Occupational Therapy News OTnews May 2020 | Page 17

BAOT/UNISON
Being a BAOT member means you also belong to Unison and can access support and advice on workplace issues at any time.
COVID-19: Are you keeping safe at work?
Staff working in care, the NHS and other vital public services have
risen to the challenge of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
But many feel they are forced to put themselves in harm’s way
every time they go to work because the government is not
keeping its promises on personal protective equipment (PPE).
Staff are not the only ones at risk – their families and the people
they care for are also in danger.
For Unison and BAOT, getting the right PPE is the top priority
for everyone fighting this pandemic. This is an issue on which your
union is challenging the government at every opportunity, raising
concerns with senior ministers, the Health and Safety Executive,
public health authorities, senior civil servants and employers
across the UK.
Last month we launched a petition – PPE not Promises – which
calls on Boris Johnson and the UK government to do more to
ensure every worker has the right to a risk assessment, that there
is enough PPE for every worker who needs it, and that they are
given proper training in infection control and the use of PPE.
You can add your support at: www.unison.org.uk/our-
campaigns/ppe-not-promises/.
Public health authorities have produced guidance on what PPE
should be available in different settings and there is up-to-date
information and links to relevant websites at: www.unison.org.uk.
If you are unsure about your own situation, then please raise
this with your Unison representative or branch. The Unison branch
and union health and safety representatives can help to ensure
that employers fulfil their legal obligations to staff, which requires
them to control the risk of exposure to hazardous substances and
to provide appropriate PPE.
The branch can check that the employer has a clear PPE plan
in place that includes communicating with staff about what PPE
should be worn, how they will access the equipment and be
supported to use it with appropriate training and risk assessment.
Judgements about what constitutes the correct type of PPE for
the circumstances are ultimately the role of senior managers and
infection control leads in your organisation.
However, the union branch and representatives play an important
role as advocates for members or groups of members. Support
from representatives will be particularly needed by members
who have not been issued with the minimum PPE as set out in
government guidance, or by those who feel that the equipment they
have been given is inadequate for their work environment.
The Health and Care Professions Council has also produced
guidance that includes the following advice: If you feel it is unsafe
for you to provide treatment to a service user with confirmed/
suspected COVID-19, you should raise this immediately with
your employer. If they instruct you to continue to treat the service
user and you still have concerns about doing so, you should seek
advice from your professional body or union as soon as you can.
Available at: www.hcpc-uk.org/covid-19/advice/applying-our-
standards/managing-risk/.
We believe that workers should never be in a situation where
they might endanger themselves and others in the course of
doing their jobs. Putting you in that situation is a breach of health
and safety law and may spread coronavirus to people in high-
risk groups.
As a last resort, when faced with a potentially dangerous
working environment which you cannot reasonably be expected
to avert, every employee has the right not to suffer detriment if
they leave, or refuse to attend their place of work (or any part) in
circumstances where they reasonably believe that they are being
exposed to serious and imminent danger.
And to be clear, although this is a measure of last resort,
Unison will provide advice and support to members who choose
to exercise these rights.
These are extraordinary times and your union is with you
every step of the way. We are in awe of our members who are
continuing to deliver during the unprecedented challenges of this
pandemic, supporting the health, wellbeing and safety of everyone
in this country.
We are already acting to make sure this is not forgotten when
the country is through this crisis and that your work is properly
recognised and rewarded – and that all public service workers are
treated with dignity and respect.
For help and advice at work – or to find out more about Unison
services – please contact your local BAOT/Unison representative
or visit: www.unison.org.uk/get-help/.
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