OTYC Blog

The swine flu pandemic could have a major impact on the transport system in the UK. RMT Union recently highlighted the fact that the disease may put extra pressure on the staff of the transport system.

Considering that a large portion of the population is probably going to fall prey to the disease in the coming weeks, the transport system may be badly hit. Since the transport staffs have to work with people all the time, they are at a higher risk and may catch the disease while on the job.

The London Underground is being seen as an area where the risk is among the highest. The RMT believes that there is a need for an emergency plan as running the transport system without sufficient staff may be dangerous.

While Transport for London believes that the problem can simply be solved by reducing the services since travellers will also be affected by the pandemic and thus their numbers will dip, the RMT is not very convinced with this argument.

Bob Crow, the general secretary of the RMT said that they want to see the plans developed in the Whitehall meeting. This meeting was held last week where the government and emergency services discussed the issue, raising various concerns like lack of preparation on the part of businesses to solve the problem, and the impact that the swine flu pandemic will have on the transport and broadband sector.

Crow also said that the London Underground needs to get special attention in any future planning on the issue as otherwise the risk will be quite big. Running the transport system in London without enough staff would be dangerous and the situation should be avoided by all means, he said. To promote a positive health and safety culture in your workplace environment a NEBOSH course can help to cut the health and safety risks that apply in your workplace.