Report of Emergency NEU National Health & Safety CV-19 Meeting 6th January

In reviewing the action points and urgent recommendations from the Emergency group meeting held 31.12.20, the meeting recognised and applauded the brilliant strategy and action of the National Union in using S44 to force a government U-turn and the closure of all schools to all but KWV children. 

Raising Awareness & Public Facing Campaigning 

· Yesterday 1041 people had died of CV-19, the highest daily death toll since last April. 

· The death toll of those who have died within 28 days of a positive test in the past week is 37% higher than the previous 7 days. 

· 62,322 new cases 

· 30,074 CV-19 patients in hospital & Hancock admitting that hospitals & doctors will have to ration who gets treatment. ICU doctors stating that there will soon not be enough beds or enough oxygen. 

Despite the desperate public health situation, the threat of the new strain of the virus, and being in lockdown, the group highlighted serious concerns at the very high numbers of KWV children in schools today and the inevitable high levels of virus transmission as a result. 

The group stressed the urgent need for an appropriate public facing NEU media campaign to help address this issue.  

Section 44 Action Going Forward 

The group heard representations from around the country, including reference to many special schools and some nurseries which have closed to all pupils only after the issuing of Section 44 letters. While recognising a change in the blanket use of S44 letters, the group reiterated that Section 44 remains a vitally important health & safety employment law resource that can and should be used in situations where other attempts to improve safety have been exhausted, and employees risk being placed in an unsafe workplace.  

On the use of section 44 the group recommends the following steps for all settings: 

• New risk assessments to take account of the heightened risks associated with the new variant strain of the virus and be completed by a competent person.  

• Members/ reps to ensure they are fully consulted on the completion of new risk assessments and all ongoing amendments 
• Refusal or failure of schools to consult with reps and/or members should result in an urgent escalation to the local branch and/or Regional Office. 
• Where risk assessments have not been properly completed and control measures not reduced numbers of children/young people sufficiently meaning staff are in serious and imminent danger, Section 44 can and should be invoked.  

URGENT RISK ASSESSMENT & CHECKLIST GUIDANCE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL SETTINGS: 

• Minimum 2m social distancing in classrooms to reduce numbers sufficiently to reduce risk. 
• Specific max numbers of KWV and staff will depend on the size and type of classrooms & workplaces. During the Spring 2020 lockdown a maximum of 10% of normal pupils/staff capacity was recommended. It should be noted though that the new variant is significantly MORE transmissible. 
• Where lateral flow testing centres are set up for asymptomatic testing, positive results must mean instant isolation/ evacuation. Negative results should not change any existing isolation & protection measures since they may be false negatives; people with positive symptoms must obtain conventional PCR tests. 
• CEV and CV members should work from home as well as those living with CEV family members. 
• Pregnant staff should work from home.  

• Recommend the wearing of face coverings (of appropriate quality in line with WHO standards) by all staff in all settings when indoors, including in classrooms. Where staff have a mask exemption, they should use an alternative face covering e.g., visors 
• Children, apart from in nurseries and special schools, should be advised to always wear face coverings indoors.  
• Quality training should be provided for all staff in the donning and doffing of face masks and PPE must be provided. 
• In KWV bubbles, staff should remain in the same area to eat with children, but breaks should be taken in lieu. 
• Rooms must be well ventilated (with outside air) with extra heaters provided if necessary. 

• Cleaning & hygiene protocols must be enhanced. 
• Directed time must include remote teaching time worked at home and not just that spent in the school building.  
• Every staff member should be allowed to deliver remote learning from home and numbers in school should be kept to absolute minimum. 
• All staff work should be workload impact risk assessed and staff workload overall managed appropriately. 
• Members should be advised to change clothes and shower upon arrival home from school. 

• Temperature checks should be considered as an additional safety measure.