Fears have been raised for the safety of staff at a First Bus depot after whistleblowers claimed ‘up to 90 workers’ are off sick or self-isolating amid a coronavirus outbreak.
At least one driver has already died after catching the deadly virus with dozens of tributes paid to Larbert depot ‘legend’ Tommy Rooney, 57, while colleague Richard Linning has been treated in hospital.
It is understood that an emergency meeting was held at the site, near Falkirk, on Wednesday where management took the decision to close amenities to staff.
First Bus have confirmed an outbreak at the site and said that additional safety precautions have now been put in place.
They declined to comment on the number of staff who have tested positive or that are self isolating when approached by the Daily Record.
A whistleblower said: “Morale in the depot is extremely low. Buses are running empty and staff are very concerned about passing Covid on to their family members.
“Between 80 to 90 staff are off with covid or self-isolating and we’ve already lost one staff member, Tommy Rooney, who died last week. Another employee, Richard, is currently really ill.
“There was a meeting on Wednesday and staff were told they could no longer use any amenities on site but they have to continue working as normal. From Thursday, we are to be given 3 ply masks.”
Unite the Union has repeatedly called for company bosses to shut the depot in a bid to get the outbreak under control.
But they claim their pleas have fallen on deaf ears and ‘implore the company to take appropriate action’.
Industrial Officer, Graeme Turnbull said: “Unite have repeatedly raised concerns from our members about the Covid-19 outbreak at First Bus in Larbert.
“First Bus have stated that they are following all the guidelines and procedures, and are doing all that they can by putting additional measures in place.
“These measures, however, do not appear to be controlling the outbreak.
“We share our members increasing concerns about the risk to their health and well-being in the workplace, and implore the company to take appropriate action.”
NHS Forth Valley confirmed their Test and Protect colleagues continue to closely monitor the site alongside officials from Public Health Scotland.
They said that the situation ‘is improving’ and that ‘all necessary measures are in place to limit the spread of infection’.
David Phillips, Operations Director for First Midland, said the safety of their staff and customers remains a number one priority and that they are engaging with health officials.
He added: “We are fully supporting our colleagues who have tested positive for this awful disease and wish them a speedy recovery.
"We also have a number of other teammates self-isolating due to close contact tracing procedures.
"We are also supporting people with tightened rules, more guidance and of course have made counselling available to all employees following the sad loss of our colleague Tommy Rooney.
“We have an excellent, open and transparent relationship with our Unite the Union representatives, who are fully supportive of the measures we have taken.
"We continue to work with the NHS Forth Valley Public Health team to ensure that we can continue to safely provide essential journeys to support communities and key workers across the region.
“In conjunction with the health professionals we have initiated a wide range of additional measures to try and minimise the spread of this horrible disease, including even more intensive and thorough daily cleans, revised PPE requirements and the partial closure of communal areas and amenities within the depot.
"We have conducted multiple rounds of asymptomatic testing on the advice of NHS Forth Valley and we are following any and all guidance provided, particularly reminding the whole team that the rules are there for their own protection and must not be broken.
“I would like to pay tribute to the whole team, who continue to work hard, and especially our fantastic staff out there on the frontline who are providing a lifeline to allow key workers to access their jobs in the most difficult of circumstances."
