Unions urge employers to sign Covid Safety Pledge

The Covid Safety Pledge aims to reduce airborne virus transmissions through better ventilation and the wearing of FFP2 or FFP3 masks in badly ventilated work environments such as healthcare settings used by infectious people.  

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) wants unions to work with employers to sign up for the pledge.
 
The organisers of the Covid Safety Pledge recognise that the coronavirus remains a threat. Future strains of the virus are expected to emerge, which could cause serious health issues. Legal obligations, such as self-isolation of infected people and the wearing of PPE masks have been removed. However, workers infected by Covid are still advised to stay at home to prevent them from spreading the virus to others at work.
  
Work environments should be well-ventilated, and the public should be aware of preventative measures so that they know the workspace is safe. People suffering from long Covid are particularly at risk of reinfection. The pledge.uk website states: 
  
"If businesses can demonstrate a commitment to ventilation and safety, then people with Long Covid will be more confident leaving their homes to do essential chores and visiting hospitality venues."
 
Organisations that sign the pledge are committed to assessing the work environment and health and safety practices to ensure the prevention of the spread of infections. They agree to abide by public health advice and insist that any employee testing positive for Covid to self-isolate at home. Those that sign the pledge are committed to protecting all employees, customers and service users.