Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, is warning that highways maintenance workers who are undertaking a crucial role keeping the UK’s road network open are being prevented from following social distancing guidelines.

Key workers

The workers, who are classified as key workers and are on outsourced contracts have been told that the client Highway England, has said that it should be business as usual.

While in some depots, canteens and mess areas have been closed, workers are still operating in two and three person crews, travel together in cabs and also cannot social distance while on site.

Emergency work

Unite understands that its essential that emergency work such as repairing barrier damage, filling potholes, clearing up spillages and fixing boundary fences where there is nearby livestock needs to continue.

However, work such as cyclical maintenance and litter picking should be suspended until after the coronavirus crisis has ended. When concerns about this was raised on some contracts in northern England, workers were informed that Highways England had confirmed that “litter picking was a safety critical activity”.

Single crew

Unite believes that if work was reduced to emergency work only workers could single crew and would be able to successfully socially distance, which would preserve their health and the health of their families.

On some contracts Unite has secured agreement that there will only be two workers on sites and there will be no rotation in work gangs. Access to canteens and locker rooms will be on a coordinated basis and that if workers raise health and safety issues they will not be sent home without pay.

Vital role

Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain said: “Highways maintenance workers are essential workers who play a vital role keeping roads open and motorists safe.

 “That does not mean that social distancing rules do not apply to them.

 “Highways maintenance employers need to make far greater efforts to ensure that social distancing is applied at work.

 “Highways England is clearly at fault, this is not business as normal. Emergency work of course needs to be undertaken but workers should not be placed at risk undertaking non-essential maintenance work.

 “To suggest that collecting litter by the side of motorways and major roads is a safety critical activity demonstrates they have lost all perspective.

 “The Department of Transport needs to intervene and ensure that its agency puts the safety of its workforce first.”