Lone Working Servest Staff

Our ref: HSR/2/25

Head Office Circular: NP/148/23

22^nd August 2023

To: The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES

REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague,

 

LONE WORKING SERVEST STAFF

 

Your Disabled Members’ Conference submitted the following resolution:

 

We, the Cleaning Grade members of Plymouth No.1 Rail Branch are upset and angry at the enforced practice the company continue to operate with regards to employees working on their own during industrial action. 

 

When GWR take industrial action, cleaning staff are left with no point of contact or anybody to report to. 

 

We instruct the General Sectary and the National Executive Committee to look into this issue and unsafe practice of leaving Servest Cleaners to 'fend for themselves'. 

 

We also call on our Health and Safety team to look at this unsafe staff practice as it impacts particularly those with underlaying medical conditions and all staff in general. 

 

If this practice is allowed to carry on we believe that is only a matter of time before there is a very serious accident or incident involving a Cleaning Grade member. It is paramount that this practice is stopped immediately so as to ensure the safety of all Cleaning Grade members are upheld.

 

At its Statutory meeting on 10^th August 2023, you National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee:

 

We note the actions outlined in the resolution and instruct the General Secretary to carry out the resolution accordingly.

 

Branch and Regional Councils to be advised.

 

I am acting in line with these instructions. I am demanding a lone working risk assessment from GWR and that safety reps are to be included in such a risk assessment by the company.

 

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary