RT @COVID19_disease: ⚠️ BREAKING: . WHO Warns of H5N1 Outbreak Risk, Urges Stronger Global Surveillance of Animals to Prevent Spread to Hum….

Ventilation, masks, avoiding presenteeism & vaccine advocacy are key steps in limiting all respiratory pathogens. The bird flu story in North America is worth being aware of when we remind management not to forget lessons of COVID19.

Remember if vulnerable vaccines are offered that can help reduce risk of new variants even if they may not prevent infection. Vitamin D especially in Scotland is worth boosting & remember masks are effective. New XEC Covid variant starting to spread - BBC

Just got a great deal on new car tyres @blackcircles - check them out at /#buyblackcircles.

'Whooping cough has been relentless - we haven't slept for weeks' - BBC News

Like many parts of the UK Whooping cough, a bacteria called Bordatella pertusis, is rising in Tayside. The risk to the very young is normally controlled by vaccination but immunity falls and can result in a variety of symptoms, classically aggressive coughing & 100 day cough.

RT @zenscara: Solidarity to every member facing a difficult Christmas/winter break & huge thanks to @chakrabortty for his ongoing work to e….

RT @Sam_Marsh101: Remarkable. So I remarked on it.

RT @UCUScotland: Scottish Budget: Colleges and universities face fresh cuts as their budgets are slashed by more than £100m - UCU says “it’….

As semester ends H&S team want to thank DUCU committee for all the work on a myriad of issues from pay/employment to policy change, casualisation & and vast range of individual case work. UCU/DUCU has been successful in resolving issues this year, from pensions to pay equality!.

Mental Health Policy continues to be a priority. From the positives, Mental Health advisors (again volunteers from staff), to health promotion, access to exercise & supporting active travel, to the gaps in training & tools plus the impact of workloads & organisational change.

We continue to support the recruitment of dedicated University Security staff, rather than outsourcing, who have knowledge of campus, knowledge of staff/student issues, & who can help develop approach for Dundee University plan to meet the requirements of Martyn’s law.

Changes to fire safety in July around attendance by Fire Service at alarms has meant Campus security & Fire Wardens are being given a new role in assessing buildings after clearing. This continues to need work but highlights our dependence on volunteer wardens & security staff.

As we enter the winter break a quick summary of DUCU H&S. We will meet with management & Unions to review our Covid19 response in February & again thanks to Scottish H&S UCU grouping, our contact with Scottish SAGE & the firming up of mask wearing on campuses Autumn 2021.

RT @damocrat: Hi @McDonaldsUK. Do you think it is acceptable for your staff to soak the sleeping bags of homeless people in the middle of w….

RT @UCUScotland: As our ⁦@aberdeen_ucu⁩ branch secretary David Anderson said “you can’t look at how profitable a subject area is year by ye….

RT @MhairiFlorence: Would have liked to have been there to show support (holiday time is work time unfortunatey ) the posters and the signs….

RT @BrookesUCU: ‘The university if not its managers! It’s the students and staff’ 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼.

RT @dhe38: @jottnar #Jottnar Great products but return/replacement/refund process bit weird. Returned for larger size an item emailed twice….

We raised concern at statutory H&S meeting about need to keep positive preventative measures at the forefront during preparations for the Semester “Covid testing to be scaled up in England as winter pressure on NHS draws near | Coronavirus | The Guardian”