Hundreds of deaths and 31,000 infections have been linked to Covid-19 exposure at work, new research suggests.
The GMB union said 31,000 suspected cases of occupational exposure to coronavirus were reported to the Health and Safety Executive between April 2020 and March this year, while 367 workers’ deaths were suspected to be linked to workplace exposure to the virus during the same period.
The figures, obtained from a Freedom of Information request, are likely to significantly underestimate the true extent of exposure and deaths among workers, said the GMB.
The union called for urgent investment to make workplaces safe and full sick pay cover so that workers can afford to self-isolate.
GMB national officer Rehana Azam said: “No-one should go to work in fear of their life. Each worker’s death was preventable and the damning reality is that too many workplaces are still not safe.
“The fact that 70% of reported workers’ deaths are in the health and care sector should be a wake-up call, and sadly these figures are likely the tip of the iceberg.
“Across the country too many people still face insecure workplaces and inadequate PPE.
“These figures shine a new light on the abject failure of too many to keep workplaces safe.
“Seven out of 10 reported infections were since the start of the second wave, when the steps required to limit the spread of the virus were well understood.”
