TUC Issues Health And Safety Advice To USRs In The Aftermath Of Flooding

The apalling floods in the south of England taking place throughgought January and February this year and December last year, have cost the economy billions of pounds, but more importantly: copntinue to be the course of major devastation on the lives, and the work, of hundreds of thousands of people.

The loss of or severe damage to people's homes not only threatens their physical wellbeing but that of their mental health also.

The TUC reminds everyone that:

"Employers have a legal duty to ensure that the health and safety of all employees is protected. It is not in anyone’s interests to ask workers to risk their lives or health either during the floods themselves, or in the aftermath."

The guidance issued by the TUC is intended to assist union representatives and union safety reps in ensuring that the health and safety of employees is not put at risk during or after the current crisis. It is not intended to deal with the wider societal issues, although unions are already heavily involved in supporting members in those areas of the country where the flooding is most widespread.

The better prepared individuals and their employers are, the more likely they are to cope with the effects of the floods. Also, every employer should have a ‘disaster recovery plan’ in place, agreed with the union which should be regularly reviewed.

The TUC guide can be downloaded from the E-Library Database using seach word 'flooding'

Source: TUC/Unionsafety

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