​Some employers only paying lip service to Black staff ’ s fears

Employers in the public sector must ensure all staff have robust, up to date risk assessments to protect the health and lives of Black workers as coronavirus infections rise, says UNISON today (Friday). It follows newly published UNISON research showing more than half of Black* staff (60%) working in the NHS, care homes and schools weren’t given Covid-19 risk assessments, even after the height of the pandemic. The poll of more than 10,000 employees also found over a third (35%) of those who had gone through the process – to identify the hazards staff face and decide if the risks to health are too great for workers to be in those roles – felt they didn’t identify the unique threats Black workers face, UNISON says. Staff have been very concerned employers aren’t taking the risk assessment seriously – despite evidence from Public Health England that Black people are more likely than white ethnic groups to be hospitalised or die from the disease, says UNISON. Nearly four out of five workers (79%) reported that they hadn’t had a conversation with their manager about the workplace Covid risk, leaving staff anxious and scared, the union says. ​(Data was gathered from workers over a 16-day period up to 5 July, long after cases had peaked and the increased risks for Black staff had become apparent. Underlying health conditions and older age – two factors associated with increased likelihood of Covid-19 deaths – were high am...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release Black history month black members Covid-19 Gloria Mills Source Type: news