COVID Pandemic

Head Office Circular NP/01/21
Our Ref: HSR/1/3
4th January 2021
The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague

COVID PANDEMIC

Branches, activists and members will be aware of government and media reports over the last few weeks concerning a new coronavirus variant and the increased risks of disease transmission. RMT advice with regards to protecting workers has not changed as the same control measures remain the most effective in reducing transmission whichever strain of the virus is encountered.

Personal hygiene – wash your hands more regularly for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; cover your cough or sneeze with tissue and dispose in a bin; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects.
Social distancing – keep a safe (2m) distance from people outside your home.

If you cannot work from home your employer has a duty to provide you with a safe working environment that should take these points into consideration and make necessary alterations to the working environment and work processes to protect you.

RMT advice for all groups and grades of workers is available at:

https://www.rmt.org.uk/about/covid-19/?preview=true

Some groups of workers in the RMT do have to come into contact with members of the public who may be infected with the virus and for these workers the protections offered by the employer are vital. If individual members have concerns that their employer is not doing enough to protect them then they should, in the first instance, contact their local RMT representative who will be able to assist members.

Members are further advised that they are protected under the law from suffering detriment if they have a reasonable belief that they are faced with a situation of serious or imminent danger. RMT publish advice in this regard which can be found at:

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/publications/serious-and-imminent-danger-booklet/

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary