EU: joint guidelines drawn up for safe return to work in chemicals industry

On 17 July, social partners in the European chemical, pharmaceutical, rubber and plastics industries – IndustriAll Europe on the trade union side and the ECEG (European Chemical Employers Group) on the employer side – presented their guidelines, drawn up jointly for the attention of their national affiliates, to ensure a return to work without risks to the health and safety of workers. Naturally, the document emphasises the need for social dialogue and the involvement of worker representatives in drawing up contingency/continuity plans as well as in identifying and implementing the necessary measures. Such plans should not only cover preventive measures but should also establish emergency preparative procedures for the event of a new outbreak of the virus. In addition, the measures adopted should take into account not only all staff, but also suppliers, customers and visitors and, ideally, should be repeated and reviewed regularly. Beyond the immediately visible risks, the ECEG and IndustriAll Europe encourage their members to jointly consider potential chemical risks resulting from increased use of cleaning and disinfection products, ergonomic risks related to awkward postures due to inadequate facilities and equipment (amid forced remote working), as well as psychosocial risks, among other things.