Workers’ concerns on rise at local Amazon facility

Staff safety concerns at a Calgary-area Amazon plant are increasing along with the number of COVID -19 cases confirmed there.

After company officials reported a COVID-19 case among workers on April 12 at the fulfilment centre at Balzac, management has informed staff of five more infections, the latest alert issued Tuesday.

Fearing the site could become a major breeding ground of infection similar to the Cargill meat-processing plant at High River, some staff have repeated their insistence that the facility be shut down for more thorough cleaning and further safety measures to be taken.

“The concern is very much like Cargill . . . my fear is this will explode,” said one employee who wouldn’t give his name.

While workers have been notified of new cases, they’re not being given further details by the company, said the second staffer, which is feeding fear and uncertainty.

“They don’t tell us which department (those infected) worked in,” said the worker.

The 600,000-square-foot warehouse employs 1,000 associates and up to 1,800 at peak times, which makes it difficult to maintain two-metre distance between workers, said the staffer.

Hundreds more are being added to deal with an increased volume of orders, increasing the risk, they say.

“I have noticed many staff members . . . standing next to each other and sharing the laptop screen,” said the employee.

Another problem is the attitude of many workers who don’t follow proper protocols, he said.

While the online retail behemoth has taken steps to reduce the threat of infection by introducing temperature screening, masks, hand sanitizer and some physical barriers, it’s not enough, said the staffer.

“It’s how people are behaving and you can’t clean everything all the time,” said the worker.

Amazon is making considerable efforts in increasing safety, said another staffer, but added a looming issue is the end Friday of an unlimited time-off policy that will force potentially infected workers to remain on the job.

“If you stay home for four days, you’ll lose your job,” said the man. “The biggest thing they can do to keep it safer is to roll back on that.”

In a statement, Alberta Health Services said the cases at Amazon don’t constitute an outbreak, which is defined by at least five infections that are from common exposures at a single site.

It’s possible the cases might have been contracted in places other than the plant, added Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw.

“AHS is aware of several COVID-19 positive cases in individuals who work at Amazon’s Balzac distribution and fulfilment centre and is currently investigating possible sources of transmission and any epidemiological links,” said the AHS statement, released Thursday. “AHS Environmental Public Health has previously advised the site on social distancing, cleaning, screening, and other COVID prevention measures and will be following up with the facility again today.”

An Amazon spokesman said the company is doing all it can to reduce the risk of infection among staff and to ensure they’re given the supports they need.

“We are supporting the individuals who are recovering. We are following guidelines from health officials and medical experts, and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site,” Timothy Carter said in a statement.

That includes spending US$800 million this year on pandemic precautions such as masks, gloves, sanitizer, handwashing stations and thermal cameras.