBC News Online. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Crowded transport ‘categorically less safe’
Transport union RMT has warned that crowded train, Tube and bus services are “categorically less safe” and should not run unless two metre social distancing can be enforced. The union said unless the government took urgent action to enforce two metre social distancing, public transport would become a “turbo charged Covid-19 breeding ground” driving a new wave of infections.
RMT news release. University of Sussex news release. The Independent. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Government must act to prevent dangerous bus overcrowding
The government to intervene immediately to prevent overcrowding on London’s buses, Unite has said. The union, which represents over 20,000 bus workers, made its call following pictures and reports on 13 May of overcrowded buses in London on the day that workers were “actively encouraged” by the prime minister to return to work.
Unite news release. Evening Standard. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Keep key workers safe while travelling
Amid concerns about physical distancing problems on transport arising after the prime minister urged the public to return to work, UNISON said it is paramount that key workers can travel safely to their jobs. The union is urging to public to avoid non-essential travel to head off a second spike in Covid-19 cases.
UNISON news release. New DfT transport guidance for passengers. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Rail ticket worker dies of Covid-19 after being spat at
A railway ticket office worker has died of Covid-19 after being spat at by a man who claimed he had the infection. Belly Mujinga, 47, who had underlying respiratory problems, was working at Victoria station in London on 22 March when she was assaulted, along with a female colleague.
TSSA news release and news release on its demands on GTR. British Transport Police statement. BBC News Online. The Mirror. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Eurostar provides visors for frontline rail staff
Transport union TSSA has commended cross channel rail company Eurostar for confirming that all frontline staff will be given visors. The move comes after the news of Victoria Station ticket office worker Belly Mujinga’s death following an assault by a member of the public claiming to have the virus.
TSSA news release and news release on its demands on GTR. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: GMB calls for deep cleaning at virus hit ASOS site
The GMB has called for the closure and deep cleaning of a fashion retailer's warehouse after reports workers had tested positive for Covid-19. The union wrote to the co-founder of ASOS with concerns about its depot at Little Houghton, near Barnsley, warning safety measures were “insufficient.”
GMB news release. BBC News Online. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Unions and industry strike steel reopening agreement
The steel trade unions and UK Steel have published new safe working guidance following the prime minister’s return to work message to manufacturers. Steel union Community said the extensive Code of Practice draws on the sector’s experience of operating over the past two months, going beyond the government guidelines, to specifically detail the steps that can be taken on steel sites in order to minimise the risk of transmission.
Community news release and joint Code of Practice. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Waste employers urged to act on coronavirus risks
Waste contractors in the south west of England need to speed up the introduction of stringent health and safety measures for workers at sites dealing with coronavirus contaminated waste, Unite has warned. The union, which has 900 members at various sites across the region, has serious concerns that its members could be handling Covid-19 waste from contaminated collections, such as care homes, without adequate protective protection equipment (PPE).
Unite news release. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Mental health issues top of workers' lockdown concerns
Workers’ concerns about their mental health have increased dramatically since the lockdown began, a Unite survey has found. As a result the union is calling on employers to take a proactive approach to dealing with employees’ mental health challenges immediately, as workers return to the workforce and begin to adjust to revised working conditions.
Unite news release. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: Landmark fine after exhausted welders killed in van crash
Welding specialist Renown Consultants Limited has been fined £450,000 and ordered to pay £300,000 costs for failing to ensure that two of its workers were sufficiently rested to work and travel safely, and who subsequently died when their van crashed on the journey home. The sentence was passed virtually by His Honour Judge Godsmark sitting at Nottingham Crown Court after Renown were found guilty on 19 March 2020 in a prosecution by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
ORR news release. Construction Enquirer. BBC News Online. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: New ways to learn union rep essentials
The TUC has said union reps can now keep their essential skills up to date more flexibly, with all its core courses fully online for the first time. “With 24/7 access, now you can learn at your own pace, whenever and wherever's convenient for you - these courses work equally well on your smartphone, tablet or desktop computer,” the TUC announced.
Find out more about TUC’s online courses and health, safety and wellbeing courses, including Health and safety reps one. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Britain: TUC guide to risk assessments for homeworkers
Many of us are working from home to reduce the spread of Covid-19. But the TUC says this exposes workers to other health and safety hazards, and many employers are ignoring their responsibility by not carrying out risk assessments. Union reps can help change this with the help of the TUC’s new guide to risk assessments for homeworkers, which gives guidance on workers’ rights and employers’ duties to address risks including accidents, injuries, mental health problems and violence.
TUC guide to risk assessments for homeworkers.  Risks 947. 16 May 2020

USA: Frozen food plant cited over Covid-19 failures
The workplace safety regulator in Oregon, USA, has issued a citation to National Frozen Foods, accusing the company in Albany of “failing to implement physical distancing measures to protect workers from the spread of the coronavirus.” The citation, which carries a penalty of $2,000, “stems from an inspection launched April 20 in response to multiple complaints about the facility, which produces frozen fruits and vegetables.”
Oregon OSHA news release. NBC 16 News. CBS News. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Europe: Commission blasted on Covid-19 risk ranking
A European Commission decision not to put Covid-19 in the highest risk category of the Biological Agents Directive has been criticised by unions. The unions had earlier argued the virus, for which there is no vaccine, should be classified in the top risk group,“but we regret that the decision today, if confirmed by the Commission, would mean that it will be classified as an agent belonging only in the second highest risk group.”
ETUC news release and note on Biological Agents Directive. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Global: The deadly cost of unregulated and illegal fishing
Video evidence and media reports detailing gross abuses aboard a Chinese fishing vessel operating with migrant seafarers have again shone a spotlight on the violence and human trafficking proliferating in the global fishing industry. On 24 April, two Chinese-owned vessels entered Korean waters and 26 Indonesia seafarers were disembarked after spending more than a year at sea without interruption.
IUF news release. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Global: Chemical industry must step up on human rights
A deadly gas leak at a chemical plant in India last week is a grim wakeup call for the industry to recognise and meet its responsibility to respect human rights, a UN expert has said. Baskut Tuncak, the UN special rapporteur on hazardous substances and wastes, was commenting on a 7 May the LG Polymers leak in India in which at least 12 people died and more than 1,000 fell ill.
OHCHR news release. ANROEV statement. Hindustan Times. New York Times.
United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Risks 947. 16 May 2020

Hazards news, 9 May 2020

Britain: Don't rely on goodwill to keep staff safe
As the prime minister prepares to set out how the UK will start emerging from lockdown, the TUC has warned that it can’t be left to the goodwill of employers to keep workers safe. Describing draft government guidance as worrying, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “What the government is proposing amounts to little more than the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) crossing its fingers that employers will act responsibly and keep their workers and the wider community safe.”
The Guardian. TUC proposals on ensuring a safe return to work, 4 May 2020. TUC video on coronavirus and employment rights at work. Covid-19: How racism kills, TUC blog, 1 May 2020.
Prospect news release. CBI news release. Hazards Campaign news release. BBC News Online. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Major concerns about return to work plan
The TUC has warned the government’s draft guidelines for getting employees back to work during the coronavirus crisis will put people’s health at risk and cannot be supported in their current form. Frances O’Grady, the TUC general secretary, criticised the non-binding guidelines for letting employers decide what is safe when it comes to distance between workers, cleaning practices and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Labour Party news release and letter to Alok Sharma. The Guardian. BBC News Online. New Statesman. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Labour demands binding virus
The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, has called for a ‘national safety standard’ and sanctions on employers who flout rules on keeping workers safe from coronavirus. His call came as Matt Hancock, the health secretary, refused to confirm how new guidance on social distancing at work would be enforced.
Labour Party news release. The Guardian. Good Morning Britain. Morning Star. BBC News Online. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Call for a probe into HSE’s coronavirus failure
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) appears to be ‘parroting government advice’ on coronavirus, even where it contradicts existing legally-binding rules, a top academic has warned. Phil James, a professor of employment relations at Middlesex University, accuses the watchdog of a failure of regulatory leadership on social distancing and ‘downplaying’ statutory duties of employers and aligning instead with ‘questionable’ government guidance.
Coronavirus at work: Where is the regulatory leadership?, IER commentary, 6 May 2020.
HSE coronavirus webpages. DWP’s response to coronavirus, 4 May 2020. Social distancing in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID-19): sector guidance, BEIS, updated 4 May 2020. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Poor guidance may lead to work refusals
The government’s latest guidance on returning to work won’t protect people from Covid-19, and instead may lead to concerned workers refusing to return to their jobs, the GMB union has warned. John Phillips, the acting GMB general secretary, said draft government guidance issued over the weekend to unions and business groups “was thrown together in a hurry and it shows.”
GMB news release. Union News. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Unite lays down conditions on work return
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey has told the union’s members in the UK and Ireland there will be no return to work unless their “safety comes first.” In an open letter to the union’s membership, the union leader notes: “Your officers and reps will be kept informed of any developments and as soon as we can provide more information to you, we will be sure to do so. We are in the very early stages of discussion, with much progress yet to be made before your union can be confident that the plans to re-open the economy put you, your safety and your communities first.” Unite news release. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Return of bus services must be gradual and safe
Any increase in bus services must be gradually implemented and maintaining safety and retaining confidence have to be paramount, Unite has said. The union, which represents 80,000 bus drivers, made its view known following reports that transport secretary Grant Shapps has indicated that more buses and trains would run as part of a return to work.
Unite news release. BBC News Online. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: This is not the time to run more trains
Britain's three rail unions - ASLEF, RMT and TSSA - have written to prime minister Boris Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, and Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, saying this is not the time to lift the lockdown and run more trains. The joint letter - signed by Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF; Mick Cash, general secretary of RMT; and Manuel Cortes, general secretary of TSSA - says it is 'completely unacceptable' to put the lives of passengers and rail staff at risk.
ASLEF news release. RMT news release. TSSA news release. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Unions call for ‘significant caution’ on school reopening
The general secretaries of 10 teacher trade unions across the UK and Ireland have written to the education ministers in all five jurisdictions urging “significant caution in any consideration of reopening schools.” The letter, sent by the British Irish Group of Teacher Unions (BIGTU) - which includes UK teaching unions NASUWT, NEU and UCU - on behalf of almost one million teachers and education staff, warns of the “very real risk of creating a spike in the transmission of the virus by a premature opening of schools”.
NASUWT news release. NEU news release. Union News. Morning Star. Daily Mail.
Education International news release on US union conditions on school reopening. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Snap teacher survey confirms ‘significant concerns’
A snapshot survey of over 2,000 school staff shows significant concerns about effectiveness of present social-distancing measures in schools, the teaching union NEU has found. The NEU’s findings showed almost one-third (30 per cent) of educators have self-isolated since March; almost a quarter (23 per cent) of staff are currently shielding to protect themselves or a member of their household, owing to pre-existing medical conditions or pregnancy; and just 1.5 per cent of those surveyed have been tested for coronavirus.
NEU news release. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Self-isolating workers shouldn’t be punished
The government must do more to protect key workers threatened with dismissal or put on unpaid leave if they’re off work self-isolating because of vulnerable relatives, public sector union UNISON said.  It says anxious staff have contacted the union with ‘heartbreaking’ stories, terrified that if forced to go into work, they might take the virus home – with potentially devastating consequences.
UNISON news release, including full text of the letter to the health secretary. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Give staff safety kit and save lives in care homes
UNISON has said it is not too late to save lives in care homes, but the government and employers must ensure care home staff are provided with essential safety kit. Responding to figures published on 5 May by the Office for National Statistics showing care home deaths linked to coronavirus have increased by more than 2,500 in a week, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The rate of infection can be reduced if care workers have proper access to protective kit.”
UNISON news release and petition demanding the government step up and deliver on its promises around PPE and do much more to protect care staff and elderly people. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Keeping food supply and food workers safe
The unions Unite, Usdaw, BFAWU and GMB and the industry body the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) have joined together for the first time to commend the food and drink manufacturing workforce helping keep the nation fed. In a joint statement, the unions and the FDF highlight the critical importance of working together at this ‘exceptionally demanding’ time to ensure the sector’s workforce is safe, protected and respected.
Unite news release and full joint statement by the FDF, Unite, Usdaw, BFAWU and GMB. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: The Range refuses to respond to safety concerns
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw has expressed deep disappointment that The Range continues to ignore staff complaints about a lack of social distancing in store. The union said the national home and leisure retail chain has so far failed to respond to the union’s offer to work together to protect staff.
Usdaw news release. Social Distancing - BRC-USDAW Recommended implementation practices for Non-Food Retail Stores: A guide for retailers on how to implement Government advice – Version 1, 24 April 2020. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Housing association threatens concerned workers
The union GMB has criticised Vivid Housing for threatening workers with disciplinary action after they raised concerns about social distancing. Trades people working for Vivid - a housing association covering Portsmouth, Eastleigh, Aldershot and Basingstoke – have been told to carry on with servicing and other jobs, despite the national electrical contracting body NICEIC confirming the work could be placed on hold.
GMB news release. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: G4S hospital workers can’t afford to self-isolate
G4S hospital workers in Croydon say they cannot self-isolate if they show Covid-19 symptoms because they won’t be able to survive on £94 a week statutory sick pay.  Private provider G4S holds the cleaning and portering contract in Croydon University Hospital, where the union GMB says its members feel under huge pressure to come into work even when unwell, because they cannot get by on statutory sick pay alone.
GMB news release. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: RMT calls on London Mayor to meet cleaners
Tube union RMT has called on London mayor Sadiq Khan to discuss with Tube cleaners their coronavirus and employment concerns. The call came after a new survey revealed a majority of cleaners believe their employer, cleaning contractor ABM, is putting profit before safety during the coronavirus crisis.
RMT news release. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Evidence grows of unacceptable risks in call centres
An ongoing study of the high-risk work practices commonplace in call centres had provided new evidence of the extent of the Covid-19 problem. Nearly 3,000 respondents have now written almost 200,000 words of testimony on the devastating impact of Covid-19, in responses to the union-backed Strathclyde University online survey.
STUC news release and survey. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Fall in university staff wellbeing a ‘wake-up call’
The number of university staff being referred to occupational health and counselling has shot up, a new report has found. The report, from the Higher Education Policy Institute, shows a drop in staff wellbeing at all universities that provided data, with all institutions showing increases in staff accessing counselling and occupational health services.
UCU news release. HEPI news release and report. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Law Commission backs unions on tribunal reforms
Employees need longer to lodge claims, compensation limits should be raised and workers who haven’t employee status should have access to employment tribunals, according to a Law Commission report. The TUC says the recommendations could pave the way for ‘much-needed’ labour rights reforms.
TUC blog. Law Commission news release. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Britain: Minute’s silence for fallen firefighters
Fire stations across the UK and internationally fell silent at noon on 4 May, Firefighters’ Memorial Day. The event is organised jointly by the UK Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the Firefighters Memorial Trust (FMT). Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, placed a wreath at the National Firefighters’ Memorial at St Pauls, London, in lieu of any larger ceremony during the pandemic.
FBU news release. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Australia: Union preconditions on return to work
As Australian states and the federal government this week started to consider relaxing the isolation measures that have been controlling the spread of Covid-19, unions have said it is essential that the major reforms be made to keep people safe as they return to work. ACTU secretary Sally McManus said: “Creating an obligation for employers to implement the best possible methods of prevention, protection and cleaning, and also to report cases in their workplaces to state health and safety regulators are commonsense reforms which will keep working people safe and help prevent the spread of the virus.”
ACTU news release. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Canada: Union anger as outbreak meat plant reopens
The union for workers at a beef-packing plant in Alberta, Canada, that has been the site of the largest single Covid-19 outbreak in North America has expressed anger after regulators refused to back its call to stop the plant reopening. There have been over 900 cases of the virus and one death at the Cargill plant south of Calgary, which employs 2,000 workers.
UFCW Local 401 news release. AFL news release and related news release. CBC News and related news story. The Globe and Mail. Times Colonist. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Europe: Biological agents law must top rate Covid-19 risks
Europe’s top trade union body ETUC has won official backing for Covid-19 to be covered by the Biological Agents Directive, but has expressed concern that European Commission officials want to put it in a lower risk category. The directive is the template for the biological agents safety laws in place across the entire European Union.
ETUC coronavirus news and resources. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Global: Union road map to Covid-19 transport safety
Over 150 workers across the world have died from Covid-19 with the confirmed death toll rising daily, the global transport workers’ federation ITF has said. The union body says poor health and safety standards have exacerbated the risk public transport workers face.
ITF news release and charter of demands and campaign video. Intelligent Transport podcast. Risks 946. 9 May 2020

Hazards news, 2 May 2020

Britain: No return to work without ‘tough’ safety measures
The TUC is calling on the government to introduce tough new measures to ensure that before locdown restrictions are eased, all employers assess the risks to staff returning to their workplace. The union body is demanding that every employer in the UK be required to carry out a specific Covid-19 risk assessment, developed in consultation with unions and workers.
TUC news release and report, Preparing for the return to work outside the home: A trade union approach, TUC, April 2020. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Global: Covid-19 is an occupational disease, everywhere
Unions worldwide are calling for Covid-19 to be classified as an occupational disease in all affected groups of workers, to guarantee stronger workplace protections and access to compensation. The call from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and its global union partners say there must be a “presumption” cases are work-related unless conclusive evidence is presented to the contrary, and includes a lengthy lists of jobs where presumption should occur.
ITUC news release and Council of Global Unions Statement on Recognition of COVID-19 as an Occupational Disease.
BWI news release. Education International news release. IndustriALL news release. ITF news release. PSI news release. UNI news release. TUC Workers’ Memorial Day news release. STUC news release.
Third ITUC Global Covid-19 Survey Key Findings and related ITUC news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Global: Worldwide impact of biggest ever 28 April event
The union-led International Workers’ Memorial Day, held every year on 28 April, was this year the most successful ever – consolidating its position as the biggest health and safety event in the world. The event was given additional poignancy, as unions commemorated those killed by work-related Covid-19 and for protection for all workers in the exposure front line.
Global trade union action on 28 April – check out the International Workers’ Memorial Day events map, events by country and video reports. 2 May 2020

Britain: All Covid-19 key worker deaths must be recognised
Firefighters’ union FBU is demanding that the government issue guidance to employers stating that the death of firefighters and key workers as a result of Covid-19 should be automatically recognised as work-related, allowing their families to receive compensation. In a letter to prime minister Boris Johnson and devolved administrations, the FBU says that the guidance must cover all of those officially recognised as key workers as well as those who have been required to continue to work by their employer.
FBU news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: NHS death payouts to all healthcare victims
NHS death-in-service benefits are to be extended to all health and care staff in England who die from contracting Covid-19, the government has said. It added funding would also be provided to devolved administrations to support similar schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
UNISON news release. Department of Health news release. BBC News Online. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Lives will be lost if NHS used as an ‘economic punch-bag’
New research by the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) shows the government’s 4th test for lifting lockdown isn’t yet being met, because surgeons aren’t yet getting the PPE or tests that they require. The survey of 1,263 surgeons and surgical trainees found almost a third (32.8 per cent) of respondents do not believe there is an adequate supply of PPE in their workplace.
RCS news release. NHS Confederation news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: UK’s failure to stockpile crucial PPE exposed
The government failed to buy crucial personal protective equipment (PPE) to cope with a pandemic, a BBC investigation has found. There were no gowns, visors, swabs or body bags in the government's pandemic stockpile when Covid-19 reached the UK, the BBC Panorama investigation found, with the government subsequently ignoring a warning from its own advisers to buy missing equipment and instead downgrading risk warnings and workplace protection guidelines.
BBC News Online. Has the Government Failed the NHS?, Panorama, BBC One, 27 April 2020. Evening Standard.
Evaluating the protection afforded by surgical masks against influenza bioaerosols: Gross protection of surgical masks compared to filtering facepiece respirators, HSE research report number 619, 2008. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: PPE still not right for women
Personal protective equipment (PPE) supplied to women in the coronavirus frontline is not designed for them and puts their health at risk and is causing injuries, research by the union Prospect has confirmed. In a blog posting, Prospect senior deputy general secretary Sue Ferns noted: “Personal protective equipment will never be the right fit if manufacturers or employers make decisions without taking the diversity of the workforce into account, and ill-considered remarks by government ministers seeking to explain current unavailability of much-needed PPE do not help.”
Prospect blog. Labour Party news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Women and insecure workers in coronavirus frontline
The impact on health and wealth of the coronavirus pandemic is hitting certain groups much harder, new research has found. A study by the Resolution Foundation found key workers are disproportionately likely to be female, low paid and insecure.
Resolution Foundation news release and briefing note, Risky business: Economic impacts of the coronavirus crisis on different groups of workers, 28 April 2020. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: London ambulance staff resuscitate PPE provision
GMB members have secured a big win after London Ambulance Service improved the personal protective equipment (PPE) requirement for staff resuscitating patients. After a GMB campaign, the LAS Trust Board took a decision to level up the PPE as recommended by the Resuscitation Council (RCUK) – above the level required by Public Health England (PHE).
GMB news release. RCUK statement. GMB Workers’ Memorial Day news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Safety should be top priority before schools reopen
Assuring the safety of school pupils and staff must be a top consideration before schools are reopened, teaching unions have said. The unions were commenting after the 29 April appearance by Gavin Williams in front of the Commons Education Select Committee, when education secretary told MPs that the reopening of schools in England is expected to take place in a “phased manner”, adding the date for opening would depend on scientific advice - but schools would get “as much notice as possible.”
NEU news release. NASUWT news release. BBC News Online. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Premature reopening of transport ‘unsafe’
Rail union TSSA has called on government leaders in Scotland and Wales not to rush irresponsibly into a premature ramping up of transport services. The union said it has learned that employers in Scotland – including Network Rail in Scotland – want to reopen offices and reinstate services, despite no end to lockdown and a commitment to social distancing of 2 metres remaining in force – legally so in Wales.
TSSA news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Temperature testing for bus workers needed
Unite is calling on all bus operators to introduce compulsory temperature checks to further protect workers against Covid-19. The union, which represents over 80,000 bus drivers in the UK, said it is looking for the measures to be introduced initially in London, where 27 bus workers have succumbed to Covid-19, with the temperature checks then rolled out across all bus operators in the UK.
Unite news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Bibby drivers secure social distancing and PPE
Drivers employed by logistics company Bibby, which supplies cans for drinks manufacturers including Carlsberg, have won an agreement on Covid-19 health and safety after threatening to walk out. The company’s management agreed to temperature checks for all staff upon arrival at the site and for approved cleaning products to combat the virus to be available for all warehouse staff and drivers.
Unite news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Care home death figures are ‘shameful’
There has been a shameful disregard of the health and safety of care home residents and workers, the public sector union UNISON has said. Responding to figures released on 29 April that show a steep rise in coronavirus deaths due to the inclusion for the first time of those occurring in care homes, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Care workers have been crying out for essential safety equipment, clear guidance and widespread virus testing for weeks,” adding: “The risks have been plain to see and these new figures paint a stark picture of how the pandemic has been sweeping through residential homes across the UK.”
UNISON news release and Workers’ Memorial Day news release. The Guardian and related article. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Brutal cuts to fire services being rushed through
Firefighters have warned of a major threat to public safety as politicians and fire chiefs try to sneak through cuts to the fire and rescue services while firefighters respond to the coronavirus crisis. The firefighters’ union FBU made the comments after a consultation on sweeping fire and rescue cuts was launched mid-pandemic.
FBU news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Unions provide crucial support for bereaved workers
There’s a lot trade unions can do to support people who are grieving, as well as to remember those we have tragically lost to coronavirus, the TUC has said. “We now have a role to play during this crisis to support people who are grieving, as well as to remember those we have lost,” noted TUC safety specialist Shelly Asquith.
TUC blog and Covid-19 guide for union reps. HSE Covid-19 reporting webpage. TUC Workers’ Memorial Day remembrance video.
REPORT COVID CONCERNS: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has now provided an email address for unions to report concerns: Union.Covidconcerns@hse.gov.uk
The Hazards Campaign work-related Covid-19 tracker. email info@hazardscampaign.org.uk Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Life is tough on the retail frontline – survey
The results of an online survey of members of the shopworkers’ union Usdaw has revealed the harrowing impact of coronavirus in the workplace. Usdaw says its ‘shocking’ survey findings provides an in-depth look at the working life of the key workers ensuring food supplies are maintained.
Usdaw news release and report, Impact of the coronavirus, Usdaw, 29 April 2020. Usdaw Workers’ Memorial Day news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Survey confirms Covid-19 ‘terror’ in contact centres
Close proximity working, worries about cleaning and sanitisation regimes – especially in hotdesking situations – and a widespread puzzlement over ‘key worker’ designations being applied to clearly non-essential workstreams have all emerged as headline findings of a major national survey of contact centre workers. Led by contact centre expert, Phil Taylor – professor of Work and Employment studies at Strathclyde University – the survey has so far been completed by nearly 2,800 respondents across the country.
CWU news release. Prof Phil Taylor, Covid19 –Survey of Call/Centre Workers –Intermediary Report, Strathclyde University, 28 April 2020. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Site workers are now eligible for Covid-19 testing
Unite has welcomed the government’s acceptance that construction workers should be eligible for targeted Covid-19 testing. Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “From construction workers to emergency plumbers, from research scientists to those in manufacturing, the expansion of access to testing will protect the most vulnerable and help keep people safe.”
Unite news release and call for site worker testing. Construction Enquirer. BBC News Online. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Houses being put before health, warns Unite
There are ‘growing fears’ that building new homes is being put ahead of the health and welfare of construction workers and their families, the union Unite has warned. The union is calling on the house building sector to work with it to uphold maximum safety protection and keep up to 250,000 workers employed by the industry and their families safe as sites begin to re-open.
Unite news release and news release on the watered-down guidance. Construction Enquirer. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Australia: Polling shows alarming protection shortfall
One in five Australian workers are reporting that they do not have appropriate social distancing protocols in the workplace, a union poll has found. National union federation ACTU said its results suggest many Australian’s are being placed at risk of contracting Covid-19 in the course of their work and that many workplaces, without direction to apply the hierarchy of control, have not adequately addressed the risk of Covid-19.
ACTU news release. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Europe: Rethink call on ‘astonishing’ safety free plan
Europe-wide trade union body ETUC is to appeal again to the European Commission to prioritise workplace health and safety in its plans for the next five years in light of the coronavirus crisis. In a separate letter sent to Nicholas Schmit, the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, the ETUC and its affiliates have called on him to ensure Covid-19 is recognised as an occupational disease.
ETUC news release. Letter calling for EU recognition of Covid-19 as an Occupational Disease. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

USA: High infection rates in airline catering workers
A largely hidden workforce of US airline catering workers, made up primarily of immigrants and people of colour, is at great risk of contracting Covid-19, according to one of the unions that represent them. At least 74 of the nearly 14,000 Unite Here members who work for LSG Sky Chefs and Gate Gourmet, the two largest airline catering companies in the country, have tested positive for Covid-19, according to union estimates.
Unite Here news release. Boston Globe. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Britain: Tory cuts see number of HSE inspectors drop by a third
The number of workplace health and safety inspectors has dropped by a third under the Tories, official figures compiled for Labour by the House of Commons Library. There were 1,495 inspectors with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 2009/10 but this fell year-on-year to just 978 in 2017/18.
The Mirror. The Independent. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Korea: Dozens dead in warehouse blaze
At least 38 people died on 29 April in a massive fire that broke out at a warehouse construction site in the city of Icheon in South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province. Several others were injured or unaccounted for and the death toll is expected to rise. Fire authorities said the blaze started at the construction site at 1:32 pm, where 78 people from nine companies were working.
BBC News Online. KBS World. Risks 945. 2 May 2020

Hazards news, 25 April 2020

Britain: Minute’s silence to honour work victims
A minute’s silence will be held across the United Kingdom on 28 April to remember all the health, care and other key workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus exposures. The campaign, launched by the health unions UNISON, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) – who between them represent more than a million NHS and public service workers, including porters, refuse collectors and care staff – are urging politicians, employers, people at work and those on lockdown at home to join the tribute at 11am.
UNISON news release. NASUWT news release. Labour Party news release.
The Guardian. Daily Mail. Sky News. I-news. The Mirror. Evening Standard. BBC News Online. Morning Star. ITUC 28 April webpage.
MINUTE’S SILENCE: 11am on Tuesday 28 April 2020. Use the hashtags #neverforgotten and #iwmd20. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: TUC says let’s all make a silent stand on 28 April
The TUC has called for everyone to say nothing for a minute at 11am on 28 April. The initiative comes on International Workers’ Memorial Day, the 28 April annual worldwide union-coordinated event that commemorates all those who die at work or from work-related causes.
TUC RESOURCES: TUC 28 April 2020 news and resources webpage. Organising through the coronavirus crisis, TUC, April 2020. International Workers’ Memorial Day 2020, a TUC guide for unions #iwmd20.
TUC VIDEO CALL: Register in advance for the TUC Education coronavirus video call on Tuesday 28 April at 2pm.
OTHER RESOURCES: Hazards Campaign 28 April call to action. Hazards Campaign materials can be downloaded for free, printed off, used online and in social media campaigns, as can a series of Hazards Campaign display boards.
GLOBAL RESOURCES: ITUC/Hazards 28 April website. A 28 April message from Sharan Burrow, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. Worldwide activities and resources for 28 April. ILO 28 April resources. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Public inquiry needed over ‘grotesque’ PPE failure
The TUC is calling on the government to set up a public inquiry into the “grotesque” failure to provide frontline workers with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). The union body said ministers must commit to starting an independent, judge-led inquiry by the end of 2020.
TUC news release and TUC blog. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Trust 'draining away' over dangerous PPE downgrade
Trust in health secretary Matt Hancock is “draining away” after Public Health England downgraded the government’s advice on personal protective equipment, the union GMB has said. The government’s move, which the union said was made without consultation with unions, followed a ‘rapid evidence review’ conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at the behest of the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser. 
GMB news release. BBC News Online. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: UNISON says frontline staff need real protection
Frontline staff must be properly equipped to protect lives during the Covid-19 crisis, the health service union UNISON has said. Commenting after ‘last-resort’ proposals on safety equipment were leaked, general secretary Dave Prentis said that the proposals from Public Health England contain “desperate measures” and “are a shocking indictment of the lack of proper planning and preparation for supplies in the pandemic.”
UNISON news release, related news release on PPE and news release on record recruitment. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: CSP tells members ‘not to compromise their own safety’
Physios’ union CSP has told its members they should not compromise their safety if the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) is not available. Commenting on guidance released by Public Health England (PHE) on potential re-use of some disposable PPE, CSP assistant director of employment relations Jim Fahie said: “The CSP hopes this latest advice will never be used, however we would encourage trusts and health boards to engage with trade unions locally to discuss and agree robust contingency plans to mitigate the risk of inadequate levels of PPE and how to deal with it should PPE levels become low.”
CSP news release and Covid-19 app finder. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: PPE 'tsar' a good first step
Unite has welcomed the appointment of a ‘tsar' to coordinate the manufacture and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE). Matt Hancock, the health secretary, announced on 19 April that Lord Deighton had been appointed PPE 'tsar' following a weekend of what Unite described as ‘shocking claims’ that NHS staff were being advised to re-use their safety kit and that shipments of new materials were being delayed.
Unite news release. Department of Health news release. NHS Confederation news release. Sky News. Daily Mail. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Unite concern at protective clothing ‘scandal’
The shortage of protective equipment for frontline staff exposed to the coronavirus is a ‘national scandal’, the union Unite has said. The union’s criticism came before a consignment of 400,000 protective gowns the government said would arrive from Turkey on 19 April failed to materialise.
Unite news release and coronavirus advice. NHS Confederation news release. BBC News Online. Evening Standard. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: ‘Critical lack’ of PPE and testing across care sector
Social care providers and unions have warned that a ‘critical lack’ of protective equipment and testing has allowed coronavirus to ‘sweep through’ social care. In a joint statement – signed by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), UNISON, Unite, GMB and TUC – ministers are told that care workers and residents are still being exposed to unnecessary risk.
TUC news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Hospital worker could be sacked over face mask dispute
A London hospital worker employed by private company ISS has been told he faces the sack after he asked for a facemask. The man - who collects rubbish from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich - was told by managers he wasn’t entitled to wear a facemask.
GMB news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: PPE designed for men doesn’t protect women
The coronavirus pandemic has brought the issue of personal protection equipment (PPE) designed for men being provided to female workers into the spotlight, trade unions have said. The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said the lack of appropriate PPE for women is a concern that “many trade unionists” have spoken about in recent years.
Press and Journal. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Boohoo sells useless face masks, staff left without
Workers at a warehouse of the fashion retailer Boohoo in Burnley are being left without the necessary protection from the coronavirus as the firm instead sells ‘useless’ fashion masks to the public, Usdaw has warned. The union for the warehouse staff said it has raised ‘deep concerns’ consistently about Boohoo staff being put at risk because of inadequate personal protection equipment (PPE) and failures to reorganise working practices to ensure necessary social distancing.
Usdaw news release. The Mirror. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Union pushed HSE into more ‘robust’ coronavirus role
Prospect, the union representing the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) inspectors, scientists and specialists, ‘has led the argument’ and pushed the regulator ‘to be robust in fulfilling its duty’ to enforce health and safety at work. The union said its reps in HSE have been engaging with HSE management since mid-February on issues related to Covid-19 and the current lockdown.
Prospect news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Coronavirus collective bargaining protection in contact centres
Close proximity working, worries about cleaning and sanitisation regimes – especially in hotdesking situations – and a widespread puzzlement over ‘key worker’ designations being applied to clearly non-essential workstreams have all emerged as headline findings of a major national survey of contact centre workers. Communication workers’ union CWU said just over a week after the multiple union online survey was emailed out to thousands of people working in call centres, the preliminary findings have confirmed a massive discrepancy between the best and worst responses by employers to the risk of these call centres becoming a hotbed for the spread of coronavirus.
CWU news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Workers ‘empowered’ after Asda social distancing win
Workers at Asda’s Lymedale distribution centre are celebrating after securing safer conditions following a dispute over social distancing rules in the workplace. The union GMB said a torrent of complaints had poured out of the site after Asda insisted workers continue working at its distribution centre for George clothing, despite the stores being closed.
GMB news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Next shows how to make warehouses safer
Retail trade union Usdaw says it has worked successfully with clothes retailer Next to make their online fulfilment centres safe for staff during the coronavirus emergency. Urging other firms to follow Next’s lead, the union said Next closed their warehouses two weeks ago and used the time to work with Usdaw reps and officials to redesign operations so that social distancing could be observed. Staff are being trained in new working practices and demand is being limited to ensure that orders can be fulfilled safely.
Usdaw news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Support for call to only open schools when it is safe
A petition calling on the prime minister to only “open schools when it is safe” attracted over 80,000 signatures in just three days, teaching union NEU has said. The union’s petition was launched on 14 April and had clocked up 83,887 signatures by 17 April – and by 21 April, a week after going online, the number of signatories to the NEU petition had reached 170,000.
NEU news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: DHL blasted for ‘endangering thousands’
Logistics unions in the UK have blasted DHL for ‘endangering thousands’ with ‘inadequate’ coronavirus social distancing and safety measures and by forcing self-isolating workers to survive on statutory sick pay (SSP). Usdaw, Unite, GMB, RMT and URTU trade unions called on DHL, which employs around 41,000 people in the UK, to work with them to resolve its workforce’s concerns over Covid-19 safety and the rate of pay for staff who are self-isolating or have been furloughed.
Usdaw news release. RMT news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Hotel workers ‘risking lives’ to help the NHS
Hotels providing accommodation for NHS staff, acting as Covid-19 isolation centres or providing emergency housing during the crisis, are ‘risking lives’ by failing to implement adequate safety measures for staff, Unite has warned. The union, which represents thousands of workers in the hospitality sector, said it is becoming increasingly concerned that the workers in these accommodation centres are not being given proper training and advice and are not being provided with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).
Unite news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Unions demand staggered starts on sites
London construction sites must stagger their opening times to avoid congestion and the spread of coronavirus on London’s bus and transport system, building and transport unions have said. Construction and bus workers union Unite and train drivers’ union ASLEF, said construction sites must stagger start and finish times so thousands of workers are not travelling en masse on the same buses and tubes.
Unite news release. ASLEF news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Usdaw urges shoppers to help keep shops safe
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw is calling on the public to take special care to follow safety guidance when making essential shopping trips. Paddy Lillis, the union’s general secretary, said: “The safety of our members is absolutely paramount, but they tell us that some of the shopping public are resisting social distancing measures in stores and can become abusive when asked to queue and maintain a two-metre gap.”
Usdaw news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Big six food retailers must deliver worker safety
The government has been told it must convene an urgent meeting with the big six retailers and the Food and Drink Federation after a major Tesco, Sainsbury and Marks and Spencer supplier admitted social distancing was impossible in its factory. A letter from the union GMB, sent to food an environment secretary, ASDA, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, M&S, Lidl and Aldi, came after a Bakkavor manager was secretly filmed admitting social distancing was not possible and threatening to sack staff who stayed at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
GMB news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: London bus safety measures get cautious welcome
Changes to bus operations in London designed to make public transport safer have been given a cautious welcome by Unite. Commenting on the announcement by Transport for London (TfL) that central door only loading will be now imposed on London buses, Unite’s London and Eastern regional secretary Pete Kavanagh said: “The extra safety measures now in place show why it is so important that workers are represented by strong trade unions.”
Unite news release and update. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Welcome for relaxation on HGV driver medicals
Unite has welcomed the government’s announcement that the rules on medicals for HGV drivers have been relaxed. The announcement comes after heavy lobbying from Unite, which had warned the government that as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, HGV drivers have been unable to undertake a medical resulting in 30,000 drivers potentially being forced off the road.
Unite news release. URTU alert. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Unite honour’s London’s fallen bus workers
Unite has paid tribute to bus and transport workers in London who have died after contracting Covid-19 and is demanded that more be done to protect those still working. The union, which has more than 20,000 members working on buses throughout the capital, heralded the ‘heart-breaking sacrifice’ of the 21 London transport workers, including 15 bus drivers, who have died keeping the capital's public transport network running in a time of ‘critical need’.
Unite news release. The Independent. Morning Star. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: More staff secure right to coronavirus testing
Health secretary Matt Hancock has announced that fire and rescue personnel, police, prison staff, and Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) workers will now be eligible for coronavirus testing. The move comes after sustained pressure from the FBU, calling on the government to secure Covid-19 tests for firefighters and control staff.
FBU news release and Covid-19 testing resources. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: ‘Reckless’ move to open civic amenities reversed
Merthyr Tydfil council has reversed a decision to reopen its civic amenity sites in Dowlais and Aberfan after protests from UNISON and GMB. The unions, who had described the move as “reckless and unnecessary”, advised staff not to return to work until a proper risk assessment has been filled out.
GMB news release. Morning Star. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Britain: Unite resolves bin worker distancing row
Unite Scotland has welcomed an agreement with Perth and Kinross council that should reduce the risk of coronavirus exposures in bin workers. The union said it had received numerous reports that refuse workers’ health and safety was being put at risk at the council’s Friarton depot.
Unite news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Europe: EU roadmap falls down on basic principles
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has said the European Commission’s  proposed Roadmap towards lifting Covid-19 containment measures fails on basic principles and does not give sufficient attention to either health and safety at work or the need to apply strict ‘precautionary’ measures. The union body has now asked the Commission to start an ‘urgent and proper’ consultation with trade unions and employers to define a proper implementation process.
ETUC news release. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

USA: Amazon fires coronavirus critics
Hours before Amazon fired Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa from its Seattle HQ this month, they were among about a thousand of the company’s technology employees to accept an invitation to hear from warehouse employees about working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to firing the women - both visible leaders of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice (AECJ) who, the company said, had repeatedly violated internal policies - Amazon deleted the calendar invitation to the online event and took disciplinary action against another employee who circulated it.
CBS News. Sacramento Bee. The Guardian.
UNI news report on union action at Amazon. Risks 944. 25 April 2020

Hazards news, 18 April 2020

Britain: Unionised workers more safe and secure - survey
A survey of over 1,500 workers in Scotland has revealed the advantages enjoyed by unionised workers over un-unionised workers during the coronavirus pandemic. The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) study revealed that unionised workers are half as likely to feel their job is at risk than those who are not in unions, and that almost two-thirds of un-unionised workers are worried about paying bills compared to a third of unionised workers.
Full STUC news release and survey findings. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: RMT ‘stop work’ call to unprotected workers
Transport union RMT has advised tens of thousands of workers in the rail and bus sector to stop work on safety grounds if employers do not provide protection from Covid-19. It says the union’s message to members follows escalating concerns that many employers are not taking steps to protect transport workers.
RMT news release and advice for rail and bus members. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Busworker ‘protection scandal’ exposed
Bus union RMT says it has been alerted “to the most inept steps they have ever seen” by an employer to protect workers from Covid-19. The union was commenting after making ‘strenuous representation’ to First South West Buses to fit suitable perspex screens to its fleet of buses to provide a physical barrier between drivers and passengers.
RMT news release. Covid-19 – RMT advice and information. Morning Star. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Sick pay win for London's bus workers
London's 20,000 bus workers have secured company sick pay from day one following intense pressure from Unite on bus operators, Transport for London (TfL), the London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the national government. Bobby Morton, Unite's national officer for passenger transport, said bus workers were “terrified” after London mayor Sadiq Khan revised the deaths figure to 21 transport workers fatalities in the capital from Covid-19, including 15 bus workers.
Unite news release. BBC News Online. Evening Standard. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Unite cooks up furlough for fired Carluccio’s workers
In the first legal test of the government's job retention scheme (JRS), Unite has secured clarification that the scheme can be used by companies in administration during the Covid-19 crisis. Unite is now calling on Carluccio’s workers who were made jobless in March when the restaurant chain went into administration to respond to get in touch with their union so that they can access the scheme and establish some wage security.
Unite news release. Thompsons Solicitors news release. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Food supplier stopped from sacking workers
A Unite campaign has stopped a Cardiff-based food wholesaler from sacking over 100 low paid workers. Global Foods sacked all its 117 workers days after the government's job retention scheme was announced, leaving workers jobless in the middle of the coronavirus crisis.
Unite news release. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Union calls for cabinet minister for PPE
With workers across the country continuing to sound the alarm about the lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect workers from the coronavirus, Unite has called for the ‘rapid appointment’ of a minister with responsibility for PPE delivery. The union’s call came amid mounting concerns that vital protective kit is not getting to the NHS and social care frontline.
Unite news release. Labourlist. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Unions secure PPE for Scotland’s care workers
Scotland’s care workers should get face masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus, according to new advice from the Scottish government issued after unions stepped in. The agreement means that the UK-wide guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) applies for Scotland’s care workers.
UNISON news release. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Fear and mistrust blight call centres
A union-backed survey of over 2,000 call centre workers has revealed that while some call centres are getting it right, the majority are still getting coronavirus work practices dangerously wrong. Preliminary results of the survey conducted by call centre expert Professor Philip Taylor found pre-existing health and safety concerns were being exacerbating by the current coronavirus crisis.
STUC news release. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Testing ‘fiasco’ condemns fire staff to isolation
Fire and rescue personnel urgently need coronavirus testing, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has warned, as services have lost up to 12 per cent of their firefighters and control staff to self-isolation. Commenting on 13 April, the FBU said nearly 3,000 fire and rescue staff are in self-isolation and unable to work, representing 5.1 per cent of the UK’s overall fire and rescue workforce.
FBU news release. BBC News Online. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Government must say no to work-related virus deaths
The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) has reiterated its call on the UK government to set a goal of ‘zero work caused fatalities’ from Covid-19 within the NHS, essential services and UK business. The organisation said its campaign is now being backed by the British Dental Association (BDA), the British Medical Association (BMA), the Doctors’ Association and many other organisations, stating “that work-related fatalities due to Covid-19 exposure is not a given.”
SOM news release. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: NHS workers’ Covid-19 deaths ‘beyond heartbreaking'
The union GMB has expressed its deep concern after health secretary Matt Hancock’s devastating disclosure that at least 19 NHS workers have died of Covid-19. Commenting on 11 April, GMB criticised the government for “broken promises” over protective equipment.
GMB news release and Get Me PPE Toolkit. The Independent. The Guardian. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Nurses without right PPE ‘entitled to refuse to work’
Nurses without appropriate personal protective equipment, who have ‘exhausted all other measures’, can refuse to treat patients, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has advised. The RCN has urged nurses without adequate PPE to consider delaying treatment, using alternative practices and refusing to work if ‘escalation steps’, such as consulting a line manager and documenting concerns, do not resolve the situation.
RCN news release and Refusal to treat guide. Labour Party news release. Department of Health news release. Nursing in Practice. The Guardian and related story. BBC News Online. Evening Standard. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: NHS staff ‘face real disaster’ from low levels of PPE
The BMA has warned that personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies in two large areas of England are running at dangerously low levels, and that some pieces of equipment are no longer available – a problem it says is forcing doctors into impossible situations and ultimately, putting their lives at risk. Commenting on 10 April, the doctors’ group said current PPE supplies in London and Yorkshire are not sufficient to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak.
BMA news release. The Guardian. The Independent. BBC News Online. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Hospital staff at risk as PPE fit-tests abandoned
Health workers are being put at risk of catching Covid-19 because hospitals are abandoning vital checks to see if their personal protective equipment (PPE) fits properly. Reports from frontline staff indicate hospitals are in breach of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) respiratory equipment guidelines, which specify that anyone using a disposable respirator such as an FFP3 facemask in the course of their work should always have a fit-test first.
RCS news release. DAUK UK news release. HSE respirator guidelines. The Guardian. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Hotline exposes government’s PPE failures
NHS, care and other frontline staff whose lives are on the line need immediate government action to fix inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, UNISON has said. The public services union said government apologies and assurances the UK has all the PPE it needs are of no comfort to staff whose workplaces are running low.
UNISON news release and earlier release. BBC News Online. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Community calls for more prison staff protection
Following the deaths of two prison staff from HMP Pentonville from Covid-19, the justice services trade union Community has called for urgent action from government to improve prison staff safety. In addition to provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) the union, which represents private sector prison officers, is calling for government to enable prison contractors to change the daily prison regime without fear of financial penalty.
Community news release and petition calling for PPE for all. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: End VAT for care home PPE
The government must immediately suspend VAT duties payable by care homes for safety equipment during the pandemic, UNISON has said. Unlike the NHS and personal purchases, are providers, some of whom are struggling with the financial pressures of the outbreak, are being charged VAT for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves needed to keep the workforce safe.
UNISON news release. Morning Star. The Guardian. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: PCS slams lack of PPE for border force staff
All Border Force staff need to be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) as a matter of urgency, the union PCS has said. The union’s call came after a second death at Heathrow reportedly from Covid-19.
PCS news release. MyLondon. Liverpool Echo. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Construction protest over coronavirus risks
Two socially distanced campaigners laid flowers at 11am at Tower Hill in London on Easter Sunday in protest at the ‘hundreds’ of construction workers who will lose their lives unnecessarily during the pandemic unless urgent action is taken. Concern has been growing that non-essential sites – including construction of luxury hotels and infrastructure not due to open for years – are still being allowed to operate, and that social distancing measures are impossible to adhere to in this industry.
Reel News video report. ITUC/Hazards news. CIEH news report. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Covid-19 mobile phone mast ‘madness’ must stop
The communication workers’ union CWU has thrown its weight behind a chorus of protest against Covid-19 ‘fake news’ which has resulted in mobile phone masts being vandalised and some telecoms engineers abused by members of the public. Following the reports of some of the union’s field engineering members having been verbally abused as a result of what the union said is ‘an absurd conspiracy theory’ that 5G networks are responsible for the spread of coronavirus, the union commended the swift action taken by major social media networks to quash the groundless rumour.
CWU news release. The Metro. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: PCS pressure stalls dangerous passport office plan
Pressure from the civil service union PCS has led to a temporary halt on HM Passport Office (HMPO) staff being forced back into their offices to do routine work. “Our pressure has begun to have an effect as HMPO has called a temporary halt to bringing more staff back into offices this week,” the union said.
PCS news release. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Calls for Covid-19 workers’ compensation scheme
A cross-party group of MPs in calling for the introduction of a Coronavirus Compensation Scheme for frontline workers. The proposal would mirror the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme to include a lump sum up front, a guaranteed income for their family and child payments to eligible children under 18 for any frontline staff who die from Covid-19.
Letter from MPs to the prime minister. LancsLive. HRM Asia. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Britain: Home Office urged to prevent abuse of shopworkers
Shopworkers’ trade union leader Paddy Lillis has written to the Home Secretary requesting progress on the government’s own ‘call for evidence’ on violence and abuse toward shop staff. The union has warned the problem has become more acute during the coronavirus crisis.
Usdaw news release. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

28 April: Hazards Campaign call to action
As normal public events for 28 April won’t be possible because of measures to contain coronavirus/Covid-19, the Hazards Campaign has published its own 10-point plan for mostly virtual action. “Some workplace events may still go ahead but we are taking #iwmd20 online, developing a social media campaign that we want everyone to join in,” The campaign says.
Hazards Campaign 28 April call to action. Print versions of the posters in A3 and A4 versions are free, but postage has to be paid on larger orders. As a guide 25 x A4 posters or 12 x A3 posters will cost £1.70 first class postage. Email or call the campaign for a price: 0161 636 7558. Send orders to: Hazards Campaign, c/o GMHC, Windrush Millennium Centre, 70 Alexandra Road, Manchester M16 7WD. Materials can also be downloaded for free, printed off, used online and in social media campaigns, as can a series of Hazards Campaign display boards.
TUC 28 April 2020 news and resources webpage.
Global action and resources: ITUC/Hazards 28 April website. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Australia: Qantas 'knowingly exposed' airport workers
Qantas staff at Adelaide Airport in South Australia were directed to continue working after it was discovered they had been exposed to the coronavirus, the transport union TWU has charged. SA Health ordered 750 employees to self-isolate in an attempt to contain a cluster of cases linked to the airport, including 18 baggage handlers, three other workers and 13 close contacts.
SA Health news release. ABC News. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Canada: Union’s 'invisible to essential' cleaners’ campaign
A Canadian union has launched an ‘Invisible to Essential’ campaign, calling on property owners, managers and cleaning contractors to work together to make immediate improvements to cleaners’ working conditions. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2 said the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in many ‘invisible’ service workers being thrust into the spotlight but, despite this, janitors continue to be amongst the lowest paid and most underappreciated workers.
SEIU news release and Invisible to Essential campaign. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

USA: Union slams needless transport worker deaths
The Covid-19-linked deaths of dozens of Transport Workers Union Local 100 members who worked for New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) have been linked to their working conditions. John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union International, asserted that the most important factor responsible is the serious occupational issues related to workplace air quality for transit workers that make them especially vulnerable to the infection.
Chief Leader. Risks 943. 18 April 2020

Hazards news, 11 April 2020

Britain: TUC to shine a light on coronavirus risks on 28 April
The TUC is to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) by highlighting the preventable and wholly unacceptable risks to workers posed by the coronavirus. The annual 28 April event is when unions “renew our efforts to organise collectively to prevent more deaths, injuries and disease as a result of work,” the TUC’s dedicated webpages note.
TUC 28 April 2020 news and resources webpage.
Global action and resources: ITUC/Hazards 28 April website. ITUC/Hazards coronavirus resource hub. ITUC Covid-19 resource pages – news, resources and publications from ITUC affiliates, Global Union Federations and LabourStart. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: TUC, CBI and HSE issue joint coronavirus statement
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), employers’ group the CBI and the TUC have issued an unprecedented joint call for employers to ensure safe working conditions during the coronavirus outbreak. The statement says those companies remaining open must take practical steps to minimise the threat of workers being exposed to the virus wherever possible – including enabling social distancing. 
TUC news release. CBI news release. HSE news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Government must protect pregnant workers, says TUC
The TUC has called on the government to protect the health, jobs and income of pregnant workers during the coronavirus outbreak. Employers already have a legal duty to keep their pregnant employees safe, says the TUC. Health and safety law says that if they can’t do that in their workplace, then they should allow pregnant staff to work from home.
TUC news release and blog. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: TUC calls for global response to coronavirus outbreak
An urgent global response is required to address massive job losses caused by the coronavirus outbreak, the TUC has said in response to a report from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which predicted the equivalent of 195 million full-time job losses globally in the next three months, An indication of the unanticipated extent of the crisis is revealed by ILO’s new estimate, which is almost eight times higher than the 25 million job losses it predicted on 18 March.
TUC news release and blog on the Job Retention Scheme. ILO report. BBC News Onlinev. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Imperative bus driver safety action comes now
Unite has warned that there is “no time for trials” of new safety measures introduced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and has said that bus operators, regulators and the government must take immediate action to ensure bus worker safety. The union made its call following the 8 April announcement by Transport for London (TfL) that it is trialling closing the front door on buses on a limited number of routes.
Unite news release, and earlier releases on the new safety measures and bus worker coronavirus crisis. TfL news release. Evening Standard. Morning Star. BBC News Online. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Bristol bus worker virus death strengthens resolve
The death of Bristol bus worker as a result of coronavirus exposure reinforces a call for the most stringent hygiene regime the protect the UK bus industry’s workforce, a union has said. Unite regional secretary for the south west Steve Preddy paid tribute to Unite member Martin Egan, who died from Covid-19 after working for First Group in Bristol for 40 years.
Unite news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Stop work if not protected, union tells transport workers
Transport union RMT has told it members in the rail and bus sectors they should stop work if employers do not provide protection from coronavirus exposures. The union’s message to members follows escalating concerns that many employers are not taking steps to protect transport workers despite rail and bus staff playing a key role in keeping people and goods moving in the fight against Covid-19.
RMT news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

USA: NY transit workers in deadly virus peril
In New York, subway and bus employees have been particularly badly affected by the disease, with at least 33 deaths. New York governor Andrew Cuomo commented: “They’re doing heroic work, very high rate of illness - that’s a problem.”
The City. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Call for non-essential public transport to stand down
All non-essential public transport workers should be stood down, TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes has said. The head of the transport and travel union said: “Very sadly we have seen some deaths amongst public transport staff and I’m now urging the government to make it clear that all non-essential public transport workers should be stood down.”
TSSA news release and related news release. ASLEF news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Scandal as passport staff told to get back to work
Staff working for Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) believe their lives are being put at risk because of demands that they return to work. Civil service union PCS raised its concerns as it was revealed many passport office staff have been asked to go back, despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
PCS news release, survey on social distancing and PCS Coronavirus response team. BBC News Online. Morning Star. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Safety at the centre of Rolls-Royce coronavirus package
Unite says it has hammered out a package, with health and safety at its heart, with engineering giant Rolls-Royce. Unite regional officer Tony Tinley, responsible for the union’s members at the 12,000-strong Derby workforce, said: “Our reps have worked really hard to achieve a stringent health and safety regime, with such features as a one-way system, which will enable the required employees to continue to work during the coronavirus emergency.”
Unite news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Work-related coronavirus cases must be reported – official
Dangerous occurrences and cases of actual ill-health related to coronavirus exposures have now to be reported, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said. The safety regulator said the new legal reporting requirement under RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) applies “when an unintended incident at work has led to someone’s possible or actual exposure to coronavirus,” adding: “This must be reported as a dangerous occurrence.”
HSE news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Work-related Covid-19 deaths ‘not a given’
The UK Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) has said it does not believe that work-related fatalities due to Covid-19 were inevitable. Saying cases were ‘not a given’, SOM said the UK should have aimed for a target of zero work caused fatalities in this pandemic within the NHS, essential services and UK business.
SOM news release. Government/PHE/NHS England news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Protection is more than just PPE, midwives warn
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called on NHS employers to provide better support to maternity staff after a survey revealed that nearly a third of midwives had received no advice or the training they need to care for women with coronavirus symptoms. The survey by the midwives’ union found that just over half (56 per cent) of midwives reported receiving some advice and training, but only 15 per cent said that they had received adequate support.
RCM news release and statement on the death of midwife Lynsay Coventry. Union News. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Health workers lose faith after PPE provision failures
NHS employers and trusts must stop hiding behind bare minimum provision in their personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, the union GMB has said. The union has called on NHS bosses to instead ‘set the bar as high as they can’ in accessing and supplying PPE.
GMB news release and release on BSUH homemade visors and Barnsley Hospital old masks. BMA news release. Morning Star. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Hospital staff 'left in tears' over lack of PPE
Workers at Great Western Hospital (GWH) are dealing directly with patients with diagnosed or suspected Covid-19 infections without being issued appropriate protective equipment, the union GMB has said. The union says ‘terrified’ NHS staff at the Swindon hospital report patients coughing uncontrollably on them, leaving droplets of spit on their hair, face, neck and arms.
GMB news release. CSP news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Care staff still not getting the safety kit they need
Thousands of care workers are still lacking protection against coronavirus, the public sector union UNISON has said. Responding to a government announcement that nearly 8 million pieces of personal protective equipment have been delivered to care homes, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Thousands of care staff have contacted UNISON to say getting protective kit is still a real issue and they don’t have what they need.”
UNISON news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: NHS hotline as staff face coronavirus PTSD risk
The NHS has launched a mental health hotline to offer support to health workers after experts warned doctors and nurses on the frontline of the UK’s coronavirus epidemic could develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hundreds of thousands of workers who may need help will be able to call or text a free number staffed by more than 1,500 trained volunteers.
NHS Employers news release and helpline details. The Independent. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Zero PPE in schools equals danger, warns union
The union GMB has hit out after new Department for Education guidelines said personal protective equipment (PPE) is not required in schools in England – and that cleaning equipment may be rationed. The 7 April guidance states that “some [cleaning equipment] items may be rationed in schools,” and adds: “Educational staff do not require personal protective equipment.”
GMB news release. Department for Education guidance. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Half of teachers asked to break virus rules
Over half of teachers who should have been self-isolating due to coronavirus exposures have been asked to attend work, a survey by teaching union NASUWT has found. The snapshot survey of teachers revealed that 51 per cent of teachers who thought either they or someone in their household had Covid-19 were still asked to attend work for at least some time during the week beginning 23 March, the first week that schools were closed to all but the children of key workers and vulnerable children.
NASUWT news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Highways work warning after social distancing bypass
Highways maintenance workers who are undertaking a crucial role keeping the UK’s road network open are being prevented from following social distancing guidelines, the union Unite has warned. It says the outsourced key workers have been told that the client, Highways England, has said that it should be ‘business as usual.’ Unite says that while in some depots, canteens and mess areas have been closed, workers are still operating in two and three person crews, travelling together in cabs and cannot social distance while on site.
Unite news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Campaigners hit out at Covid-19 work safety failings
Millions of lives have been needlessly put at risk by the government’s inadequate response to the coronavirus pandemic, health and safety campaigners have warned. The Hazards Campaign’s analysis has identified a catalogue of government shortfalls, including its refusal to stop all non-essential work, an inability to supply health service staff with protective equipment and failure to introduce a comprehensive testing and tracking system to contain the virus.
Hazards Campaign news release, full analysis and infographic. Morning Star. CIEH news report. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Welsh police 'should not be used as factory inspectors'
Police officers should not be used as ‘factory inspectors’ to enforce a new social distancing law introduced in Wales, the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones has said. Regulations that came into force across Wales on 7 April allow police and councils to fine firms for not doing all they can to keep workers two metres apart.
Wales TUC and whistleblowing hotline. BBC News Online. The Guardian.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Unions welcome Welsh rule on social distancing
Unions have welcomed the decision by the Welsh Assembly to enforce new social distancing rules at work. Howard Beckett, Unite's assistant general secretary for legal affairs, said: “Our members are putting themselves on the line to keep public services and businesses functioning during these extraordinary times, so we say to employers, keep them safe, provide them with the protective and sanitation equipment they need, or find yourselves in legal conflict with Unite because we have vowed to do whatever it takes to keep our members safe.”
Usdaw news release. Unite news release. NEU news release. UNISON news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Unite Scotland welcomes ‘stronger’ construction guidance
Unite Scotland has welcomed the stronger guidance issued by the Scottish government to construction firms during the Covid-19 pandemic, which clarifies what is essential work. The guidance also confirms that where construction sites cease work, workers’ pay should be protected.
Unite Scotland news release. Scottish government construction sector guidance. Construction Enquirer. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Britain: Prison union welcomes early release of inmates
Prison officers’ union POA has welcome a government decision to release thousands of low risk prisoners to reduce the health risk posed by coronavirus to prison inmates and staff. In a private meeting with the POA, the Lord Chancellor confirmed that up to 4,000 prisoners within the last two months of their Automatic Early Release date would be released from prisons under home detention curfew conditions.
POA news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Global: Unions call for universal social protection fund
The international trade union confederation ITUC has called for a global fund to protect public health, social protection and jobs in poor nations. The call came after the global union body’s survey found that while wage protection and income support are provided in many G20 and OECD countries, working people in Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas have lost jobs and incomes and could face widespread famine unless there is urgent global co-ordination and fiscal stimulus measures.
ITUC news release, ITUC Global Covid-19 Survey key findings and 7 April ITUC action round-up. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Global: Workers a critical link in the food supply chain
A 31 March World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Health Organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) joint call for  coordinated international action to keep international food supplies flowing ignored the welfare of workers in the sector, the global food and farming union IUF has said. The IUF has written to the three global bodies to highlight a ‘supremely irresponsible defect’ in their appeal for ‘responsibility’: the total absence of advocacy for action to protect the lives, safety and livelihoods of the agricultural workers on whose labour food security depends.
IUF news release. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

USA: The government safety inspectorate has gone missing
This year, a new crisis put workers in many US industries unexpectedly in harm’s way, but the official workplace safety watchdog has been conspicuously absent from the coronavirus response, a former top government safety official has charged. David Michaels, the Obama era head of the safety enforcer OSHA, said: “Instead of pressing employers on worker safety, Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia and President Donald Trump’s political appointees at the Labor Department have decided to tell workers there is little OSHA can do because it has no standard covering airborne infectious diseases.”
Politico. US Covid-19 Strike Wave Interactive Map. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

USA: Essential workers become disposable protection
The USA’s top public health agency has been criticised for treating millions of essential workers as disposable in the nation’s coronavirus response. New Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance covers ‘critical infrastructure workers’ – which includes workers in every essential job from police to agricultural workers and cleaners outside the health care sector - advises that workers who have had close contact with an individual infected with Covid-19 may continue to work if they remain asymptomatic, with certain conditions.
Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19, CDC, April 2020. The Hill. Science Magazine. EU screening guide. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Pakistan: Health workers beaten by police in pandemic protests
Health workers in Pakistan have warned of “deplorable” conditions on the frontlines of the country’s coronavirus outbreak, describing the pandemic as untreatable in one region and accusing police of brutally suppressing protests over working conditions. The country has reported 4,000 cases of Covid-19, but testing rates are low and doctors believe the real figure is much higher.
The Guardian. Risks 942. 11 April 2020

Hazards news, 4 April 2020

Global: Stop the pandemic at work
In response to the worldwide coronavirus crisis, the global union confederation ITUC has announced unions are to make ‘Stop the pandemic at work’ a major campaign focus. The union has produced a series of posters and resources to kick off the campaign, which will build to a day of ‘virtual’ action on 28 April 2020, International Workers’ Memorial Day. ITUC says while everyone is affected by the crisis, workers are on the frontline.
ITUC news release. ITUC/Hazards 28 April website, including news on activities and resources. ITUC/Hazards coronavirus resource hub. ITUC Covid-19 resource pages – news, resources and publications from ITUC affiliates, Global Union Federations and LabourStart. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: HSE unions demand virus action as the watchdog goes missing
Unions representing staff at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have written to the regulator for the second time in a week asking management to intervene directly with the government on behalf of the public and their members. Prospect, the FDA and PCS have written a joint letter to HSE Gold Command asking them to fulfil their duty as the independent regulator in charge of enforcing health and safety at work.
Prospect news release and earlier release. Hazards Campaign letter to HSE.
Thompsons Solicitors’ updated briefing on coronavirus and the law. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Essential role of low paid workers deserves recognition
The critical role played by low paid workers in combating the coronavirus threat to public health deserves much greater recognition, the TUC has said. Commenting on the new national minimum wage rates which come into force on 1 April, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Britain is indebted to its army of minimum wage heroes. Many – including care workers and supermarket staff – are currently on the frontline of the battle against coronavirus.”
TUC news release and Coronavirus/COVID-19 Guidance to Unions, TUC, March 2020. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Union campaign wins protection for self-employed
Commenting on the chancellor’s announcement of a new income support scheme for self-employed workers, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “This is a welcome step forward for self-employed and freelance workers across the economy, from construction to the creative industries. It’s vital that support reaches workers as soon as possible. Many are already dealing with severe hardship.”
news release on income protection for the self-employed. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Unions call for urgent government action on PPE
The government must ensure essential workers get access to live-saving protective equipment, an open letter to ministers from unions has said. The letter, signed by the TUC, UNISON, RCM, GMB, Unite, BDA and CSP, notes: “Our members care for the sick and the elderly, they look after our children and keep them safe, they make sure there is food on the supermarket shelves, they keep the lights on and the water running.”
TUC news release. Labour Party news release. Labourlist. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Promises of PPE won’t keep ‘forgotten’ workers safe
Promises of personal protective equipment (PPE) alone won’t keep NHS, care, police and other essential workers safe, public sector union UNISON has said. UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has written to Boris Johnson demanding he takes action to ensure all hospitals, care homes, police forces and council services have the sanitiser, gowns, masks and gloves needed to keep staff safe.
UNISON news release.
UNISON coronavirus Q&A and guidance on Personal Protective Equipment and coronavirus.
Public Service International (PSI) resources and Safe Workers Save Lives campaign. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Gagging NHS workers could cost lives
Prevented NHS workers from speaking out over chronic personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages could put further lives at risk, the union GMB has said. Frontline doctors have said they have been gagged from speaking out about shortages of protective equipment as they treat coronavirus patients – with some claiming managers have threatened their careers.
GMB news release. NUJ news release. The Independent. The Lancet. British Medical Journal.
Worksmart guidance on the Employment Relations Act and Pubic Interest Disclosure Act. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Care workers put at risk by lack of basic safety kit
Social care workers across the country are at breaking point with many being given just plastic aprons and gloves to protect against coronavirus as they support the vulnerable and elderly, public sector union UNISON has said. Care workers have told the union some managers are either refusing to issue face masks or not providing training in how to use them, and not supplying hand sanitiser.
UNISON news release. Morning Star. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Home-visiting health workers need PPE urgently
Health visitors and community nurses going into the homes of families with children and babies urgently require personal protective equipment (PPE), Unite has said. The union also wants PPE to go to the thousands of staff working in social care settings, such as care homes, who it says feel forgotten by ministers.
Unite news release. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: ‘Brave’ education staff need extra protection
Teaching union NEU has called on the government to put measures in place to protect the students and education staff in schools that remain open for the children of frontline workers. The NEU is demanding that urgent measures be taken to ensure the safety of students and staff, including testing of all education staff, and it says no staff at heightened risk should attend schools and colleges and rotas should be introduced for those who continue to go to their place of work.
Education International. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Union calls for agreement to protect civil servants
Civil service union PCS is calling the Cabinet Office to agree measures to guarantee the safety of civil servants during the coronavirus crisis. The union says the current outbreak will have a significant impact on the work of public bodies across the civil service and its related areas.
PCS news release. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Unite forces Norse Medway to act on virus risks
Council outsourcer Norse Medway has been forced to implement coronavirus safety measures for refuse workers and other staff following action by Unite. The company, which operates refuse collection, street cleaning and other services for Medway council in Kent, was forced to introduce social distancing and hygiene measures after Unite exposed the firm’s disregard for the health of key workers, who also walked out in protest over serious health and safety concerns.
Unite news release and earlier release.
Unite Coronavirus/Covid-19 advice and guide for union officers. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: ‘Inconsistent action in Scotland, public sector unions warn
The leading trade unions in local government in Scotland have written to first minister Nicola Sturgeon to highlight ‘major inconsistencies’ in action to reduce coronavirus risk they say are putting workers and the general public at risk. Unite, GMB and UNISON have been involved in ongoing discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) on its response to this crisis.
Unite news release. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: M&S workers walk out over coronavirus safety fears
The union GMB has called on Marks and Spencer to protect workers from coronavirus exposures after distribution staff staged two walk outs over safety fears. The union has condemned DHL, which runs the affected Swindon warehouse on behalf of M&S, for its ‘cavalier attitude’ to health and safety. 
GMB news release.
Worksmart guidance on Employment Relations Act protection from victimisation over safety. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: ASOS warehouse a 'cradle of disease' say workers
Almost all of the thousands of workers at an Asos warehouse in Grimethorpe, Barnsley, feel unsafe at work, a GMB survey has found. The union research confirmed 98 per cent of the warehouse staff feel unsafe at work amid the coronavirus crisis.
GMB news release. Sign the GMB letter to the ASOS CEO. GMB coronavirus hub and GMB Coronavirus Briefing on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
BBC News Online. Personnel Today. Morning Star. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Next mothballing of warehouses welcomed by union
Retail union Usdaw has welcomed the decision by fashion retailer Next to close its warehouse and distribution operations until further notice. The union said it believes the government should be agreeing that non-essential online retail should cease trading in the same way that it told high street non-food shops to close.
Usdaw news release. TUC news release. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Amey agrees to full pay for self-isolating workers
Outsourcing giant Amey has agreed that all its workers in the UK will receive their full pay if required to self-isolate due to the coronavirus. The commitment to pay staff full wages, agreed after intense lobbying by unions, will apply to those who are required to self-isolate for seven days, for 14 days and for those who for health reasons have to self-isolate for 12 weeks and will be backdated
Unite news release. GMB news release. Construction Enquirer. The Guardian. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Food processing workers forced to work in close proximity
The two-metre social distancing guideline for food industry workers on production lines now needs to be made mandatory by the government, Unite has said. The union said that the mandatory enforcement by ministers should also encompass retails outlets, such as supermarkets, during the coronavirus emergency.
Unite news release and news release on Diageo. New Food Magazine. The Drinks Business. Morning Star. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Construction workers welcome shutdown of Scottish sites
Unite has welcomed a 27 March instruction by the Scottish government demanding the closure of construction sites not linked to the health service. The union had been demanding construction sites across Scotland should stop with immediate effect or lives would be put at risk.
Unite news release, call for tougher measures and related release on Balfour Beatty. IOSH news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: ‘Shocking’ risks at crowded Tyneside factory
A shocking image of workers crowded together shows a Tyneside company is ‘putting workers and their families at risk,’ GMB has said. The union said the image, reproduced on its website, shows staff at Smulders, a steel construction company in Newcastle upon Tyne, ‘packed together like sardines’ in the company canteen.
GMB news release. Northern Echo. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Criticism as safety skills card firms cash in on coronavirus
Unite is informing members it is not necessary to obtain a temporary Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) Emergency Covid-19 Card to gain access to building sites during the coronavirus outbreak. Because of the lockdown some workers have been unable to renew a recently expired CPCS card, which is normally required to for certain work on sites.
Unite news release. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Risk of lorry driver shortage unless medical rules are relaxed
Unite has warned that 10 to 20 per cent of drivers could be forced off the road unless the government relaxes the requirement for HGV drivers to have a medical. The union says there is already a shortage of HGV drivers, who are playing a ‘crucial’ role during the coronavirus crisis in maintaining the supply of food and medicines.
Unite news release. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Delivery giant UPS told ‘clean up your act’
Logistics giant UPS has been told to ‘massively improve its cleaning regime’ at its depots and in the interiors of vehicles, after drivers expressed concern about the threat of coronavirus as they deliver vital supplies, such as medicines. Unite said it had been telling UPS management consistently throughout last week that when feeder drivers arrive at site they have to use equipment that has not been properly sanitised.  Unite news release. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: All delivery drivers need health protection
Urgent action is needed to prevent delivery drivers placing their health and that of their customers at risk during the coronavirus crisis, Unite has said. The union said it has been inundated with calls from drivers worried about their health as they are still being required to undertake non-essential deliveries to domestic premises, including barbecues, table tennis tables, trampolines, musical equipment, flat screen TVs, cross trainers and treadmills.
Unite news release. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Britain: Employers need to step up mental health support
Only 31 per cent of managers would feel confident to have sensitive discussions around mental health with workers, new figures from human resources body CIPD have revealed. CIPD is warning that employers need to act now to help prevent their employees from being at serious risk of mental ill-health during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
CIPD news release. Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the Covid-19 outbreak, WHO, March 2020. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

USA: Worker health is public health
In the Covid-19 pandemic, worker health is public health - but worker safety and health is in crisis, a top US safety law expert has said. Debbie Berkowitz of the National Employment Law Project (NELP) said the US federal government “is failing to ensure the safety and health of workers - including those most at risk, health care workers. The government has also abandoned its role in keeping all other essential workers safe - those in supermarkets, delivery, warehouses, factories, public transportation and sanitation.”
OnLabor. Frogner BK. How many health care workers are at risk of being sacrificed to COVID-19 in the US?, Center for Health Workforce Studies, University of Washington, Mar 31 2020. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

USA: Dire warning on health worker coronavirus toll
Bianca Frogner, director of the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Washington medical school, warned of “the urgency to screen all health care workers, ensure distribution of PPE across a broad range of health care settings and occupations, and track this unfortunate occupational hazard. I find that nearly one in six health care workers may be at risk of testing positive for Covid-19 and up to 380,000 deaths if we emulate the experience of Italy.”
Frogner BK. How many health care workers are at risk of being sacrificed to COVID-19 in the US?, Center for Health Workforce Studies, University of Washington, Mar 31 2020. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

Hazards news, 28 March 2020

Britain: Government must protect the self-employed, says TUC
The TUC has called on the government to provide urgent aid to Britain’s five million self-employed workers. A report from the union body published on 23 March warns the current measures in place for self-employed workers are “inadequate” with many facing severe hardship over the coming months.
TUC news release. Fixing the safety net: What next on supporting working people’s incomes?, TUC, 23 March 2020. Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s 20 March 2020 announcement, business support news release and TUC commentary. Updated government guidance for employees.
GMB news release. Usdaw news release. Aslef news release. Prospect news release. NUJ news release. Musicians’ Union news release. Community news release. BECTU news release. Unite news release.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020 and related government news release. BBC News Online. Prime minister’s 23 October speech announcing the lockdown and related BBC News Online story.  Morning Star. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Confused messages jeopardise virus response
Unite has appealed to the prime minister to act swiftly to clear up the confusion about who can be at work and how insecure and self-employed workers will be supported economically. The 24 March union warning noted the lack of clarity and absence of financial support for insecure workers was “at odds with the national emergency” and came after pictures of packed construction sites and Tube trains in the capital were published, as workers continued to head to work.
Unite news release and news release on Unite coronavirus helpline. BBC News Online and related news report. The Guardian and Guardian video. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Government must act on construction ‘health emergency’
Unite has warned that construction workers and their families are facing a ‘public health emergency’ as the government has failed to ensure their safety at work. The union says that alongside urgent contingencies to enforce safety on sites, the government must introduce immediate measures to ensure that the self-employed - which comprises over 50 per cent of the construction industry - are covered by its wage assistance scheme, to the equivalent already announced for employees.
Unite news release. Construction Enquirer. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: STUC warns employers over safety breaches
The STUC has issued a stark warning to employers after it was inundated with complaints from workers about companies keeping open for non-essential work and pressuring employees to present for work even while business was suspended. The Scottish union body warned employers they could find themselves in “implied breach of contract” and face future constructive dismissal claims “if judged to be endangering workers.”
STUC news release and related news release on testing. The Herald. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Usdaw’s new hope for calm in our supermarkets
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed ‘much needed clarity’ from the government after the announcement of a nationwide lockdown. Paddy Lillis, the retail union’s general secretary, said more needed to be done to protect workers in stores, with supermarket chains subsequently introduced additional measures to protect staff and customers.
Usdaw news release, related news release on protective measures and advice to members. The Mirror. The Guardian.
UNI Commerce global union and Politico on the global response. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Police should make sure only key workers travel
Rail union TSSA has echoed the London mayor’s call for police to be deployed at all main London stations - including Underground, Overground and railway interchanges - to ensure passengers on the city's public transport network are only those providing vital services. TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes made the call following reports of busy Tube trains for the second successive day after Boris Johnson’s coronavirus ‘lockdown’.
TSSA news release. MyLondon. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: RCM concern over PPE shortage for midwives
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called on the government to ensure that midwives and maternity support workers receive appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure they remain safe and well so they can continue to care for people. The union call came as health care workers across the NHS said they were encountering difficulties obtaining the correct masks, aprons, goggles and gloves. 
RCM news release. Morning Star. BBC News Online.
RESOURCE: RCM guidance for pregnant health care workers. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: All education staff should get the test
Teachers’ union NEU has warned that government advice for schools is not currently strong enough. Commenting on the action needed to keep staff and young people safe in the schools and colleges that have remained open, Dr Mary Bousted, the union’s joint general secretary, said tackling the outbreak “means testing of all education staff, and that no one at heightened risk attends schools and colleges from today.”
NEU news release and guidance to members. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Fire services lose hundreds to self-isolation
Fire and rescue service personnel must receive priority testing and vaccination for coronavirus, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said. The union was commenting after some brigades reported losing hundreds of staff to self-isolation.
FBU news release. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: ‘Petrified’ Amazon workers stuck in packed warehouses
Amazon workers are ‘petrified’ of being infected by Covid-19 after being left to work in packed warehouses, without hand sanitiser or personal protection equipment, the union GMB has said. GMB national officer Mick Rix said: “It’s impossible for Amazon workers to keep a safe distance from each other and hit their productivity targets.”
GMB news release. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Business as usual not good enough for energy sector
Energy sector employers are preparing contingency measures to make sure the lights stay on - but are employers properly balancing the safety of staff with the need to keep energy flowing, the union Prospect has questioned. As the union for engineers and specialists working in the energy industry, Prospect polled its members on the ‘resilience measures’ their employers are putting in place in response to Covid-19, and found fewer than half the respondents (only 48 per cent) were confident in the resilience measures their employers were putting in place and in response to a question on PPE shortages, only 41 per cent said there were currently no shortages, 14 per cent said there were shortages, and 45 per cent said they were unsure.
Prospect news release and blog. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Railway workers call for public support
Rail industry unions have called on the public to support their efforts to keep a safe rail system in operation to help see the country through the coronavirus crisis. An open letter signed by Mick Whelan of Aslef, Mick Cash of RMT, Manuel Cortes of TSSA and Unite’s Diana Holland notes “we are pleading with the travelling public, if you can work from home, please do.”
RMT news release. Aslef news release. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Failing to stand together could cost you dearly
Workers can protect their income as well as their health if they stand together during the pandemic crisis, the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has said. The union body has called on workers to come together and organise to ensure employees, agency workers and freelance staff follow the correct procedure for ‘furloughing’ them during the period ahead, and to maximise their pay during the months ahead.
STUC news release. The Guardian. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: UCU welcomes move to stop face-to-face prison education
UCU has welcomed the move to suspend prison education as part of a wider prison lockdown in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) advised the Justice Select Committee it was moving to an ‘exceptional delivery model’, and has now confirmed to prison governors and prison education providers that all non-essential activities involving groups of people, including prison education, should be stopped with immediate effect.
UCU news release. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Migrant workers supplying the food industry need respect
The rights of thousands of migrant workers working hard to pick fruit and vegetables to keep the food chain supplied during the coronavirus emergency need to be respected, Unite has said. The union said that migrant employees working in the fields and orchards were designated as ‘key workers’ as they were a vital cog in the food production and supply chains.
Unite news release. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Social care workers must have full protective equipment
Unite has said the social care sector is at breaking point dealing with coronavirus related demands and is warning that workers do not even have basic personal protective equipment (PPE). Social care workers, many of whom Unite said are employed on low wages by private sector companies and who look after some of the frailest and most vulnerable in society, are reporting that employers are unable to supply basic PPE such as gloves, aprons, masks and hand sanitiser.
Unite news release. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Norse Medway slammed for ‘dangerous’ approach
Unite has said it is ‘dismayed’ at council services outsourcer Norse Medway’s approach to social distancing for key workers as well as staff who need to self-isolate because of the coronavirus. On 24 March, the union said that Norse – which operates refuse collection, street cleaning, crematoria, gardening and other services for Medway council in Kent – is refusing to put workers who are self-isolating on medical suspensions.
Unite news release. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Stena Line ferries slammed for suspending sick pay
Nautilus has protested 'draconian' steps taken by Stena Line ferries after it suspended its sick pay scheme without consultation with unions. The move, which the firm said was in response to the coronavirus crisis, has compounded a situation in which more than a thousand shore-based staff have been made redundant by the company in the past week, the union said. “This draconian step will impact on those unfortunate employees, who through no fault of their own, are unable to work due to severe illness when they have provided many years of loyal service to Stena Line,” Nautilus national ferry organiser Micky Smyth said. “We have serious concerns that employees who may be sick will return to their vessels, which may have serious medical implications for all those onboard including passengers, drivers and crew.”
Nautilus news release and Coronavirus Resources hub. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Britain: Wilko scraps plan to slash sick pay following union campaign
Wilko has scrapped a plan to slash sick pay for tens of thousands of workers after a GMB campaign. The union said the company now acknowledges that, in the light of the Covid-19 outbreak, ‘now is not the time’ to slash sick pay for tens of thousands of workers.
GMB news release. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Brazil: Meat giant in ‘brutal’ attack on its workers
JBS, the world's largest meat company, has presented workers in Brazil with a stark choice: risk potentially fatal illness, or risk losing your job. On 23 March, workers from the JBS units in Forquilhinha and Nova Veneza in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina were brutally repressed for protesting the company's decision to keep the production lines running without adequate protection against the spread of the coronavirus.
IUF news release and video. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Global: ‘Havoc’ as half of countries placed on lockdown
Over half of all countries surveyed (53 per cent) are containing the spread of the coronavirus with national lockdown measures, the closure of schools and non-essential businesses. The Covid-19 pandemic survey by the global union confederation ITUC found six out of fifteen G20 countries which are the drivers of the global economy closed non-essential businesses between 17-23 March 2020 - but only 50 per cent of countries are providing free health care.
ITUC news release and Global Covid-19 survey key findings. ITF news release. IndustriALL news release. ILO blog.
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Covid-19 resource page. Risk 940. 28 March 2020

Hazards news, 21 March 2020

Britain: Unions ensure outbreak action works at work
The TUC says union reps should ensure employers assess risks posed by the coronavirus outbreak and their workplace and take the necessary preventive action in consultation with their staff. A new TUC coronavirus guide for unions reps says they “should ensure their employer has in place either a separate policy for dealing with Covid-19, or a general policy covering public health emergencies, major disasters or incidents.”
Coronavirus/Covid-19 Guidance to Unions, TUC, March 2020.
RESOURCES: Thompsons Solicitors briefing on coronavirus and the law at work. Labourstart Unions and Covid-19 news service. HSE coronavirus webpages. Covid-19 and the world of work, ILO.  WHO worker protection and Covid-19 resources. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: New TUC advice for people now working at home
TUC has published new advice on home working. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It’s important to have a safe place to work and to keep in regular contact with colleagues.”
TUC news release. Prime minister’s statement, 16 March 2020 and PM’s statement, 17 March 2020. Acas guidance on working at home. Prospect top 10 tips on working from home. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Government must protect jobs and livelihoods, says TUC
TUC is calling on the government to follow other countries and introduce wage subsidies to protect working families and save jobs. A new TUC report, published following the chancellor’s 17 March statement, sets out proposals that will build on the Rishi Sunak’s announcements to protect business and the economy by guaranteeing all families an income and protecting jobs from being lost.
TUC news release. Protecting workers’ jobs and livelihoods: The economic response to coronavirus, TUC report, 18 March 2020. ETUC trade unions and the coronavirus resources webpages, including details of national agreements. GMB news release Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Unions will work with ministers on virus crisis
The chancellor’s statement that he “will do whatever it takes” to protect business and “people’s financial security” and will work with unions to do it, has been welcomed by unions. In his 17 March speech outlining the government’s plans, Rishi Sunak said: “In particular, I will work with trade unions and business groups to urgently develop new forms of employment support to help protect people’s jobs and incomes through this period.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s 17 March 2020 speech. HM Treasury news report. UNISON news release. Usdaw news release. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Chancellor must support workers as well as business
The government must provide workers as well as businesses protection during the coronavirus crisis, unions have said. Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, said: “The chancellor is right that we need to work together to get through this, and GMB is willing to play our part;” and Len McCluskey, Unite's general secretary, said: “We urgently need for the government to introduce now the sort of measures that we have seen implemented in our competitor nations, including paying workers 75 per cent plus of their salary while they are forced to be at home as has been introduced in Denmark and Holland. UK workers deserve the same efforts and assistance.”
GMB news release. Unite news release. HM Treasury news release. The Guardian. Personnel Today. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Sick pay reality for gig worker couriers
The ‘paltry’ sick pay for delivery couriers affected by coronavirus could push them to keep working to stay financially afloat rather than self-isolate, critics have warned. Mick Rix, national officer at the GMB, said: “Paltry statutory sick pay for those who have to self-isolate is a financial punishment simply for doing the right thing, flies in the face of advice to employers, and exposes people to harm and hardship.”
The Guardian. Business and Human Rights resource centre. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Tube cleaners to get full sick pay
Rail union RMT has welcomed the news that a union campaign to get Tube cleaners ‘in the frontline of the fight to contain the coronavirus on London Underground’ full sick pay has been successful. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “The union has been demanding that all privatised staff on the transport network get full sick pay in light of the coronavirus outbreak and the news that Tube cleaners working for ABM are to get just that is a welcome breakthrough others must now follow.”
RMT news release. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Media owners should follow official advice
Journalists’ union NUJ has called on media employers to follow UK government advice to facilitate home working to the greatest extent possible, stop unessential travel and avoid unnecessary social contact in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The NUJ says while the press has a clear duty to continue to work and report news and advice on the pandemic, it needs to do so in safety.
NUJ news release and advice on Covid-19. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Unite warning on relaxation of lorry driving regulations
Commercial drivers’ union Unite has warned that the decision by the Department for Transport (DfT) to relax the regulations on lorry drivers’ driving hours from 18 March to 16 April must not affect driver welfare and road safety. The union, which represents over 50,000 lorry drivers in the UK, said it understands that the decision to relax the regulations which govern for how long HGV drivers can drive for as well as ensuring they take sufficient breaks, was a result of a request from retailers to the department for the environment and rural affairs (DEFRA), in order to ensure deliveries of ‘essential’ supplies.
Unite news release and Coronavirus/Covid-19 advice and guide for union officers. DfT guidance. Related HSE guidance on welfare facilities for delivery drivers. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Hospital union slams ‘dangerous’ infection PPE advice
GMB has said it is ‘very concerned’ after porters at a coronavirus-hit hospital were told they should only wear personal protection equipment (PPE) on the ‘advice of a clinical colleague’. The union was commenting on guidance given to staff working for Mitie at Epsom and St Helier hospital.
GMB news release. GMB coronavirus advice. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: UK ambulance workers left unprotected
The ambulance workers dealing with the coronavirus epidemic are turned up for shifts to find no hand sanitiser, face masks or wipes and faulty testing equipment, the union GMB has warned. Paramedics and ambulance workers across the UK are also being forced to deal with inconsistent guidance and fatigue due to increased workloads as colleagues self-isolate, it said.
GMB news release. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: More NHS firms agree full pay for self-isolated
Private company Medirest has become the latest to promise full pay for all health workers self-isolating due to coronavirus. GMB said following pressure from the union, the company joined NHS ‘outsourcers’ ISS, Sodexo, Interserve and Mitie in guaranteeing full pay.
GMB news release. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Unions worldwide demand Amazon addresses virus safety
In the wake of coronavirus outbreaks in Amazon warehouses, a global alliance of unions is calling on the company to take urgent measures to protect workers and communities. The alliance, coordinated by the global UNI and which includes the UK union GMB, is making its demands as workers in Italy are striking and workers in Spain are filing complaints to make the company fulfil its legal obligations to provide a safe workplace.
UNI news release. BBC News Online. Morning Star. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Unions call for special measures for seafarers
Seafarers should be treated as key workers and provided with special measures and exemptions from the travel and other restrictions being imposed for Covid-19 containment, according to the London-based maritime professionals’ union Nautilus. The union is recommending preventive measures to protect the health and safety of seafarers including, where necessary, screening and testing for Covid-19.
Nautilus news release and FAQs for seafarers on coronavirus. RMT news release. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Britain: Government should be ‘ashamed’ of unsafe budget
The firefighters’ union FBU has condemned chancellor Rishi Sunak’s 11 March budget for “failing to recognise the role of firefighters in responding to flooding, for failing to provide building safety funding for buildings under 18m and for promising a ‘pittance’ to fund firefighters’ crucial fire safety work.” Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “This budget once again fails to end a decade of pay restraint for firefighters and the chronic underfunding of the fire and rescue service.”
FBU news release and related release. HM Treasury news release and Budget 2020. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Europe: Outbreak exposes danger of sick pay cuts
Europe’s trade union federation ETUC is calling for paid sick leave for all workers across Europe, warning the coronavirus exposes the danger to public health posed by the cuts made to sick pay by member states. ETUC general secretary Luca Visentini said: “It shouldn’t have taken a global pandemic to show that’s a bad idea, but the EU and member states now need to ensure that all workers have the right to paid sick leave and free health care.”
ETUC news release, resolution on coronavirus and Trade unions and the coronavirus resources webpages. GMB news release. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Global: Crew and passengers can’t be abandoned at sea
The refusal of ports to allow the crew and passengers of ships affected by the coronavirus to disembark is “insane and unsustainable”, the global transport union ITF has warned. Dave Heindel, chair of the ITF seafarers’ section, condemned the failure of flag states to protect seafarers’ and passengers’ health during “this humanitarian crisis.”
ITF news release. CBS News. MSN News. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

India: Saint-Gobain worker dismissed for occupational illness
An employee of the global building materials giant Saint-Gobain in Bangalore, India, was fired for absenteeism after exposure to the highly toxic chemical cadmium left him with severe health problems, the global union IndustriALL has said. Valter Sanches, general secretary of the global union IndustriALL, has now written to the multinational demanding a proper investigation into the problems and measures to remedy the situation.
IndustriALL news release. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Myanmar: Growing union pushes for mine safety
A mining union is Myanmar is calling on the government and employers to improve health and safety in mines, demanding measures including emergency exits, clean drinking water and fire extinguishers at the worksites. The Mining Workers Federation of Myanmar (MWFM), which is affiliated to the global union IndustriALL, has said there can be no compromise when it comes to health and safety, stating that authorities and employers must put human lives before profit.
IndustriALL news release. Risks 939. 21 March 2020

Hazards news, 14 March 2020

Britain: TUC calls for emergency coronavirus taskforce
The government must set up an emergency taskforce to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, the TUC has said. The union body said ministers should urgently pull together unions, employers and government agencies to come up with a plan for minimising the economic and health impacts of the virus.
TUC news release. Prime minister’s statement on the coronavirus and DWP statement, 9 March 2020. Thompsons Solicitors SSP briefing. BBC News Online. Morning Star.
RESOURCES: EU-OSHA coronavirus and the workplace resources guide. BMJ news and resources. JAMA Coronavirus Resource Center. Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Britain: Hermes pledges £1 million to help couriers self isolate
GMB has praised courier company Hermes for pledging £1 million to support self-employed drivers if they need to self-isolate as a result of the coronavirus. The company said it will help find someone to deliver on behalf of affected workers and guarantee that their rounds will be kept open for them for when they return.
GMB news release. The Guardian. Yahoo Finance. Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Britain: Construction sick pay agreements should kick in early
Construction employers should relax sick pay rules immediately to help tackle the spread of the coronavirus, the union Unite has said. The union has written to several industry bodies signed up to industrial agreements asking that industry that enhanced sick pay is also paid from day one.
Unite news release. Personnel Today. Construction Enquirer. Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Britain: Safety must be paramount on lorry driver hours
Transport union Unite has said lorry drivers are willing to be flexible to meet increased demands in the retail sector as a result of the coronavirus, but has said safety must not be compromised. The government announced it is relaxing restrictions on delivery hours for shops to make sure they remain stocked with basic items.
Unite news release. Defra news release. BBC News Online. Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Britain: Demand for coronavirus protection for transport staff
Transport union RMT has written to employers across the industry setting out ‘core demands’ designed to protect the safety of both staff and the public and the rights and livelihoods of the transport workforce. The union has also written to the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments and the Mayor of London, who are all responsible for overseeing transport services, asking that they support the union demands.
RMT news release. TSSA news release. Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Britain: Mayor should come clean on Tube infection prevention
Tube union RMT has written to the London mayor Sadiq Khan, calling for the privatised cleaning regime on London Underground to be ended and brought in-house. The union demand came after the Evening Standard reported that New York’s transport authorities were taking measures to meet the public health threats posed by coronavirus by imposing an enhanced cleaning regime in the subway system.
RMT news release. Evening Standard. Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Britain: Norfolk bus drivers demand an end to work fatigue
Bus drivers employed by Konectbus are demanding action to end a long hours culture of 14-hour days and short breaks, causing fatigue and exhaustion. Their union Unite is calling on the company’s management to enter into meaningful negotiations on working hours, and to reach an agreement to secure union representation for the workforce.  
Eastern Daily Press. Norwich Evening News.  Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Britain: ‘Massive backlash’ against Wilko plans to slash sick pay
Wilko must listen to the public and workers and cancel their ‘ill thought out’ plans to cut sick pay for tens of thousands of staff, the union GMB has said. The company has announced plans to cut sick pay entitlement for all 21,000 members of staff in stores and distribution centres.
GMB news release and earlier release. Retail Gazette. The Mirror. The Sun. The Express. Morning Star. Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Britain: Casualisation damage worries top universities
The casual contracts having a detrimental effect on the physical and mental health of university staff is also causing ‘reputational damage’ to the institutions themselves, according to a secret report from the Russell Group. Leaked minutes of a virtual meeting of the high status Russell Group universities said the group needed to 'show leadership' to 'avoid further reputational damage'.
UCU news release and leaked minutes of the Russell Group meeting. Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Britain: New evidence supports call for urgent protection for shopworkers
Latest industry figures reinforce the message from shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw that workers in the retail sector need urgent government action to protect them from violence at work. The union said it is ‘deeply concerned about shocking statistics’ released by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), showing that over 50,000 convenience store workers were assaulted last year, with 25 per cent of incidents resulting in injury.
ACS 2020 Crime Report. Usdaw news release. Morning Star. Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Britain: Company fined for ‘entirely avoidable’ death of dock worker
A shipping company has been fined £120,000 over the death of a ship’s cook at a Norfolk port more than two years ago. Marine accident investigators described the incident in which Alfred Ismaili was killed at Alexandra Dock in King’s Lynn as ‘entirely avoidable’.
Lynn News. Eastern Daily Press. Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Global: Workers need coronavirus health, pay and job protection
Global union confederation ITUC is calling for urgent measures to ensure workers who show possible coronavirus symptoms have access to free health care and can take sick leave without fear of losing their jobs or their incomes. With the World Health Organisation (WHO) warning of a “very high risk of global spread and impact” of the disease, the union body says workplaces are ‘frontlines’ in combatting the infection’s proliferation
ITUC news release. UNI news release.
David Koh. Editorial: Occupational risks for COVID-19, Occupational Medicine, published online 28 February 2020.  Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Turkey: Right to life ‘violated’ in Soma mine disaster
Turkey’s Constitutional Court has ruled that workers’ right to life was violated in the 2014 mine explosion in Soma where 301 workers lost their lives and 162 were injured. Relatives of 11 killed workers made an individual application to the court on 12 August 2016.
Bianet.  Risks 938. 14 March 2020

USA: Amazon’s disposable worker model exposed
Online retailer Amazon relies on an extreme high-churn model, continually replacing workers in order to sustain a dangerous and gruelling work pace, new research has concluded. The report from the US National Employment Law Project (NELP) cites data from the company’s own records which reveal ‘stunningly high injury rates’ and staff turnover in the retailer’s warehouses.
Amazon’s disposable workers: High injury and turnover rates at fulfillment centers in California, executive summary and full report, National Employment Law Project, March 2020.  Risks 938. 14 March 2020

USA: Trump places infection control regulation in limbo
As more than 100 hospital workers remained in self-imposed quarantine in California, a proposed regulation designed to protect them from infectious diseases such as the coronavirus languished inside a US federal agency. The Obama administration was working to adopt the regulation, but the Trump administration in 2017 moved it to a less urgent, long-term agenda and work on it stopped.
Washington Post. The Atlantic.  Risks 938. 14 March 2020

Hazards news, 7 March 2020

Britain: No-one should miss out on sick pay, for safety’s sake
The TUC has urged the government to support workers who do not qualify for statutory sick pay (SSP) as the coronavirus spreads. After pressure from the TUC and unions, the government announced that workers will get statutory sick pay from the first day off work, not the fourth, to help contain coronavirus spread.
TUC news release and related news release, TUC blog and ‘Sick pay for all’ call for emergency legislation and research report. Prime minister’s statement, 3 March 2020 and government coronavirus action plan. GMB news release. UNISON news release and blog. NEU news release. RMT news release. Scope news release. BBC News Online and related story.
RESOURCES: COVID-19: guidance for employers and businesses, Public Health England and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, February 2020. RCM coronavirus briefing.
ACTION: Sign the TUC ‘Sick pay for all’ petition. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: Patchy sick pay cover undermines coronavirus prevention
Leaving large sections of the workforce without sick pay is undermining the government’s plans to head off a possible coronavirus epidemic, unions have warned. They say the government needs to introduce emergency legislation to ensure that the millions of workers not entitled to statutory sick pay receive it from day one if they can’t work because of coronavirus.
Unite news release. Prospect news release. GMB news release and related news release. UNISON news release. Morning Star. The Guardian. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: Health crisis exposes sick pay and zero hours peril
Hundreds of student workers on precarious contracts at Sheffield Students' Union are calling on management to address urgently shortcomings in its sick pay policy and the use of zero hours contracts. Health warnings linked to coronavirus have prompted their union Unite to step up its call to management to introduce sick pay entitlements for casual staff in line with full time staff, and to end “poor employment practices”.
Unite news release. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: GMB wins full pay for ISS staff if self isolated
The union GMB has scored a big win for thousands of workers after private outsourcing company ISS promised full pay for all its health worker employees if they are forced to self-isolate due to coronavirus. The union said it has pressured NHS outsourcing companies – and the government - to ensure all workers are given full pay from day one if forced to self-isolate.
GMB news release and briefing on Coronavirus risks at work; GMB news release on the Channel 4 focus group findings. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: Government cuts created coronavirus ‘hygiene nightmare’
Government cuts have heightened public hygiene problems with the closure of more than a fifth of public toilets in Britain during the past decade, according to UNISON figures. People across the country are being urged to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly in a government information campaign aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19, or coronavirus, but new freedom of information (FoI) figures gathered by UNISON show there has been a 22 per cent drop in the number of public toilets maintained by councils since 2010, with the closure of 979.
UNISON news release. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: UK workers are overworked and underpaid
UK employers claimed £35 billion of free labour last year because of workers doing unpaid overtime, according to a new analysis of official statistics published by the TUC. More than 5 million people put in an average of 7.6 hours a week in unpaid overtime during 2019.
TUC news release. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Europe: New union network to improve North Sea helicopter safety
Unions from the UK and Norway have established a dedicated working group to improve helicopter safety across the North Sea oil and gas industry. Officials from UK unions including Unite, RMT, BALPA, GMB, Nautilus and Prospect have joined with the Industri Energi union to establish the Trade Union Helicopter Safety Committee (TUHSC).
Energy Voice. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: Underground drivers demand tests into 'toxic' particles
Staff on the London Underground are demanding more is done to assess the effects of breathing in Tube dust. Train drivers’ union ASLEF is calling for ‘urgent’ research into the long-term impact of inhaling the particles.
BBC News Online. How does dust hurt you? A Hazards at a glance guide. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: FBU blasts ‘endless delays’ to the Grenfell inquiry
Firefighters’ union FBU has criticised the “endless delays” to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and said that the inquiry “must finally learn what led to Grenfell becoming such a death trap.” The inquiry was halted within minutes of its restart on 2 March when community activists stood up in the room and angrily shouted it was “a cover-up” after contributors were told evidence given would not be used in criminal prosecutions.
Morning Star. Construction Enquirer. The Guardian and related story. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: HMRC strike ballot over taxing working patterns
Civil service union PCS is holding an industrial action ballot of HMRC members working in personal tax operations in Bootle over the working conditions of staff undertaking telephony work. The union says it has highlighted to management that ‘relentless’ telephony work is having a damaging effect on members’ mental health.
PCS news release. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: MPs echo union call for tighter controls on deadly silica
A parliamentary group has echoed union calls for a more protective workplace exposure limit for silica dust. The TUC, unions and the Hazards Campaign have led the campaign for a halving of the UK exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) - now the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Respiratory Health has urged the government to take action to prevent the ‘next asbestos’ from claiming more lives in the UK.
B&CE news release and full report, Silica – the next asbestos?, All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Respiratory Health/B&CE, March 2020. Personnel Today.
Biting the dust: HSE defends a silica standard six times more deadly, Hazards, number 148, December 2019. How does silica dust hurt you?, Hazards guide.
ACTION: Send an e-postcard to HSE demanding it introduce a more protective UK silica standard no higher than 0.05mg/m³ and with a phased move to 0.025mg/m³. www.hazards.org/HSEstopkillingus. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: Young black and minority workers stuck in bad jobs
Millennials from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are 47 per cent more likely to be on a zero hours contract, and have 10 per cent greater odds of working a second job, compared to their white peers, according to a new report from the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Carnegie UK Trust, and Operation Black Vote. BAME millennials are also 5 per cent more likely to be doing shiftwork, and are 4 per cent less likely to have a permanent contract than white workers.
Carnegie Trust UK news release and report, Race inequality in the workplace, March 2020. BBC News Online. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: Union calls for civil service bullying inquiry
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) has called for an inquiry into bullying in the civil service following multiple accusations against cabinet minister Priti Patel. The union call came after the home secretary was accused of bullying staff at a third government department, and it was revealed that a DWP official received a £25,000 payout after alleged bullied by Priti Patel when she was employment minister drove her to attempt suicide.
PCS news release. FDA news release. BBC News Online. The Independent. Morning Star. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Britain: Action call as retail violence increases
The shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw is joining with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to press for government action to stem a “growing tide” of violence and abuse against shopworkers. The latest BRC Annual Retail Crime Survey found that violence and abuse against shopworkers continues to increase, with 424 incidents per day during 2019.
Usdaw news release. Morning Star. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Australia: Government bankrolls bid to cut sick leave
Whilst Australian workers face uncertainty and financial stress in the face of the coronavirus crisis, the federal government and business have been working to strip them of access to sick leave and other entitlements. Rather than throwing its full weight behind ensuring workers are supported through the emergency, it has emerged that prime minister Scott Morrison is spending taxpayers’ money to fight court battles that would strip ordinary Australians of their sick pay.
ACTU news release. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Global: Union action call on ‘crucial’ coronavirus action
With over 90,000 people in dozens of countries currently infected by the coronavirus (Covid-19), ITUC is calling for urgent measures to ensure that workers who show symptoms can take sick leave without fear of losing their jobs or their incomes, and receive free health care.
ITUC news release. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Italy: Shop union secures coronavirus protection
An Italian union has secured employment and health protections for shopworkers in the Northern region of Lombardy, an area heavily impacted by the country’s coronavirus outbreak. Filcams has obtained time off and flexible working hours commitments from employers such as Zara, H&M and Carrefour, so shopworkers can look after their children while many schools are shut down, and have also agreed to consider paid leave for workers, in case of absence due to forced closures.
UNI news release. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Global: Time for a world of work free of violence
Global union IndustriALL is calling on national governments to ratify the new ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work. It says International Women’s Day on 8 March can be a focus for unions to pick up this campaign theme.
IndustriALL news release and Convention 190 resources.
Violence and Harassment Convention (Convention 190), ILO, June 2019. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

USA: White House doctored chemical warning
A common workplace solvent linked to fetal heart deformations, cancer and other serious health disorders has been given a healthier spin after a draft report from a US government agency was doctored by the White House prior to publication. A report from the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) reveals the report was altered radically at the direction of the Trump White House, with several instances where wording on the risks to workers revised.
Center for Investigative Reporting report and The Weekly Reveal podcast. Risks 937. 7 March 2020

Hazards news, 29 February 2020

Britain: Two million workers losing out on holidays
A shocking 1 in 14 UK workers are not getting their legal holiday entitlement, a new TUC analysis has found. The union body estimates that nearly two million employees (1.96m) are not getting the minimum paid leave entitlement they are due and over a million (1.145m) are not getting any paid leave at all.
TUC news release.
RESOURCES: Fatigue - a guide for health and safety representatives, TUC, 2016. Work and suicide: A TUC guide to prevention for trade union activists, TUC, 2019. More on health and safety and long working hours. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: Government must ban zero hours contracts, says TUC 
The TUC has renewed its call for a ban on zero hours contracts, after new official figures showed the numbers affected had reached a record high. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures reveal 974,000 people are now employed on a “zero hour contract” in their main job, representing a record 3.0 per cent of all people in employment.
TUC news release, blog and ban zero hours contracts petition. Employment in the UK: February 2020, ONS.
More on the work-related hazards of low pay and insecure work. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

[deadly bus] Britain: Inquiry call as Amazon UK warehouse injuries spike
Amazon warehouses have been hit by more than 600 serious injuries or near misses in the past three years, a GMB investigation has found. The shocking figures came to light in response to Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by GMB to local authorities across the UK.
GMB news release. BBC News Online. The Guardian. Morning Star. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: PM’s ‘zero’ leadership shambles undermines flood response
The firefighters’ union FBU has criticised the “shambles” of Boris Johnson’s flooding response, saying that he should be “ashamed” of the government’s failure to plan for floods in the long-term. The union said funding for fire and rescue services in England has been cut by £141.5m over the four-year local government finance settlement, covering 2016/17 to 2020/21, including a £3.2m cut to the services covering areas with severe “risk to life” flood warnings.
FBU news release. Environment Agency news release, update and related release. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: RMT strike plan as train safety goes south west
RMT has confirmed a further two days of strike action will take place on South Western Railway (SWR) after guards voted for industrial action for what the rail union described as an ‘historic’ sixth time. The union said the company’s ‘unremitting’ failure to give assurances that their new operational model won't move to driver controlled operation – which RMT said would leave the role of the guard ‘butchered completely’ – meant that further strike action was inevitable, in defence of the safety critical role of the guard.
RMT news release. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: RSPCA faces strike action over ill-treatment of staff
Staff at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) have voted for strike action over new ‘performance pay’ contracts. Unite said that its members had voted by 73 per cent to strike over the contracts, which the union states were being imposed arbitrarily by ‘bullying’ management.
Unite news release and open letter. Morning Star.
RESOURCES: Bullying at work: Guidance for workplace representatives, TUC, 2019. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: Usdaw urges MPs to back motion on shop violence
Retail trade union Usdaw is urging MPs to sign up to a House of Commons motion calling for a government clampdown on the soaring workplace violence facing retail staff. The House of Commons Early Day Motion (EDM) proposed by Labour MP Gareth Thomas urges the government to heed calls from the union and retail trade bodies to introduce a ‘stand-alone’ offence on violence against shopworkers.
Usdaw news release.
ACTION: Urge your MP to sign EDM 207 - Assaults on shopworkers – Gareth Thomas MP. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: Welsh health board signs TUC’s dying to work charter
Hywel Dda University Health Board has become the latest employer to sign up to the TUC’s Dying to Work Charter, a measure aimed at helping employees who become terminally ill at work. The Dying to Work campaign is seeking greater security for terminally ill workers, with the charter offering affected individuals additional employment protections when they need them the most.
TUC news release and Dying to Work Charter. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: Union summit sets out to beat prison violence
Understaffing in Britain’s prisons is a key factor in the soaring violence affecting staff and prisoners, the Joint Unions in Prisons Alliance (JUPA) has warned. A JUPA report last year highlighted a sharp rise in assaults on staff in prisons, up 12 by over a fifth (21 per cent) in 12 months, with an average of 28 assaults on staff every day.
PCS news release. UCU webpage on JUPA. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: Bad jobs link to ‘shocking’ life expectancy gap
Life expectancy has stalled for the first time in more than 100 years and even reversed for the most deprived women in society, according to a landmark review which shows the gap in health inequalities is yawning even wider than it did a decade ago. Sir Michael Marmot’s review, 10 years after he warned that growing inequalities in society would lead to worse health, calls on the government to reduce child poverty to 10 per cent, reduce “poor quality, low-paid and insecure” work, make sure the national living wage and benefits give people the minimum needed for a healthy life, and invest more in the most deprived areas.
Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On, Institute for Health Equity, February 2020; full report and executive summary. GMB news release.  The Guardian. BBC News Online. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: ‘Real changes’ needed to tackle NHS violence
It is ‘beyond unacceptable’ that violence and harassment of NHS workers has become the new normal, health service unions have said. The unions were commenting after newly released NHS Staff Survey figures revealed 15 per cent of NHS staff had experienced physical violence from members of the public and patients in the past year, rising to over a third (34 per cent) among ambulance trust staff.
Health secretary Matt Hancock’s letter to the workforce on violence against NHS staff. NHS Staff Survey publication notice. UNISON news release. GMB news release. NHS Confederation news release. Nursing Times. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: Samaritans drop ‘bullying’ chief exec choice
The Samaritans charity has abandoned the appointment of its new CEO after media reports that the Alzheimer’s Society paid out as much as £750,000 to staff who signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) during his tenure. Jeremy Hughes, whose appointment was opposed by Unite, will no longer take the helm at the suicide prevention charity from May following whistleblower allegations that he displayed bullying behaviour to staff and presided over a toxic culture at the dementia charity.
Unite news release. The Guardian and earlier article. Samaritans January 2020 news release on Jeremy Hughes’ appointment as CEO. ThirdSector. Civil Society News. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: Airlines must take action now on toxic cabin air
Airlines must take immediate action to stop ‘aerotoxic fume events’ occurring during flights, cabin crew union Unite has said. The union, which is taking several major airlines to court as a result of members suffering severe health effects caused by exposure to toxic cabin air, made the call after the dangers to pilots and cabin crew were highlighted in a BBC Radio File on Four programme.
Something in the air, File on Four, BBC Radio 4, 25 February 2020. Unite news release, aerotoxic campaign resources, fume events register, factsheet, poster and campaign card. US AFA fume event webpages.
EVENT: ‘Everybody flies’ aerotoxic syndrome documentary. UK cinema screening dates and locations in March 2020. Film trailer. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: Don’t penalise workplace injury victims, coalition warns
A broad coalition is urging the government to step back from plans to push more workplace injury cases through the small claims court process.  The a meeting in parliament, chaired by Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis and addressed by representatives of The Law Society, the British Safety Council and union law firm Thompsons, heard government measures intended to target spurious whiplash claims would also deny justice to genuine workplace injury victims.
Usdaw news release. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: HSE inspections follow welding cancer alert
The government’s workplace safety regulator is reminding employers that they must protect their workers’ health by controlling the risks from welding fume. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says its current programme of inspections will review health and safety standards across the country follow an HSE safety alert issued in February 2019 after new evidence showed exposure to mild steel welding fume can cause cancer.
HSE news release. Welding, Molybdenum Trioxide, and Indium Tin Oxide, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Volume 118.
RESOURCES: TUC guidance on occupational cancer prevention: Occupational Cancer - A Workplace Guide. ITUC/Hazards work cancer hazards blog. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: Director dodges jail after ignoring HSE stop work orders
The former director of a construction company has received a suspended prison sentence after ignoring official stop work orders on a potentially deadly site. Imtiaz Hussain, then a director of Bradford Builders (UK) Ltd, failed to comply with legally binding Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prohibition notices relating to unsafe work at height during roofing work on a new build house.
HSE news release. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: Discharge for boss who threatened HSE inspector
A waste site owner who abused and threatened a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector has received a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to a public order offence. The HSE inspector was conducting an inspection at a waste and recycling site belonging to Jacob Alexander Thompson in August 2019 Thompson, then crossed the yard towards the inspector, who was subjected to repeated verbal abuse and offensive language and was physically threatened when Thompson stepped towards him and raised his fist as he told him aggressively to leave.
HSE news release. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Britain: National Hazards Conference, 31 July-2 August 2020
The National Hazards Conference is the UK’s biggest organising and education event for trade union safety reps and activists. This year’s event, organised by the Hazards Campaign and to be held at the University of Keele in Stoke-on-Trent, will take place from 31 July to 2 August.
Sponsor the National Hazards Conference. Conference updates. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Global: Dock unions warn about lashing dangers
International transport unions have called upon ship operators to ensure lashing work is undertaken by shore-based dock workers. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) said that lashing – securing loads safely and securely – is expert work that should only be undertaken by trained dock workers rather than already over-stretched seafarers.
ITF news release. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Korea: Trade secrets law protects Samsung, not workers
Global electronics giant Samsung, which in 2018 made a public apology for the toxic workplace exposures that led to a spate of occupational diseases known to have killed over 100 workers in Korea (Risks 899), can keep its toxic secrets, the Seoul administrative court has ruled. Occupational disease victims’ advocacy group SHARPS, which has appealed the latest court decision, commented: “The latest ruling is in tune with a revised trade secret law that took effect on 21 February,” adding: “The amendment exempts companies from the disclosure of information on hazardous materials should they prove it as core national technology.”
SHARPS blog on trade secrets vs safety and related post. Risks 936. 29 February 2020

Hazards news, 22 February 2020

Britain: Dover congestion plans ignore lorry drivers’ welfare
The government’s latest plan for introducing a new system for dealing with potential Brexit-related disruption at Dover once again ignores the health and welfare of lorry drivers, the professional drivers’ union Unite has said. The union, which represents over 50,000 lorry drivers, has been seeking answers for over a year to drivers’ concerns about the lack of welfare provisions if there is major disruption on the roads towards Dover, either as a result of the introduction of customs checks or industrial action.
Unite news release. DfT news release. BBC News Online. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Britain: Government urged to tackle rowdy airline passengers
Ministers need to step in and tighten up the laws over how much passengers can drink at UK airports and on aircraft, Unite has said. The union, which represents 25,000 cabin crew employed by all carriers from British Airways to Ryanair, said the present system was ‘a regulatory mess’.
Unite news release. BBC News Online. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Britain: Union warns 999 IT failures are endangering lives
IT issues in North West and East Coast emergency fire control rooms are creating dangerous delays in emergency response times, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has warned. The union said it has issued five ‘safety critical notices’ to affected fire control centres demanding the problems are urgently addressed, in a week control rooms were struggling to handle a huge influx of storm-related calls.
FBU news release. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Britain: RMT calls strike action on Bakerloo line
Tube union RMT has confirmed its members are set to take two days of strike action on the Bakerloo line in a dispute over the impact on train drivers of ‘unworkable’ timetable changes. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “The bottom line is that you cannot place intolerable stress and pressure on Tube drivers that impacts on their safety-critical role and that is what this dispute is all about.”
RMT news release. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Britain: UNISON guides members on sex harassment prevention
Public sector union UNISON has said a tick box approach to sexual harassment prevention doesn’t work, because employers need to ‘walk the walk’. Launching new bargaining guidance for fighting sexual harassment at work, national women’s officer Josie Irwin told delegates at the union’s women’s conference: “Sexual harassment is against the law, but the law doesn’t stop it happening.”
UNISON news release and bargaining guidance for fighting sexual harassment at work.
TUC #ThisIsNotWorking campaign. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Britain: Prime minister needs to act on shop violence
The prime minister’s concerned words on violence against shopworkers need to translate into action, the union Usdaw has said. The union was commenting after Boris Johnson told the House of Commons, responded: “We should not tolerate crimes of violence against shopworkers or indeed anybody else.”
Prime minister’s questions, 12 February 2020. Usdaw news release. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Britain: Rising abuse of black NHS staff of ‘deep concern’
An increase in the bullying, harassment and abuse experienced black staff employed in NHS England is “disgraceful” and of “deep concern”, the public sector union UNISON has said. The union was commenting on latest Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) figures which revealed a deterioration across four of nine indicators, with the share of BME staff reporting bullying, harassment or abuse from patients, relatives or the public rose from 29.1 per cent in 2016 to 29.8 per cent in 2019.
NHS England news release, publication notice and WRES 2019 report, February 2020. UNISON news release and Race for equality campaign. Health Service Journal. Nursing Times. The BMJ. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Britain: ‘Disturbing’ mental health picture in film and TV jobs
Dignity at work must be at the heart of measures to address the mental health crisis in the film and TV industries, the union Bectu has said. The union was responding to a ‘disturbing’ report from The Film and TV Charity revealing the extent of the mental health problems blighting the sector, which found almost nine in ten (87 per cent) respondents had experienced mental health problems, compared to two-thirds (65 per cent) of the UK population and 55 per cent had considered suicide compared to the national average of 20 per cent and 10 per cent had attempted suicide.
The Film and TV Charity news release and Whole Picture Programme. The Work Foundation news release and full report. Bectu blog and Dignity at Work campaign.
RESOURCES: TUC guide to responding to harmful work-related stress. Tackling workplace stress using the HSE Stress Management Standards, TUC and HSE guidance for health and safety representatives. TUC workbook on mental health in the workplace. TUC mental health awareness training. TUC health, safety and wellbeing guide.
Hazards stress and mental health webpages and work-related suicide webpages. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Britain: Car retailer’s neglect led to occupational asthma
A car retailer operating across the South East of England has been fined after a car bodywork sprayer developed occupational asthma. West Hampshire Magistrates’ Court heard that, between October 2011 and March 2018, an employee of Harwoods Limited at Audi Southampton had been spraying paints containing isocyanates without adequate control measures in place.
HSE news release and work-related asthma webpages. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Britain: Engineering firm fined for lube dermatitis risks
An engineering company has been fined for failing to control the risk of its employees developing dermatitis as a result of exposure to metalworking fluid. West Hampshire Magistrates’ Court heard that, between October 2017 and January 2019, employees of Lymington Precision Engineers Co Limited were exposed to metalworking fluid while working on conventional machines such as lathes and milling machines on the company site in Limington, New Forest.
HSE news release and work-related dermatitis webpages. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Britain: Fishing firm fined £50,000 over crewman’s death
Marine fishing company MB Aquarius Ltd has been fined £50,000 for criminal safety offences that led to a crewman’s death nearly five years ago. Annang Neurtey was lost at sea after he was struck by a wire on board the 20-metre trawler Aquarius.
COPFS news release. Aberdeen Evening Express. Press and Journal. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Europe: Occupational cancer webinar, 12:00-1:00pm, 28 February
The European Cancer League (ECL), the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) are to run a special webinar on occupational health and the European Code Against Cancer on 28 February, from 12:00-1:00pm UK time. The groups say cancer is the number one work-related cause of death in the European Union, responsible for more than 100,000 deaths per year.
Occupational cancer webinar, 12:00-1:00pm UK time, 28 February. Register now. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Australia: Truck drivers in Aldi crash deaths protests
Hundreds of truck drivers took part in Australia-wide protests on 12 February demanding supermarket chain Aldi pay safe rates throughout its supply chain. The union TWU wants Aldi to raise its transport contract rates and standards to reduce the pressure on drivers and operators to cut corners in safety.
TWU news release. Fully Loaded. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Canada: Union calls for crackdown on corporate safety crimes
Major corporations and their directors must be held accountable for deadly workplace crimes, a Canadian union has said. USW national director Ken Neumann said: “Killing workers should never be part of the cost of doing business.”
USW news release and related news release. Canadian Lawyer Magazine. CBC News. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

India: Fire deaths denim factory had no way out
Workers in an Indian denim factory struggled to claw their way up a ladder to a door, their only exit as a fire blazed through fabric and machinery. Seven people died in the 8 February blaze. The factory where the fire occurred, Nandan Denim, has ties to major international retailers, according to its website.
AP News. Washington Post. New York Times. InStyle. Nandan Denim. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Switzerland: Nespresso workers won’t swallow more stress
Swiss union Unia has warned multinational Nestlé it will not tolerate changes that have left employees in the country’s Nespresso factories facing unbearable stress and fatigue. Members of the union demonstrated outside the company’s Lausanne base on 11 February to “denounce intolerable working conditions at the company's three Nespresso production sites in Switzerland.”
IUF news release. Risks 935. 22 February 2020.

Hazards news, 15 February 2020

Britain: Time to change law on sexual harassment
Almost 7 in 10 (68 per cent) people think the #MeToo movement has allowed people to be more open about sexual harassment, according to a new TUC poll. The union body is calling on the government to introduce a legal duty on employers to actively prevent sexual harassment at work.
TUC news release. Usdaw news release. Acas news release. Morning Star. BBC News Online.
A TUC alliance backed by more than 30 organisations has launched a petition calling on the government to change the law. Sign the petition. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: ‘Sick and tired’ bus drivers vote for strike action
The prospect of a London bus drivers’ strike later this year has moved closer as Unite members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a consultative ballot. The dispute, branded the ‘sick and tired’ campaign by the union, concerns the long hours, fatigue and exhaustion that bus drivers are experiencing due to poor scheduling of shifts, a lack of rest breaks, a deficiency of decent facilities for breaks, late finishing, a lack of running time and not being treated with respect.
Unite news release and Sick and Tired campaign. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: Coronavirus fears leave seafarers captive onboard
Seafarers who have visited Chinese ports are being barred from leaving their ships by countries fearing the spread of the coronavirus, UK seafarers’ union Nautilus has been told by a union whistleblower. A seafarer needs “off-signing” when they come to the end of their contract on a vessel and before they are allow a crew transfer and transport home. Nautilus says seafarers refused off-signing by a disembarkation country could be stuck onboard for many additional weeks, or months, depending on the vessel's schedule and disembarkation port.
Nautilus news release. ITF coronavirus advice and update. World Health Organisation (WHO) coronavirus advice. WHO statement. Department of Health statement. BBC News Online. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: As storms hit, spare a thought for the workers
Rail, maritime and transport union RMT and firefighters’ union FBU have highlighted the essential and under-appreciated role of the workers keeping Britain safe and mobile through ‘atrocious’ storm conditions. The storms and related high winds and flooding caused widespread disruption to road, rail and air travel.
RMT news release. FBU news release. BBC News Online. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: Dismay at government go slow on shop violence
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw has said it is ‘disappointed’ at the government’s foot-dragging response on the protection of retail workers, saying ‘words alone’ aren’t enough. Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis, commenting after a 11 February Westminster Hall debate secured by Mike Amesbury, the Labour MP for Weaver Vale, said said the union would continue to press for harsher penalties and a specific offence, adding: “Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”
Westminster Hall Debate, 11 February 2020. Usdaw news release and full response to the government call for evidence. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: ‘Toxic’ school environments bad for mental health
Excessive demands on education staff and the poor working practices they endure in schools and colleges are helping create a ‘toxic’ work environment, the teaching union NEU has said. The union, commenting on a UCL Institute of Education working paper published in late January, said the combination is leading to mental ill-health among both teachers and support staff.
NEU news release. Nuffield Foundation news release and UCL Institute of Education working paper. The Guardian. Personnel Today. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: Review confirms stress crisis in Scottish teachers
Scottish teaching union EIS has welcomed the publication of a review of the mental health and wellbeing of education staff. Commenting on the publication of findings of the NHS Health Scotland evidence review, EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said the “significant publication” highlights the absence of school-level interventions to support teachers' mental health, and makes clear that this failing can have a significant impact both on the wellbeing of teachers and, additionally, on the learning experience and educational outcomes of pupils.
EIS news release. Supporting teachers mental health and wellbeing, NHS Health Scotland, February 2020. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: Criminal charges possible over Grenfell - inquiry chair
Those involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower are facing possible charges of fraud and conspiracy to defraud, according to the chair of the public inquiry into the disaster that claimed 72 lives. Sir Martin Moore-Bick has told the attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, that during forthcoming hearings examining the marketing of the combustible cladding and insulation that spread the fire, witnesses are “very likely” to be asked to discuss issues involving potential fraud offences.
The Guardian. BBC News Online. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: Government ‘red tape challenge’ risks another Grenfell
Sajid Javid’s “Brexit red-tape challenge” will fuel the deregulation agenda that led to the Grenfell tragedy, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has warned. Javid, who resigned as chancellor in the days after the announcement, said he intended to use the Budget on 11 March to launch a public and business consultation to propose ways in which the British government could “improve or remove” EU laws.
Morning Star. Financial Times. The Telegraph. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: Rare work death jail term exposes justice shortfall
A rare occasion where a negligent employer was jailed for manslaughter has highlighted a widespread failure to hold negligent directors to account for deaths at work, a trade union body has said. TWL director Han Rao was sentenced to four years for the manslaughter of employee Marian Iancu at The Old Bailey in February, prompting a  statement from Waltham Forest Trades Council that noted: “Mr Rao is going to jail because TLW is a small business and identifying him as responsible was far easier than in much larger businesses” adding: “We need a legal system which acts as a deterrent for all organisations.”
Waltham Forest UNISON news release. Environmental Health News. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: Danger firms fined after worker dies in explosion
Materials Movement Ltd and PJ Labour Services Ltd have been fined after a 54-year-old worker was killed in an explosion at a London demolition site. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 16 March 2017, Stephen Hampton was killed when an old fuel storage tank he was cutting up exploded and the end of the vessel struck him, causing fatal injuries.
HSE news release. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: Defunct firm convicted after temporary worker death
A defunct London skip hire company has been fined £240,000 for criminal failures that led to a temporary worker being crushed to death. Stelian Florin Gavriliuc died while employed by Ace Waste Haulage in August 2017; the 24-year-old, who had only been with the firm for two weeks, was killed as he walked from his work station through the only exit open to employees and was crushed by a shovel loader vehicle that didn't see him.
Metropolitan Police news release. Kilburn Times. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: Police convicted after employee gets heart breaking shock
A police force has been fined after an employee received an electric shock whilst installing computer data cables. Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard that on the 16 October 2015, at Bridgend Police Station, a 48-year-old civilian South Wales Police employee sustained damage to his heart muscles when he came into contact with an exposed end of a live 3-core electrical cable which had been left in a ceiling void.
HSE news release. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Britain: Global giant fined after worker loses arm
A company that designs, manufactures and distributes construction materials has been fined after an employee suffered serious injuries, resulting in his left arm being amputated. The 48-year-old employee of Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK Limited, part of the global Saint-Gobain Group which has over 179,000 employees worldwide and had sales of 41.8 billion Euro in 2018 (£35.2bn), was seriously injured on 13 August 2017 when a rock handling belt failed at the company’s plant in Barrow-Upon-Soar, Leicestershire.
HSE news release. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Global: Growing hazard posed by illegal pesticide trade
Over the past two decades, the trafficking of highly toxic pesticides has quietly grown into one of the world’s most lucrative and least understood criminal enterprises, a report in Washington Post has revealed. Adulterated in labs and garages, hustled like narcotics, co-opted by gangs and mafias, counterfeit and contraband pesticides are flooding developed and developing countries alike, with environmental and social consequences that are “far from trivial,” the UN Environment Program reported last year.
Washington Post (subscription needed). Risks 934. 15 February 2020

USA: Industry wide silica clampdown begins
As the US government’s respirable crystalline silica (RCS) standard takes full effect, its safety regulator OSHA has beefed up its National Emphasis Program (NEP) to ensure compliance with the new, more stringent exposure standard. The 0.05mg/m³ exposure standard is twice as stringent the current UK standard of 0.1 mg/m³ and six times more protective for the lung-destroying dust disease silicosis.
OSHA news release and National Emphasis Program. EHS Today.
Biting the dust: HSE defends a silica standard six times more deadly, Hazards, number 148, December 2019.
ACTION: Send an e-postcard to HSE demanding it introduce a more protective UK silica standard no higher than 0.05mg/m³ and with a phased move to 0.025mg/m³. www.hazards.org/HSEstopkillingus. Risks 934. 15 February 2020

Hazards news, 8 February 2020

Britain: Diesel ‘fog’ footage spurs concern at rail depot cancers
Toxic diesel fumes emitted by trains at a Leeds rail depot could be linked to a number of staff members developing cancer in recent years, Unite has warned. The union said three staff members at the Neville Hill rail depot have developed cancers of the throat, with a fourth being diagnosed with throat and lung cancer and a further four staff members also developed cancers of the lung, mouth, bowel and kidney respectively.
Unite news release and video of the diesel exhaust emissions. Unite diesel emissions register. IARC Monographs – volume 105, Diesel and gasoline engine exhausts and some nitroarenes, 2012.
Yorkshire Evening Post. BBC News Online and video report.
Diesel exhaust in the workplace: A TUC guide for trade union activists, October 2018.
ITUC/Hazards work cancer hazards map, 2019. ITUC/Hazards work cancer hazards blog. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Poorly protected airport staff face coronavirus risk
The union GMB has called for better protection for airport staff after it emerged members had not been given some basic protections in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. GMB national officer Nadine Houghton, speaking after the first UK cases were confirmed by the authorities, said: “Surely protecting airport staff is the most important requirement to keep us all safe?”
GMB news release. Morning Star. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Global: Transport unions call for corona risk action
The global transport unions’ federation ITF is ‘closely following’ all advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency. ITF said: “We call on all governments and transport companies to implement all measures available to them to limit the risk of transmission of the deadly coronavirus to transport workers globally.”
ITF coronavirus advice and update. World Health Organisation (WHO) coronavirus advice. WHO statement. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Staff safety at coronavirus hospital must be protected
The welfare of health staff at Arrowe Park hospital, where those travelling from China are being quarantined because the coronavirus, needs to be a top priority, Unite has said. Unite regional officer Derek Jones said: “Unite is satisfied that this emergency is being dealt with in a professional manner, but we will be monitoring how the situation develops in the coming days as the welfare of NHS staff remains a key concern.” 
Unite news release. Resource: California interim guidance on protecting health care staff from the n-coronavirus, February 2020. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Grenfell suppliers request for immunity is ‘outrageous’
Unite has described as ‘absolutely outrageous’ the revelation that companies involved in supplying and installing the cladding blamed for the rapid and deadly spread of the Grenfell Tower fire are seeking immunity from prosecution before they give evidence. Representatives from organisations including cladding company Harley Facades, building contractor Rydon and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation made the application for the guarantee from Attorney General Geoffrey Cox that they will be protected.
Unite news release. BBC News Online. The Guardian. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Grenfell investigation must go right to the top
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry must look at the decades of deregulation that allowed fire safety at Grenfell to be undermined, the firefighters’ union FBU has demanded. It its opening submission to phase 2 of the inquiry, the union outlined three factors that rendered the UK’s regulatory regime as “unfit for purpose”, “facilitating the hazardous refurbishment” of Grenfell Tower, and impeding the London Fire Brigade’s ability to respond effectively to the fire.
FBU news release. The Guardian. Morning Star. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Hospital staff to get sick pay boost as jobs go in-house
A thousand low-paid porters, cleaners and catering staff at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London have won the right to be directly managed by the NHS, health service union UNISON has said. From 1 April the staff – who work in the trust’s five hospitals across the capital – will no longer be employed by private contractor Sodexo and will see their sickness allowances, pay and conditions brought in line with other health service workers, ending years of unfair treatment.
UNISON news release. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: ‘Lashings of despair’ over seafarer safety on docks
An international agreement that cargo handling should be carried out by trained dock workers rather than seafarers is being flouted in UK ports, the seafarers’ union Nautilus has warned. The union says reports from the port of Liverpool indicate that seafarers are being forced to undertake lashing work on some ships in unsafe conditions despite the introduction of agreement known as the 'Dockers Clause' on 1 January 2020.
Nautilus news release. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: NASUWT opens violence and abuse hotline for teachers
Teaching union NASUWT is opening a hotline for teachers across Wales to report by text or voicemail any concerns they have about pupil indiscipline. Neil Butler, NASUWT national official for Wales, said: “Teachers cannot teach and pupils cannot learn where there is violence and disruption,” adding: “All teachers are entitled to dignity at work and a safe working environment.”
NASUWT news release. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Amazon made £10bn profit, its workers paid the price
Online retailer Amazon made a ‘mammoth’ profit of over £10 billion last year off the back of its workers’ health, safety, pay and working conditions, the union GMB has charged. Figures released by the company show that the firm, which runs a string of giant ‘fulfilment centres’ across Britain, made £10.7 billion in global profits over the whole of 2019, with final the quarter profits hitting £3.1bn.
GMB news release. Amazon news release. Morning Star. CNBC News. BBC News Online. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Exhausted London bus drivers facing race to the bottom
Unite has warned London bus operators not to engage in a ‘race to the bottom’ by degrading drivers’ working conditions. The warning coincided with the union gearing up to hold a consultative ballot of all London bus driver members over long hours, fatigue and exhaustion.
Unite news release and Sick and Tired campaign. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Unite warns site skills card scheme is ‘not fit for purpose’
Construction union Unite has warned that massive backlogs mean the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) card system is ‘not fit for purpose’ and has demanded that there is cross-industry action to resolve the problems and ensure that workers are not denied employment. The cards ensure that contractors can verify the worker has the appropriate skills and qualifications to undertake work in a competent, safe and efficient manner.
Unite news release. Construction Enquirer and related story. NOCN Group statement and CPCS description. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Millions take sick leave because of ‘too painful’ work
Some 8.6 million people took sick leave last year because they found their jobs “too painful”, a survey has indicated, with even more feeling unable to take sick leave when too ill to work. Insight, a Fortune 500-ranked consulting firm, said its findings revealed a poor workplace culture drove both absenteeism and unhealthy behaviour in the UK workplace in the past year.
Insight news release. BBC News Online. Personnel Today. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Caring jobs linked to burnout and ‘compassion fatigue’
Social workers providing care and support to people in distress are at risk of developing compassion fatigue, which is a risk factor for a deterioration in their own mental health, according to a new study published in Occupational Medicine journal. The study found that compassion fatigue was a risk factor for the mental health of social workers and was also associated with higher rates of sickness absence, high staff turnover, low morale and impaired professional judgment.
G Kinman, L Grant. Emotional demands, compassion and mental health in social workers, Occupational Medicine, volume 69, issue 1, January 2020.
Special issue: Mental health and work, Occupational Medicine, volume 69, issue 1, kqz144, 31 January 2020. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Docs suffering from burnout and compassion fatigue
A study has found almost a third of UK doctors may be suffering from burnout, stress and compassion fatigue. A&E doctors and GPs are the most likely to feel burnt out and have the highest levels of exhaustion and stress, found the survey, published in the BMJ Open journal.
Nicola McKinley and others. Resilience, burnout and coping mechanisms in UK doctors: a cross-sectional study, BMJ Open, volume 10, issue 1, e031765, 2020. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: Boss jailed for four years after employee’s death
A company boss has been jailed after employee Marian Iancu, 39, was crushed to death by nearly half a tonne of glass panels. Han Rao was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for manslaughter following trial at the Old Bailey, and further sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for criminal breaches of health and safety laws, to run concurrently.
Metropolitan Police news release. Walthamstow Guardian. Barking and Dagenham Post. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Britain: HeartUnions week to press for end to workplace harassment
In 2020, the theme for the TUC’s national HeartUnions campaign will be standing against sexual harassment at work. The TUC is calling for unions to raise the profile of the harm caused by sexual harassment, and to use HeartUnions week, which runs from 10-16 February, to encourage non-members to get involved.
TUC HeartUnions news release and briefing. TUC #ThisIsNotWorking campaign.
ACTION: Sign up for the 7:00pm 10 February TUC call.
RESOURCES: The TUC has produced free HeartUnions resources for download. Pens, mugs, t-shirts and badges can be purchased from TUC’s online shop. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Global: Unions insert labour rights in development bank deals
Trade union action has delivered binding labour safeguards in multilateral development bank projects, the global trade union confederation ITUC has said. Its new manual now shows how unions can use these safeguards to fight for labour rights, including stringent occupational health and safety stipulations.
ITUC news release and guide, Labour standards at the multilateral development banks. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Korea: ‘Irresponsible’ Merck management led to worker suicide
After Merck Biopharma Korea shut down its general medicine (GM) division late last year, an employee who complained of being pressured to apply for an early retirement programme (ERP) took his own life, a union has reported. The worker was found dead on a playground near his home on 21 January this year.
Korea Biomedical Review.
RESOURCES: Work and suicide: A TUC guide to prevention for trade union activists. More on work-related suicide.
UK ACTION! Use the Hazards e-postcard to tell the HSE to recognise, record and take action to prevent work-related suicides. www.hazards.org/hsesuicide Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Pakistan: More deaths as mine safety crisis continues
The start of 2020 has seen increasing dangerous incidents and deaths in Pakistan’s coal mines, exposing the near non-existence of safety measures and continued negligence from the employers and the government, IndustriALL has warned. Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL mining director, commented: “According to published media reports, more than 430 coal mine workers have been killed since 2010, and this may even be an underestimation.”
IndustriALL news release. Risks 933. 8 February 2020

Hazards news, 1 February 2020

Britain: RMT demands immediate action on violence at work
Tube union RMT is stepping up its ‘Stop Violence Against Tube Staff’ campaign as ‘shocking’ new figures revealed assaults on staff have risen by almost a quarter over the past three years. Assaults on Transport for London (TfL) employees shot up from 505 in 2016 to 628 in 2019; knife-related violence against workers almost doubled, from 19 incidents in 2016 to 35 in 2019.
RMT news release. Morning Star. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Britain: Government urged to cut crime and protect shopworkers
Shopworkers’ trade union leader Paddy Lillis has called for government action after official figures revealed a 14 per cent increase in police recorded incidents of shoplifting in England and Wales over the last decade. Theft from shops is a main trigger for violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers, the union leader warned.
Usdaw news release. Police recorded crimes in England and Wales: year ending September 2019, ONS, 23 January 2020. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Britain: Bectu launches ‘Devil Wears Prada’ survey
Creative industries trade union Bectu is to investigate the abusive treatment commonly reported by fashion assistants. The union says it is keen to research the scale of the issue, which could reveal the industry’s failure to move on and shake off its ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ reputation for poor treatment of junior staff.
BECTU news release. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Britain: Scottish teachers quizzed on workload burden
A campaign by Scottish teaching union EIS that secured a 10 per cent increase in teacher salaries last year also discovered severe workload was a major concern, making it a top priority issue for the union. EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Following the success of the pay element of our campaign, the EIS has now refocused its campaigning work on tackling excessive teacher workload.”
EIS news release. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Britain: ScotRail HR boss accused of ‘bullying and union-busting’
Rail union TSSA has blasted ScotRail human resources (HR) director Gerry Skelton after he subjected a union officer to a tirade of abuse and then banned her from the company's headquarters. The abuse occurred when TSSA organiser Claire Johnston was carrying out a pre-arranged recruitment visit in ScotRail’s head office.
TSSA news release. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Britain: Hackney parking wardens strike over pay and safety
Parking wardens in the London borough of Hackney as set to strike for a week in February in a dispute over pay and their personal safety. Unite said its civil enforcement officer (CEO) members, employed by Apcoa Parking (UK) Ltd which runs the contract on behalf of Hackney council, will strike on from 10 February until Sunday 16 February.
Unite news release. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Britain: Conflicted Grenfell adviser resigns from inquiry
A recently-appointed Grenfell Tower fire inquiry panel member has resigned after she was linked to the charitable arm of Arconic, the firm that supplied the block's deadly cladding. Last week Grenfell United, the survivors and bereaved group that first discovered Benit Mehra’s link to Arconic, had insisted her position represented a conflict of interest and called for her to stand down had said it would make sure she went.
Grenfell Tower Inquiry 23 December 2019 update on Benita Mehra’s appointment and 25 January 2020 update on Benita Mehra’s resignation. Unite news release. BBC News Online. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Britain: Grenfell Tower inquiry told firms 'deny responsibility'
None of the companies involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower have accepted responsibility for the deadly fire, an inquiry has heard. Firms expressed “no trace” of accountability despite previous findings that the work did not comply with building regulations, counsel to the inquiry Richard Millett QC said.
The Guardian and related story. BBC News Online. Construction Enquirer.
Grenfell United. Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Britain: Ex-England footballer blames her dementia on headers
A pioneer of women's football has become the first female player to publicly blame her dementia on years of heading the ball. Sue Lopez, 74, was the first British woman to play semi-professionally abroad and represented England 22 times during a career spanning three decades.
BBC News Online. The Telegraph. Daily Mail. Pink Concussions. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Global: Facebook and YouTube moderators sign PTSD disclosure
Online content moderators are being asked to sign forms stating they understand the job could cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in a bid by social media giants to avoid personal injury liability. The moderators were sent documents that required to them to acknowledge the mental health risks of the role, with the statement noting: “It is possible that reviewing such content may impact my mental health, and it could even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”
The Verge and related article. Financial Times. BBC News Online. Technext.
RESOURCES: TUC guide to responding to harmful work-related stress. Tackling workplace stress using the HSE Stress Management Standards, TUC and HSE guidance for health and safety representatives. TUC workbook on mental health in the workplace. TUC mental health awareness training. TUC health, safety and wellbeing guide.
Hazards stress and mental health webpages and work-related suicide webpages. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Britain: Fiat UK showroom worker got deadly asbestos exposure
A woman who worked in the accounts department at a Fiat UK showroom has received asbestos cancer compensation after a court heard she was exposed to asbestos in the garage workshop over a period of 18 months. Rosalba Bhaloo, aged 70, worked in the offices at the showroom in Brentford, Middlesex, between 1972 and 1974.
Leigh Day Solicitors news release. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Britain: Time off for grieving needs to be extended further
Unite has called on the government to extend bereavement leave to those who have lost a close relative or suffered a miscarriage, to ensure the welfare and safety of those affected. The call came after the government announced that grieving parents will be entitled to two weeks statutory leave.
Department for Business news release. Unite news release. CBI news release. The Guardian. BBC News Online. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Global: Maritime bosses urged to heed union coronavirus guide
Seafarers have been advised to familiarise themselves with new global guidance on the fast-spreading coronavirus, which has created a containment lockdown in central China and prevented some ships from calling at the major trade hub Wuhan. Global transport workers’ union federation ITF has issued advice on the coronavirus, a never-before-seen virus that is reported to have mutated and is now transmissible from human to human.
Nautilus news release. Department of Health statement. WHO news release. Wall St Journal. BBC News Online. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Global: Bankruptcy ruse will hurt asbestos victims
DBMP LLC, an affiliate of US building materials maker CertainTeed LLC and part of the global Saint Gobain building products empire, has filed for bankruptcy in North Carolina, citing the ‘burden’ of tens of thousands of unresolved asbestos-related claims tied to products manufactured prior to 1993. Section 11 bankruptcy has been used by a number of US asbestos companies to reduce asbestos liabilities, often denying cancer victims the payouts they would otherwise receive.
Business Wire. Bloomberg.
Asbestos: Think Again. 'Business as Usual' Bankruptcies, EWG, 4 March 2004. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

USA: Climate crisis puts workers at deadly heat risk
Though the climate crisis is creating conditions where workers in the US are facing hotter temperatures on a more frequent basis, there are no federal safety protections for workers in extreme temperatures, and only three states, California, Washington and Minnesota, have heat stress workplace protection standards. According to projections conducted by the not-for-profit organisation Climate Central, the number of dangerous heat days for 133 US cities, will increase from 20 a year on average in 2000 to 58 in 2050.
The Guardian. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

USA: Sharp rise in suicide hits blue collar workers
The US government’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported a 40 per cent increase in working age suicides over the last two decades. Its analysis shows 38,000 persons of working age died by suicide in 2017, with blue collar workers at the highest risk of death by suicide, mirroring findings in the UK.
Peterson C, Sussell A, Li J, Schumacher PK, Yeoman K, Stone DM. Suicide Rates by Industry and Occupation — National Violent Death Reporting System, 32 States, 2016, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), volume 69, number 3, pages 57-62, 24 January 2020.  Local 12 News. Risks 932. 1 February 2020

Hazards news, 25 January 2020

Britain: Union and business say end zero hours
Leading figures from unions, business and community organisations have called for new rights for workers to end exploitation through zero hours contracts. A Zero in on Zero Hours event, held at the TUC’s Congress House HQ on 13 January, considered how unions, good employers and voluntary sector organisations can campaign together in 2020 to put an end to the injustice of zero hours contracts.
TUC news release and research on zero hours contracts. Thompsons Solicitors news release. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Casualised university staff are ‘second-class citizens’
Staff on casualised contracts in UK universities are vulnerable and invisible ‘second-class academics’, a new study has found. The report says universities’ statements about how much they value their staff ring hollow when put against how thousands of staff without secure contracts staff are treated.
UCU news release. Second class academic citizens, report for UCU, Nick Megoran and Olivia Mason, Newcastle University, January 2020. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Unions raise concern for safety of prison staff
The Joint Unions in Prisons Alliance (JUPA) has written to prisons minister Lucy Frazer QC, raising the ‘urgent issue’ of health and safety conditions for prison staff. The letter reads: “Our members are raising growing concerns about threats to their health and safety at work, and the impact this has on their ability to perform their professional roles safely and effectively.”
UNISON news release. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Prison riot shows the cost of government inaction
A failure by the government to introduction better protection for prison officers contributed to the escalation of a prison riot, the union POA has said. The union was commenting after prisoners at HMP Stocken rioted on Mike Wing on 18 January, in an incident that saw a prison officer attacked from behind by a prisoner yielding a pool ball in a sock.
POA news release. BBC News Online. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Tube protests in union violence campaign
London Underground union RMT is challenging Transport for London (TfL) to address its ‘continuous failure’ to take proper steps to tackle the workplace violence faced by its members at London Underground (LUL) stations. A 21 January protest outside TfL’s London HQ was timed to coincide with a meeting of LUL’s Workplace Violence Group.
RMT news release. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Safety warning on unstaffed rail stations
Only 10 per cent of railway stations are fully staffed, 45 per cent are only staffed some of the time and a ‘massive’ 45 per cent of stations are totally unstaffed, research by the transport union RMT has found. The report reveals that every year millions of passengers pass through stations which are unstaffed for part or all of the day.
RMT news release. Staff our Stations (SOS) campaign. Early Day Motion #38.  ORR – Estimates of Station Usage. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Stressed out teachers strike at Bridgend school
Teachers at Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School in Bridgend have taken the first of four planned days of strike action this month over the ‘detrimental and inappropriate’ treatment of NASUWT members which the union says is affecting their health and welfare. Commenting ahead of the 15 January walk out, NASUWT leader Chris Keates said: “Members have reported extremely high levels of work-related stress and anxiety as a result of unrealistic expectations and unreasonable deadlines being imposed on them.”
NASUWT news release. BBC News Online. Wales Online. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: New building safety regulator to be run by HSE  
The Health and Safety Executive is to set up a new building safety team immediately, ahead of a new law requiring the formation of the Building Safety Regulator. The new regulator, which will operate from within HSE, will “be at the heart” of the government’s “biggest change in building safety for a generation.”
Ministry of Housing news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Buildings regulator ‘must be properly resourced’
The new Buildings Safety Regulator, to be based in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), must be given the resources to do its job properly, the TUC and HSE inspectors’ and specialists’ union Prospect have said. Prospect warned that “cuts in recent years have left the HSE struggling to fulfil its functions and to recruit and retain skilled staff.”
Prospect news release. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: PM vows to look into his ‘scandalous’ Grenfell inquiry pick
Boris Johnson has told Grenfell survivors he will investigate the role of a key member of the public inquiry after it was revealed she had links to the company that made the tower’s deadly cladding. The prime minister met representatives of the Grenfell community at a pre-arranged visit to Downing Street on 16 January after it emerged that Benita Mehra was previously president of a charity that received a £71,000 donation from the philanthropic arm of Arconic, the US firm that made the panels found to be the main cause of fire spread.
The Guardian. Morning Star. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: One in six have been bullied recently at work
A quarter of employees think their company turns a blind eye to workplace bullying and harassment, according to a report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Although 15 per cent have experienced bullying in the past three years, more than half of them did not report it to the firm.
CIPD news release and Managing conflict in the workplace report, 21 January 2020. BBC News Online. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Warning on deadly pressures on gig economy couriers
RoSPA has launched new guidance aimed at helping self-employed gig economy workers, such as couriers and taxi drivers, stay safe on the road. The safety charity’s new guide stresses the importance of maintaining bicycles and motor vehicles, how to avoid experiencing fatigue while on the road, and how to drive and ride safely in the dark.
RoSPA news release and Driving and riding for work in the gig economy factsheet. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Boss faked dead worker’s signature after fatal fall
Contracts manager Mark Bray, 49, who forged a dead worker’s signature after he was killed in a fall through a broken roof at work, has been jailed for two years. Kenneth Drake, 54, suffered mortal head injuries when the roof he was working on collapsed and he fell to the floor below.
Greater Manchester Police news release. Liverpool Echo. Cheshire Live. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Dad killed in ‘tragic and wholly avoidable’ incident
Chesterfield Special Cylinders Ltd, a subsidiary of engineering firm Pressure Technologies, has been fined £700,000 after 64-year-old John Townsend was fatally wounded by shrapnel ejected from testing equipment. The father-of-two was due to retire the week after the incident.
Unite news release. HSE news release. Thompsons Solicitors news release. Sheffield Star. Yorkshire Post. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Site firm fined after worker crushed by concrete slab
A construction company has been fined half a million pounds after a father-of-two was killed when a re-enforced concrete slab collapsed underneath him during a demolition job. Southwark Crown Court heard that on 14 April 2014, 33-year-old labourer Dainius Rupsys from Lithuania was working with an excavator operator at the McGee Group Limited site in London’s Grosvenor Square, as part of the operation to demolish the existing multi-storey building before 31 residential flats could be built.
HSE news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Britain: Get resourced up for biggest ever 28 April campaign day!
New resources for International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April 2020, including stickers ribbons and posters, can now be ordered from the national Hazards Campaign. The 28 April 2020 campaign theme will be ‘tackling psychosocial hazards at work – taking the stress out of the job’; tag lines for the union-led event, which has become the world’s biggest health and safety campaign day, include ‘Unions - Fighting for hearts and minds’.
Hazards Campaign blog and 28 April 2020 order resources.
Email the details of your 28 April 2020 plans to the TUC at: healthandsafety@tuc.org.uk
ITUC/Hazards 28 April 2020 International Workers’ Memorial Day website. TUC Workers’ Memorial Day pages. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Australia: Deadly silica disease ‘worst crisis’ since asbestos
The rate at which stonemasons in Australia are contracting a deadly dust-related lung disease has almost doubled in a year, new figures have revealed. But while Australian unions have been campaigning for a stricter exposure standard for silica dust, the stone industry is pressing the federal government to allow it to ‘self-regulate’.
Courier Mail. Daily Mail.
We are union OHS reps petition. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

China: Officials punished for burying blast death toll
A total of 29 officials have been punished after the death toll in a factory blast in central China's Hunan Province was intentionally underreported, the state media agency Xinhua has reported. The number of fatalities in the 4 December 2019 explosion at a workshop of a fireworks company in the city of Liuyang was initially given as seven, but the provincial authorities later confirmed 13 people were killed.
Peoples’ Daily. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Ireland: Union demands access to sites as deaths spike
The Irish construction union SIPTU has called for its organisers to be granted a legal right of access to building sites across the country following a doubling in the number of construction workers who died in workplace incidents. SIPTU sector organiser John Regan said: “The government must act to ensure greater safety on building sites by amending the 2005 Health and Safety Act to give union organisers access to all building sites.”
SIPTU news release. HSA news release. Risks 931. 25 January 2020

Hazards news, 18 January 2020

Britain: Exhausted bus drivers prepare for strike action
Bus drivers’ union Unite is warning that London could face gridlock if exhausted bus drivers have to resort to industrial action later this year. Unite is demanding a ‘revolution’ in how bus driving is scheduled to ensure that drivers can finish on time, are able to utilise all of their breaks, work to proper schedules, have enough running time to complete their journey, are treated with respect and receive proper training.
Unite news release. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Electric bus sound could pose dangers warns Unite
The new sound chosen for London’s electric buses creates dangers for road users and pedestrians as it sounds nothing like a traditional bus, the drivers’ union Unite has warned. The sound, which is being trialled through January 2020, has been described as “like a spaceship”.
Unite news release. Wired. Evening Standard. Traffic Technology Today. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Stab vests being trialled for cash-in-transit crews
In the face of a rise in knife crime, the union CWU has welcomed a trial of stab vests for workers delivering cash and valuables to post offices. “All workers in at-risk occupations must have the best available protections,” said CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey.
CWU news release. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: ‘Cowardly’ attack on prison officers condemned
Prison officers’ union POA has condemned a ‘vicious and cowardly’ attack on prison officers at HMP Whitemoor on 9 January 2020. Two prisoners on ‘A’ Wing at the high security prison attacked a prison officer from behind with bladed weapons. POA general secretary Steve Gillan said the union will continue to work with the government and employers “to eradicate the disgraceful attacks on our members throughout the criminal justice system, but we also expect the police, Crown Prosecution Service and the courts to deal with violence against Prison Staff in a robust and effective manner.”
POA news release. BBC News Online. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Action call after Winchester prison violence spike
Prison officers at Winchester prison have demanded urgent action after an inspectors’ report said that violence had “increased” at the notorious jail and safety remained a “major concern.” The inspection, carried out last June and July and whose findings were published on 7 January, found high levels of violence, self-harm and suicides over the past three years, with a “significant deterioration” in conditions during that time.
HM Inspector of Prisons news release. Morning Star. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Fire emergency call mergers ‘unsafe and unsustainable’
The firefighters’ union FBU has issued a ‘safety critical notice’ after Surrey and West Sussex control rooms were merged, without an increase in staff. The union is concerned that emergency fire control staff cannot handle the current volume of 999 calls, and is calling on Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to address the “significant risk to both public and firefighter safety.”
FBU news release. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Hoax ambulance calls are stressing out call handlers
Ambulance trusts have been flooded with at least 42,000 hoax calls in just three years leaving overloaded staff stressed out, a GMB investigation has revealed. GMB national officer Rachel Harrison commented: “Like paramedics and ambulance workers, our NHS call handlers are desperately trying to save lives while years of Conservative cuts leave them underpaid, overworked and underappreciated.”
GMB news release. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: 'Not enough' being done to protect emergency workers
More violent individuals who assault emergency service workers need to be brought to justice, the union GMB has said.  The union was commenting after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) revealed 20,000 offenders were charged between November 2018 and November 2019 under the 'Protect the Protectors' legislation, which was passed following a long campaign by unions including GMB.
GMB news release. CPS news release. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Bin collectors vote for action over safety concerns
Bin collectors in Sandwell have voted for industrial action after private outsourcing company Serco urged workers to ignore the company’s own safety rules. The ballot saw members vote to take action short of strike – effectively working to rule.
GMB news release. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Teaching union launches new work health drive
Scottish teaching union EIS has published a new resource to promote health and wellbeing for teachers. It says its online guide is intended to support the union's current ‘Time to Tackle Workload’ campaign.
EIS news release and guide, A teacher health and wellbeing resource. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Northumbria Police sign Dying to Work charter
Northumbria Police and the Northumbria office of the Police and Crime Commissioner have signed the TUC’s Dying to Work Charter, on behalf of over 5,000 police officers and police staff. Ben Priestley, UNISON national officer with the police and justice group, welcomed the Northumbria announcement as “great news”.
UNISON news release. Dying to Work campaign. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Suffering stonemason’s plea for action on deadly silica dust
A former stonemason suffering from lung disease is calling for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to introduce a tighter occupational exposure standard for crystalline silica dust. In 2014, David Wood was diagnosed with silicosis, a condition caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust that leads to hardening and scarring of the lungs.
Irwin Mitchell news release. David’s story is examined in detail in the new issue of the union safety journal Hazards. See: Biting the dust: HSE defends a silica standard six times more deadly, Hazards, number 148, December 2019.
ACTION: Send an e-postcard to HSE demanding it introduce a more protective silica standard no higher than 0.05mg/m³ and with a phased move to 0.025mg/m³. www.hazards.org/HSEstopkillingus. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Investing in worker health leads to ‘productivity boost’
Over 90 per cent of companies investing in employee health and wellbeing have seen workforce productivity increase and an improvement in workforce relations, research by the manufacturing employers’ group Make UK has found. Tim Thomas, Make UK’s director of labour market and skills policy, said “there is still a lot more to be done and manufacturers must continue to work hard to put health and wellbeing at the heart of their business plans.”
Make UK news release. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Killed within hours of starting new job
A vehicle recovery and repair company has been fined for a criminal safety breach after a new worker suffered fatal crush injuries during maintenance work, only hours after he had started his new job. Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard that on 24 November 2014, Albert Road Recovery and Repair Limited employee John Glenn, 56, was fatally injured when a rigid vehicle fell suddenly from an inadequate axle support prop at its premises in Coventry.
HSE news release. Fleet News. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Delivery drivers ‘less valuable than the food they carry'
Jeremy Corbyn has joined delivery drivers in demanding an end to the gig economy after a moped rider was stabbed to death in London. The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visited the scene of the knife attack in Finsbury Park where a 30-year-old man named locally as Taki Dine was killed on the evening of 3 January, noting delivery drivers are “often on zero hours contracts, yet the food they are carrying is insured… So the delivery driver is less valuable than the food they are carrying.”
Evening Standard. Daily Mail. Morning Star. BBC News Online.  ITV News. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Builder injured working on McAlpine director’s house
Construction giant Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd has been fined £260,000 for criminal safety breaches after a worker fell 4.8 metres through an unprotected opening while working on the house of a McAlpine’s director. Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 28 April 2016, Mark Smith, 36, was working at Stone Gappe Hall, Lothersdale, Keighley, owned by Richard McAlpine, a director of the McAlpine group of companies.
HSE news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Britain: Baggage handler suffers brain injury in fall from plane
An airport ground support company has been fined for a criminal safety breach after a baggage handler suffered a brain injury when she fell from a height of more than two metres. Luton Magistrates’ Court heard that on 24 December 2016 Rebecca Smith, an employee of Menzies Aviation (UK) Limited, was injured as luggage was being loaded onto an aircraft at London Luton Airport.
HSE news release. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Global: Making women visible in health and safety
Greater efforts are needed to make sure occupational risks to women are taken into proper account, the global food and farming union federation IUF has said. Launching its new guide, IUF notes “a gendered approach” to occupational health and safety “emphasises that it is the employers' responsibility to make the workplace safe for every worker and exposes the dangers of behaviour-based safety, which makes the individual worker responsible for workplace safety.”
IUF news release and full guide, Making women visible in occupational health and safety, January 2020. The guide is available in English, French and Spanish editions. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Cambodia: Concern as building collapse kills 36 workers
The collapse of a seven-storey building in the small coastal town of Kep in Southern Cambodia on 3 January has killed 36 workers, authorities have confirmed. Ambet Yuson, general secretary of the global construction union federation BWI, commented: “We strongly call on the government of Cambodia to work closely with the Building and Wood Workers’ Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC) to hold those responsible accountable and to increase and strengthen safety and health inspections to prevent further accidents across the country.”
BWI news release. Jakarta Post. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Canada: Mountie’s suicide exposes ‘deficient’ management
An internal report that reviewed the suicide death of a constable in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and its aftermath has concluded the force doesn't know nearly enough about the problem of suicide in the ranks. An internal report concluded a national study should look into the work and life factors that put Mounties’ mental health at risk, and should find out whether they “are succumbing to mental illness for endemic reasons within the control of or further influence by the employer.”
CBC News. More on work-related suicides.
UK ACTION: Use the Hazards e-postcard to tell the HSE to inspect for work-related suicide risks and to investigate and require the reporting of suicides suspected to be work-related. www.hazards.org/hsesuicide. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

USA: Call for employers to act on work suicides
A trio of US advocacy groups is calling on employers to take a proactive role in suicide prevention in the workplace. American Association of Suicidology executive director Colleen Creighton said: “We aim to change the culture of workplaces to reduce elements that cause job strain like sleep disruption, job insecurity and low job control – things shown to be connected to suicide risk,” adding: “We know these guidelines will not only save lives, but will also alleviate intense emotional suffering by making changes to systems while helping individuals in the workplace.”
National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention, American Association of Suicidology (AAS), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and United Suicide Survivors International, October 2019. AAS news release. Safety and Health Magazine.
UK ACTION: Use the Hazards e-postcard to tell the HSE to inspect for work-related suicide risks and to investigate and require the reporting of suicides suspected to be work-related. www.hazards.org/hsesuicide. Risks 930. 18 January 2019

Hazards news, 11 January 2020

Britain: Union power can protect jobs, health and safety
After civil service union PCS successfully fought off privatisation of the Land Registry (HMLR) in 2016, it set out to negotiate new and “meaningful agreements and practices” - and the union says this delivered ‘real progress’ on health and safety. PCS Land Registry group vice president Dave Lunn said the union had negotiated a formal agreement with the employer built on that successful campaign and high membership density levels.
PCS news release.
Resources: The Union Effect: How unions make a difference on health and safety. Organising for health and safety: A TUC guide for reps. More on the union safety effect. TUC guide to responding to harmful work-related stress. Tackling workplace stress using the HSE Stress Management Standards, TUC and HSE guidance for health and safety representatives. TUC workbook on mental health in the workplace. TUC mental health awareness training. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: Big majority wants government to improve workers’ rights
Two-thirds of voters want the Conservative government to ban zero hours contracts, a poll has found. The public also wants workers’ rights protected after Brexit and tax rises for higher earners, according to the survey for the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
TUC news release. Prime minister’s office news release and Queen’s Speech background document. The Independent. The Guardian. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: Union concern for workplace safety post-Brexit
The Conservative government must not reduce safety protections as part of its post-Brexit strategy, the union EIS has said. The Scottish teachers’ union was commenting on the publication of its latest work-related injury compensation figures. It said last year the figure secured for its members was £290,700, significantly higher than the 2018 figure of just under £230,000.
EIS news release. BBC News Online. Morning Star. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: Demolition workers ‘pay with their lives’ for lax safety
Unite has said 2020 must bring safety improvements for demolition workers following a high number of fatalities and serious incidents this year. The construction union said it would be writing to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to demand that the incidents are investigated properly and lessons implemented.
Unite news release. Construction Enquirer. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: POA to appeal after safety action ban upheld
Prison officers will appeal against a court judgment that fined their union £210,000 after they took part in protest action, the union POA has said. The prison officers’ union was commenting after a divisional court judgment published on 19 December 2019 backed the government, which had instructed government lawyers to apply for a Contempt of Court against the POA to block action by members over imminent safety fears in prisons.
POA news release. Morning Star. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: RMT exposes ‘massive’ violence against transport workers
Almost threequarters (72 per cent) of frontline transport workers have experienced workplace violence in the last year, a survey by the union RMT has found. Of these, nearly 90 per cent had been subjected to violence on multiple occasions.
RMT news release. The Independent. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: Nissan worker gets payout for job ending work pain
A Newcastle car factory worker who developed a painful repetitive strain injury that forced him to give up his job has secured compensation with backing from his trade union, Unite. Plant operative Colin Reay, 42, was asked to switch departments at the Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd plant in Sunderland to cover for staff shortages.
Thompsons Solicitors news release. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: Government must ‘get health and safety done’    
The professional body for safety and health specialists has called for the Conservative government to “get health and safety done” by committing to the protection of workers’ rights and ‘future-proofing’ the UK’s health and safety system. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) said the government must provide assurance on health and safety for the 2020s, maintain its focus on eradicating human trafficking and modern slavery and deliver upon its sustainability commitment by ensuring safety and health is at the heart of its proposed ‘infrastructure revolution’ and the creation of two million new, high-quality jobs in clean growth.
IOSH news release and IOSH Manifesto, Towards a safe and healthy world of work, highlights key OSH themes for UK and other Governments to help ensure a safe, healthy and sustainable future. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: Reports an ‘indictment’ of government fire service failures
Official reports on Britain’s fire services have confirmed the existence of a ‘postcode lottery’ on emergency cover, the firefighters’ union FBU has warned. Responding to the third tranche of inspections from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “This tranche of reports is a complete indictment of the government’s dangerous complacency over the risk of fire, flooding, and other hazardous incidents.”
FBU news release. HMICFRS news release. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: Fedex UK Ltd fined £500k after forklift truck injury
Parcel carrier Fedex UK has been fined for criminal safety failings after an employee was seriously injured when he was struck by a forklift truck. Cannock Magistrates’ Court heard that in the early morning of 2 November 2017, an employee was walking across a depot when he was struck by a reversing forklift.
HSE news release. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: Director sentenced after ignoring HSE notices
A construction company director has been ordered to undertake community service and has been given a suspended jail term for a criminal safety offence. Tahir Ahmed pleaded guilty to a criminal safety offence and was sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, 180 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay full costs of £5,060.69; All Type Electrical and Building Limited was fined £60,000 and full costs of £5,216.46.
HSE news release. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Britain: Construction must change to end modern slavery
The construction union Unite is calling for fundamental changes in the way that the construction industry is organised and for the introduction of licensing of gangmasters. The union call came in response to an investigation conducted jointly by Construction News and BBC Three, who used undercover journalists from the UK and Romania to reveal the extent of modern day slavery in construction.
Unite news release. Construction News. BBC Three. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Global: Trump trade deal pressure shows toxic risk for Britain
UK government assurances that workplace safety and environmental standards won’t be on the table during trade negotiations with the Trump administration have been thrown into doubt by the equivalent talks between the US and Thailand. In December 2019, Southeast Asia's second-largest economy suspended an imminent move to ban three highly hazardous agrochemicals after the Trump administration announced wide-ranging tariff exemptions on Thai exports to the US would be lifted, with potentially serious financial implications for Thai industries.
Nikkei. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Global: 28 April 2020 - fighting for hearts and minds
The global union confederation ITUC has announced the theme for 28 April 2020: ‘Tackling psychosocial hazards at work – taking the stress out of the job’. This year’s International Workers’ Memorial Day activities will highlight the harm caused by occupational stress and related conditions, including depression, anxiety, burnout, work-related alcohol and drug misuse and work-related suicides.
ITUC/Hazards 28 April 2020 International Workers’ Memorial Day website. TUC Workers’ Memorial Day pages. Email the details of your events the TUC at: healthandsafety@tuc.org.uk
RESOURCES: TUC guide to responding to harmful work-related stress. Tackling workplace stress using the HSE Stress Management Standards, TUC and HSE guidance for health and safety representatives. TUC workbook on mental health in the workplace. TUC mental health awareness training. TUC health, safety and wellbeing guide.
Hazards stress and mental health webpages and work-related suicide webpages. Hazards ‘heartbroken’ poster.
HSE ‘reporting a concern’ update, advice on How to report a work related stress concern, Tackling stress workbook, stress management standards and other HSE workplace stress resources. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

France: Telcom bosses jailed over workers’ suicides
Three former bosses of a privatised French telecoms giant have been jailed for crimes related to a spate of worker suicides. Didier Lombard, the ex-CEO of French Telecom, and two former executives were jailed on 20 December 2019 over a restructuring policy linked to suicides among employees in the 2000s.
CFE-CGC news release (in French). Orange news release. Vice. Morning Star. The Guardian. New York Times. BBC News Online. ABC News.
Suicide note: Global experts tell HSE to address work-related suicide risks, Hazards, Number 149, December 2019.
ACTION! Use the Hazards e-postcard to tell the HSE to recognise, record and take action to prevent work-related suicides. www.hazards.org/hsesuicide
Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Asia: Development bank backtracks on asbestos use
In a remarkable about face, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said it will now “refrain from financing any new projects containing any presence of asbestos” from 2020. The move followed media exposure of its failure to ban use of asbestos in the projects it financed. A number of countries in the region remain prime markets for the asbestos industry, some recently increasing their use of asbestos.
ABC News. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

Peru: Teens electrocuted at McDonald's
The beverage machine which killed the two teenage workers in a McDonald’s restaurant in Peru was known to be faulty, the franchise’s general manager has admitted. Alexandra Porras, 18, and Carlos Gabriel Campo, 19, were electrocuted while cleaning the kitchen at the fast food outlet in Lima on 15 December 2019.
IUF news release. The Mirror. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

USA: Boeing boss fired as plane crash crisis deepens
The head of aerospace giant Boeing has been fired after the company faced escalating criticism of its response to fatal crashes involving its 737 Max airliners. In a statement announcing the departure of its CEO Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing said the board had “decided that a change in leadership was necessary to restore confidence in the company moving forward as it works to repair relationships with regulators, customers, and all other stakeholders.”
Boeing statement. The Independent. Daily Mail. Risks 929. 11 January 2020

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