Questions to the Mayor of London – answered at on 18 March 2021.
In June 2020, Unite the Union published a notice entitled “Government guidance for face coverings on public transport” which, inter alia, claimed “TfL and the Bus Operators agreed to Unite’s demand that the use of face coverings should remain optional for the driver…you choose if you want to wear a face covering.”
Do TfL and the Bus Operators still agree to Unite’s June 2020 demand? What justification did Unite the Union provide for making the wearing of masks by bus drivers optional? Please provide any evidence that TfL used to rebut Unite arguments to relax safety measures recommended by Public Health England (PHE) on the travelling public and on its contractors? Under what authority or legislation does TfL have legal powers to relax (as in this case) or impose safety measures beyond those recommended by PHE on the travelling public and on its contractors?
Trade Unions have worked tirelessly with TfL and bus operators to improve safety for all of our frontline staff. However, I do not accept the premise of your question. Over the past year, TfL has been guided by official advice when taking decisions and issuing guidance to operators regarding the safety of bus workers.
In the early stages of the pandemic, the advice from Public Health England (PHE) and the World Health Organisation was against mask wearing - and that instead masks should be reserved for medical professionals. TfL and the bus operators followed and responded to the official advice, which primarily focused on hand hygiene.
As PHE advice changed over time, TfL guidance to operators reflected this. The requirement to wear a face covering when on public transport under ‘The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings on Public Transport) (England) Regulations 2020’ applies to passengers who travel on a bus but not to public transport employees acting in the course of their employment.
Drivers continue to be able to choose to wear a face covering in the cab. This is consistent with current PHE guidance and the independent safety assurance work conducted by University College London (UCL). This report can be viewed at: http://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/london-bus-drivers-review
There continues to be many important safeguards in place to protect bus drivers, including a relentless focus on cleaning and limits on the number of passengers onboard to allow for social distancing. Bus ventilation systems have been improved and drivers’ cabs have been fully sealed-up to reduce the risk of transmission.