Coronavirus Q & A

As the coronavirus has spread and dominated the news, UNISON has received an increasing number of enquiries on what employers – and members – should do to minimise the risk of infection at this worrying time. The issues and risks will vary depending on the sector you are working in, so UNISON has been proactive in negotiating jointly agreed advice in a number of sectors. General advice on what coronavirus (COVID-19) is, how it is spread, and basic hygiene to minimise the spread of the disease is available from the Public Health England (PHE) Website Basic hygiene includes: Washing your hands regularly, particularly after using the toilet, before eating and using public transport Keeping surfaces clean Avoiding unnecessary touching of eyes, nose and mouth particularly with unwashed hands Blowing your nose with disposable tissues and disposing of them in secure bins Avoiding unnecessarily close contact (under two metres) with those who may be infected. What should workers do if they believe they may have the symptoms of, or have had close contact with someone who has had, COVID-19? In either circumstance workers should be encouraged to self-isolate, and stay away from work. They should normally call NHS 111 for advice, except in an emergency, when they should ring 999. Until a case is confirmed current advice is that the employer need not apply special restrictions or special control measures, and neither is there a need to close the workplace. The most up to date advice ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Article health health and safety Source Type: news