Workplace Report March 2018

Health & safety news

Some loos change


The Unite general union has welcomed news that London mayor Sadiq Khan’s 2018-19 budget will include £6 million of funding to provide permanent toilets for the capital’s bus drivers. 


The money will help improve facilities along 40 bus routes. 


Meanwhile, transport unions are highlighting ongoing problems with loos on the rail network. RMT says that Network Rail’s commitment that trains will no longer discharge toilets onto the track by the end of 2019 is too slow. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that compared to Scotland, where the union has already secured a ban, “it leaves rail workers in the rest of Britain left facing the daily health hazard of being doused with sewage for another two years and that, quite frankly, isn’t good enough”. 


At the TUC Women’s Conference, train drivers’ union ASLEF pointed to figures showing that there are just 27 female freight drivers. It says a lack of toilet and washing facilities are among the obstacles preventing women from working in the sector.


https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/6m-to-improve-conditions-for-bus-drivers

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-progress-on-eliminating-dumping-of-excrement