Public transport workers in Ireland must be issued visors to protect from coronavirus

TSSA Union has today issued a call for frontline public transport workers across Ireland to be issued with visors and facemasks to protect them from the coronavirus. 

The call comes as bus and rail operators return to a normal service, major retailers begin reopening and restrictions on non-essential travel are eased.

TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes said: 

"The risk now is that as people return to work social distancing guidelines become harder to follow, and get forgotten, leading to a second wave of coronavirus cases. 

"Our public transport workers are true heroes, who have kept the buses and trains running throughout this crisis so that other key workers can get to work. We owe it to them to make their health and safety a priority and that includes giving them the right protective equipment. 

"It is essential that Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) follows the lead of Eurostar and public transport operators across Britain and issues visors and face masks to all their frontline workers to offer greater protection from catching the virus although physical distancing of at least 2 metres between people must sill be maintained at all times as this remains the best protection.

"We have already seen one of our members in the Britain, Belly Mujinga, die in the course of her work after a tragic incident on the concourse at Victoria Station. CIÉ companies must issue visors and masks to their frontline staff to prevent such a tragedy happening in Ireland."