‘Have we ever talked so much about PPE? Each breakfast bulletin features interviews with essential workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, varyingly reporting inadequacies, shortages and faltering supply lines. When a shipment lands, it makes the news.’
St Philips Barristers, 14th May 2020
Source: st-philips.com
‘With the recent announcement that lockdown measures are to be eased, and those who cannot work from home should return to work, we are likely to see a greater proportion of the workplace slowly return to work. The Prime Minister has announced that those in construction and manufacturing, scientific research, logistics and food production should return to work, once their employers have confirmed that it is safe for them to do so and set a “road-map” for the re-opening of shops, restaurants and other venues as well as workplace specific guidance for working safely during coronavirus.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 14th May 2020
Source: hardwicke.co.uk
‘Prior to the impact of the Covid19 pandemic, the issue of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) at work was a niche health and safety topic for specialists in the field. Today it dominates the media, with report after report of inadequate provision of PPE on the frontline, in hospitals, care homes and other essential places of work.’
Thomas More Chambers, 13th May 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
‘As we enter the second phase of the national battle against Covid-19 it is possible to discern a change in the political climate. The cease-fire that has been in place for the last two months may be coming to an end, with the question of how the non-WFH workforce might resume fruitful economic activity dividing not just the political parties but also the national and devolved administrations. The early indications are that the conservative government’s preferred approach is to hand over to businesses the task of designing the ‘covid-secure’ workplace and then managing the return of their workers. Detailed practical guidance from government and the HSE (https://www.hse.gov.uk/index.htm) is already arriving and there will be extensive consultation with the unions, whose priority will be to prevent a resumption of work in unsafe factories, offices and sites. No doubt much can also be learned from those businesses that have been able to continue operating during lockdown. To ensure safety and consistency, the prime minister has promised the close involvement of the HSE – spot checks of workplaces are even being planned – and returning workers are being encouraged to blow the whistle on unsafe practices and premises.’
39 Essex Chambers, 13th May 2020
Source: www.39essex.com
‘Teachers can legally refuse to return when schools reopen unless they get the same protections against coronavirus as other frontline staff, one of the UK’s leading teaching unions has warned.’
The Guardian, 14th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A pregnant healthcare assistant is mounting a legal action against NHS Professionals, an employment agency owned by the Department of Health and Social Care, for refusing to put her on furlough, in what could be a landmark action for other vulnerable workers bearing the brunt of the lockdown.’
The Guardian, 13th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Speaker of the House of Commons has said he will suspend parliament if physical distancing rules are breached in the Commons chamber – in effect ending government hopes that MPs can return to business as usual.’
The Guardian, 13th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A welding company has been fined £450,000 after two of its fatigued employees died in a car crash.’
BBC News, 13th May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘“There have been as many plagues as wars in history, yet always plagues and wars take people equally by surprise” – these words from Albert Camus’ The Plague sum up how the COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm. The UK’s construction industry is facing the greatest challenge since Brexit, but there is little specific guidance from Westminster on the way forward. Whereas all non-essential sites in Scotland have been ordered to close, sites across the rest of the country have been left in the unenviable position of having to decide whether they should remain open.’
Atkin Chambers, 6th May 2020
Source: www.atkinchambers.com
‘The government has started easing lockdown restrictions, with more people now encouraged to start returning to work.’
BBC News, 11th May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Lawyers are urging people concerned by Boris Johnson’s back-to-work message to join a union and seek legal advice before exercising their right to refuse to work.’
Each Other, 11th May 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘The Coronavirus pandemic is likely to lead to litigation in various forms1; indeed, two doctors are reported to have already intimated a public law challenge to the lawfulness of the personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance published by the Department of Health and Social Care, and Public Health England.’
Ropewalk Chambers, 4th May 2020
Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk
‘At the present time, the issue of health and safety at work has never been more important. Employees on the frontline are, in many cases, being cajoled, threatened and bullied to attend work in circumstances where they have very legitimate concerns about the potential of being infected by Covid-19. Further, employees are often being forced to work in circumstances where their employers have failed to implement adequate health and safety measures. The continuing failure by the Government to provide adequate PPE to healthcare professionals is the most prominent example of such failures.’
Thomas More Chambers, 4th May 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
‘Criminal courts have sweeping powers to disqualify directors arising from prosecutions for regulatory crime, with far-reaching consequences for companies and individuals. This Alerter provides an essential guide for practitioners to approaching director’s disqualification orders at a time when the HSE, Environment Agency and other regulators show a growing appetite to prosecute individuals.’
Henderson Chambers, 29th April 2020
‘The vast majority of deaths from Covid-19 will not be referred to the Coroner and even fewer will result in an inquest into the death. However, when an employee dies from Covid-19 it may have to be reported to both the Health and Safety Executive (“HSE”) and the Coroner.’
Park Square Barristers, 29th April 2020
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
‘During these unprecedented times, working from home on a full-time basis has become the ‘new normal’. This is in stark contrast to before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic began, when out of 32.6 million people in employment, only 1.7 million regularly worked from home. The change to enforced homeworking was swift and represented significant changes to the lifestyle and routines of both employers and employees, which, in turn, creates a number of legal and practical issues for employers. It is currently unknown how long homeworking will last for, or indeed if the outbreak of COVID-19 will cause a shift towards homeworking on a permanent basis.’
Thomas More Chambers, 30th April 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
‘Draft guidance for getting people back to work during the coronavirus pandemic could compromise worker safety, the head of the TUC has warned.’
BBC News, 4th May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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