ROLL OUT OF COVID 19 LATERAL FLOW TESTING – IMPLICATIONS FOR RMT MEMBERS
Following concerns raised about the efficacy of Network Rail’s Lateral Flow Testing process, at its meeting on 21st January, your National Executive Committee (NEC) noted and adopted the report (below) of its Health and Safety Sub-committee.
At a further meeting on January 26th, your NEC noted a further report from the Regional Organiser and the concerns raised in regard to a member feeling slightly unwell at work and so opted to take one of the company’s flow tests which came up as negative. He therefore finished his shift at work.
His partner is an NHS employee who has such kits at home as they are required to test themselves twice weekly. So that same day, he took a second test with his partner’s equipment which proved positive. He then went and took an official site test which confirmed the positivity.
It is therefore clear that Network Rail testing kits might not suitable for purpose, that the staff carrying out the test may not be properly trained and/or Network Rail’s methods for testing are wanting.
I have been instructed to take account of these concerns when carrying out the earlier decision as below:
We note the report from the Regional Organiser.
The General Secretary is instructed to prepare an in-depth report on lateral flow and other workplace testing regimes to be placed in front of this NEC.