Union calls on Falkirk firms to start producing PPE

The union has also demanded the Scottish Government immediately purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) from identified international suppliers, including Germany and China, where there is availability of equipment.Unite states it has been at the forefront of raising concerns over essential workers not being able to access necessary and adequate PPE to enable them to carry out their roles safely and is now urging firms all over the country to begin manufacturing protective equipment to prevent any escalation in the COVID-19 crisis.The union states the PPE is obviously required by the NHS and care services but it is also required in any sectors where workers can be exposed to COVID-19, including construction, transportation, and refuse and recycling services.The demands by Unite come as a series of UK wide reports suggest hospitals are running out of PPE and are resorting to washing single-use gowns in order to be reused.Unite Scotland has also strongly criticised the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which has suggested, due to acute shortages of PPE, it approves the “sessional and reuse of PPE”.Pat Rafferty, Unite Scottish Secretary, said: “Unite Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government to prevent an escalation in the health and safety threat following the alarming reports of hospitals having to reuse personal protective equipment, which is a national scandal. “This is completely unacceptably and compromises worker and public safety. For the HSE also to issue guidance stating that in certain circumstances equipment can be reused is beyond belief.“Unite passed on details of identified suppliers in Germany and China to the Scottish Government through the STUC last week to accelerate the purchasing of protective equipment. These products could be ordered immediately.

“In addition, we repeat our call to work with us to approach a number of Scottish based manufacturing firms who can help address this crisis by altering their operations in order to start producing the necessary equipment needed to keep workers and the public safe.”