Transport System Not Equipped to Face Challenges of Swine Flu
It has been revealed that transport workers are at a higher risk of swine flu infection due to the nature of their job, wherein they have to interact with members of public on a regular basis along with their co-workers as well as due to the location of their work.
In response to the threat, Transport Union RMT has warned of significant safety risks as swine flu is expected to affect at least 40% of the population in a few weeks. IOSH Safety for Senior Executives training can benefit your organisation in reviewing your health and safety performance and risk management arrangements; click on IOSH Safety for Senior Executives for more info.
One of the high risk areas identified is the London Underground. However, Transport for London’s claims that it would cut-down the service in order to deal with inadequate staff levels, was rejected by RMT. It says that the proposed remedy does not properly address the issue of safety concerns due to inadequate staffing.
In a Whitehall meeting attended by representatives of the government as well as emergency services, it was found that around one third of British employers have no provision for tackling the threat of the pandemic. The meeting also raised concern about the impact that the pandemic will have on the broadband network and the transport system across the UK.
RMT is deeply concerned about the expected number of absences from work that the pandemic can cause in the near future, especially in such bad economic times and hence, the risk of running the transport system without sufficient staff needs to be addresses urgently.
Bob Crow, RMT general secretary stated that if the increase in spread of swine flu turns out as predicted, it can lead to devastating results for the transport sector and it would show the inadequacy of the system in dealing with the problem. RTM is asking authorities to implement the contingency plans drawn up in Whitehall and to be made a part of the subsequent deliberations.
