Facing the flu wave - what health and safety reps can do now
I'm sure you will all have seen the recent headlines about the sharp rise in flu cases over the past week, with projected increases before Christmas likely to place increased strain on the NHS across the UK.
The TUC have developed a short guide on how reps and activists can challenge their employers on mitigating the risks of flu transmission in the workplace: Facing the flu wave - what health and safety reps can do now
Whilst flu is a public health issue, and so is not covered directly by the Health and Safety at Work Act, the actions that employers need to take are essentially the same as those taken during the acute phase of the Covid pandemic, and are primarily around improving ventilation standards.
The HSE's guidance is here: Pandemic influenza - HSE
Employers should be able to reactivate plans made during the acute Covid pandemic, and if not, should be looking to bring in temporary measures (such as portable air conditioning units) for the period to Christmas and New Year.
