Coronavirus Covid-19 Network Rail

Our Ref: HSR/1/3
Head Office Circular: NP/197/21
4th June 2021
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

CORONAVIRUS – COVID-19 – NETWORK RAIL

Network Rail’s Chief Health and Safety Office wrote to me with regard to alignment to step four of the Government COVID roadmap.

He informed me that the company was planning to remove the final stages of its COVID emergency arrangements on 21st June in line with the published road map, in particular:

• NR/L3/MTC/CP009 COVID-19 Contingency Plan: Safe Working Practices
• Manual NR/L2/MTC/CP008 (COVID-19 Works Contingency Plan)
• Safe Work Principles for Network Rail Staff & Contractors

He informed me that the company would retain certain controls to enable staff to be re-assured that our workplaces remain safe. As examples these were likely to include thermal imaging cameras to check staff temperature on arrival at work, cleaning regimes, hygiene stations, one way systems, desk booking apps and agile working arrangements.

The company would continue to align with government advice, should circumstances change in light of emerging variants and/or restrictions it would continue to put its staff’s health and safety first by adapting our processes where necessary.

Your National Executive Committee, at its meeting on 3rd June, noted and adopted the following report from its RIRG/RICF Sub-committee:

We note the correspondence on file from Network Rail.

The General Secretary is instructed to write to Network Rail noting its proposal and questioning its timeline, as it is not yet clear that the restrictions will be lifted as of 21st June across Great Britain. Further, demanding that it fully engages with RMT representatives via the appropriate National Councils in order to ensure that the removal of emergency arrangements is not rushed, and that arrangements and contingency plans are appropriate to the circumstances and adaptable in light of emerging variants and/or restrictions being put back in place.

This to apply to circumstances appropriate to the Nations and specific regions as the situation develops.

Branches and Regional Councils to be informed.

I am acting in accordance with these instructions. Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members.

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
General Secretary