Hotel rooms should be used to isolate suspected coronavirus infected workers returning from offshore platforms, according to Scottish trade unions.
The Offshore Coordinating Group (OCG), which includes Unite, RMT and GMB Union, has called for representative body Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) to “book out” entire hotels for testing.
Each hotel should be manned by a qualified doctor and could be funded by industry and government, OCG said.
Unions are calling for greater leadership from OGUK, saying many North Sea operators are implementing their own procedures to deal with the ongoing crisis.
They said some of those actions were good, but that others were “downright reckless”.
It added that an industry “plan for management” should be issued to every North Sea operator.
OGUK insisted that many of the suggestions raised by unions “are already addressed or being worked on”.
Industry-wide, offshore travel restrictions have been introduced for workers returning from category one and two countries, regardless of whether they have symptoms.
Companies have also agreed to start screening workers by checking their temperatures before they go offshore.
OGUK chief executive Deirdre Michie said: “If there was ever a time for us to work together for our people and the future of this industry, this is it.
“The people in our industry have a critical role in providing the energy and products the UK needs and will remain important as look towards a net zero future.
“OGUK continues to work on behalf of industry to secure government and regulator support which protects the safety of our people, ensures the safe production of secure and affordable energy, and mitigates any impact on jobs and businesses.
“We look forward to continuing our direct discussions with the unions to find a way through this together.”
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