THE TUC has slammed bosses for failing to keep workers safe after new research published today revealed that more than half of workplaces had seen a “significant” Covid-19 outbreak.

The TUC’s union health and safety reps survey 2020-21 showed that 57 per cent of workplaces had been hit by clusters of infection, with 83 per cent of the 2,138 safety representatives surveyed reporting that employees had tested positive for the virus.

Safety reps are trained worker experts, with protected legal rights under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Employers must consult them on plans related to worker safety.

A quarter said they were not aware of a formal risk assessment being carried out at work in the last two years, with nearly one in 10 saying their employer had not completed one. 

More than a fifth (23 per cent) said they felt risk assessments were inadequate.

A quarter of the reps said their employer did not always enforce social distancing and 35 per cent warned that adequate personal protective equipment was not always provided.

Less than one in four (24 per cent) said their workplace had been contacted by a Health and Safety Executive inspector in the last 12 months.

The vast majority of reps said they had been dealing with an increased number of mental health concerns since the pandemic began.

The TUC also published a report commissioned by the University of Greenwich which found that a quarter of managers working in the food and drinks industry – a sector that’s had several Covid-19 outbreaks – were unaware of a coronavirus risk assessment in their workplace.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Britain’s safety representatives are sounding the alarm. Too many workplaces are not Covid-secure.

“This is a big worry for people expecting to return to their workplace soon. And it should be a big priority for ministers too.

“We must have robust health and safety in place to reduce the risk of infections rising again when workplaces reopen.

“Ministers must tell the Health and Safety Executive to crack down on bad bosses who risk workers’ safety and they must provide funding to get more inspectors into workplaces.

“Unionised workplaces are safer, and we send our thanks to the safety reps across the country for all they are doing to keep working people safe.”