Many us are quite used to working at home but for many of us this is a new experience. With lock down in full effect, it probably also means that you are sharing home working space with family. There are the practical points of how you can work, who has access to the internet, how many laptops and computers do people need access to and where is a safe space to set up. Though the key point is that you and your family are safe and well at home, there is a need to make sure that you set yourself up to work in the best way possible.

WAMITAB has issued updated guidance on the positions of Technically Competent Managers (TCMs) at waste sites during this period of coronavirus restrictions. [Amended 31 March 2020]

Anyone who operates any form of waste activity and operates the CIWM/WAMITAB operator competency scheme must have a technically competent manager at their site.

For the latest summary from Davidson Chalmers Stewart on today’s Environmental, Waste and Renewables News please click on the link below:

Environmental waste and Renewables Update 30th March 2020

We’re in unprecedented times and it’s important now, more so than ever, that we look out for each other. Many of us have had to make the shift to working from home, often alone, and this can have an impact on our mental health. That’s why we are offering free Mental Health & Working from Home webinars to help give you some tips on looking after yourself and your colleagues during this time. All you need to join is a computer & speakers/headphones.

We’re hosting 10 sessions in total, covering 5 different topics (which you can see below). The sessions are informal and completely free – they’re our way of helping support the nation in this challenging time.

To join all you need to do is click on the link below:

Click here to Join

 

Help us keep workers safe and protect jobs by telling us how your work is affected by COVID-19.

STUC need your help to share this as widely as possible. They are aiming to get at least 1000  people to complete the survey by the end of the week.

To complete the survey, click here.

Please find below post from NHS Scotland – Residual waste from households with COVID-19, will still be classified as household waste (and not clinical) but the same principles regarding infection risk and PPE will apply.

NHS Scotland National Services Scotland (NSS) were appointed by Scottish Government to manage healthcare waste produced by or on behalf of NHS Scotland.  The healthcare waste management service team is working closely with Health Protection Scotland (HPS). HPS has provided a letter to our contracted suppliers who provide collection, logistics, transfer station and disposal services for healthcare waste from across Scotland. The HPS letter states that clinical waste from COVID-19 patients poses no greater risk than other clinical waste, specifically:

  • Clinical waste generated from a person known or suspected to have COVID-19 is orange stream clinical waste;
  • For most respiratory diseases, including COVID-19 there is no known risk of airborne transmission from the waste;
  • The use of existing PPE is considered sufficient, this should include gloves and hand hygiene should be reinforced.

Within a healthcare environment there is no requirement to treat COVID-19 waste differently from other healthcare wastes.  All staff throughout the waste management chain from clinicians involved in the production of the waste, to on-site waste teams should continue to use standard PPE (including gloves). A considerable amount of work has been undertaken to ensure continuity of service at this time.

The Waste and Resource Management Sector identification of the key risks and the options for mitigation to ensure public health protection is maintained for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak in Scotland.

RMAS Public Health Protection Covid-19 Presentation 2020

Joint Statement by the Scottish Government and Scottish Trades Unions Congress

Coronavirus is affecting all our daily lives including our workplaces. We recognise the very challenging position that many employers and workers are now facing. We need a partnership, working in the national interest, to get through the next few months – a partnership that involves the public sector, unions, businesses, 3rd sector organisations, and all workers and managers. We are hugely appreciative of the many cases where this is already in place.

Issued by a Scottish Local Authority

Subject: New COVID-19 Working Procedures

Important – if you intend to use please review and adapt for your current situation.

In order to reduce the amount of contact and the number of people within handover areas at the start and finish of beats the following setup has been introduced:

Part of the messing space has been set out to enable route packs, keys and daily information sheets to be collected without the need to attend to the dispatch hatch.

Debriefs and updates will be conducted in the open on a one to one basis with the driver or another crew member with a table used to enable distancing to be maintained.

Other employees can maintain their distance by utilising the remainder of the messing area and outside mustering areas.

All bags and keys are returned to the individual beat chair at the end of the shift and disinfected once all the bags are returned ready for use the following day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The National Trading Standards warns people to be cautious  following a rise in coronavirus scams that seek to benefit from the public’s concern and uncertainty over COVID-19.

Please share these posts which have designed to show you how to protect yourself and others from these scams.