Port workers across the UK have been designated as essential key workers to support the national effort to keep the supply chain moving.
The UK
Government has recently published guidance on COVID-19 key workers to ensure
supermarkets and medical goods remain available.
Peel Ports Group has a critical role in maintaining
supply chains of the UK and Republic of Ireland, and has been recognised as a
business of national importance to the UK, according to a recent announcement by
the group.
Workers at the Port of Liverpool are working round the
clock handling large amounts of containerised and un-containerised medical,
food and other key supplies including blood plasma and medicines such as
inhalers from Ireland.
Blood plasma and inhalers used by the UK are imported
through the Port of Liverpool, both of which are essential to support the NHS.
Key personnel included in the government guidance are
those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery
as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods such as
medicines and equipment.
David
Huck, Group Managing Director at Peel Ports said: “In these unprecedented times, it’s crucial that supply routes are
protected to ensure medical, energy, fuel and the food provisions remain
available to all citizens throughout what is likely to be a sustained period of
crisis. We have a collective responsibility to ensure our Ports remain fully
functioning while taking every practicable measure to protect the safety and
wellbeing of our dedicated workforce.”
