‘SEVEN MORE DVLA STAFF HAVE VIRUS’
IT’S claimed that a further seven workers have been struck down by coronavirus in the space of 48 hours at the DVLA in Swansea – just days after seven others were diagnosed with the virus on a neighbouring floor.
The DVLA has not confirmed or denied the new cases, but it has stated that the safety of its staff is its top priority and measures have been put in place to protect them.
It has said the building in Clase, Morriston, is rigorously and regularly cleaned throughout the day and after staff have gone home.
One worker claimed: “Staff currently working on one floor have seven confirmed cases within 48 hours – separate to the incident on another floor.
“On Monday night we believe cleaning did not take place on 50% of our floor – we have raised it with management and they have arranged for the cleaners to come this morning while we are in the office. I do not feel this is safe as they are moving potentially any live virus around.”
The workers also claimed that there were only enough coronavirus tests for 50% of the people on the floor, and the rest were sent to the Liberty Stadium testing facility – however all staff were advised to stay in work and return after their test.
“If a handful of those tests are positive we will have it spreading around again,” they added.
They also claimed: “When there is a confirmed case and that person has been in work all they do is evacuate the bank of six desks where that person has been sitting and wait 72 hours then clean the desks in the usual way.
“We are still currently hot desking and swapping and changing printers daily and I regularly have to walk around the floor to find my team, increasing the number of people I am in contact with.
“The cleaners do not clean the printers or electronics as they are not allowed to touch them.”
They further claimed that reduced staffing levels by offering evening and weekend working as an alternative would help, but had been rejected.
Staff are also claimed to have asked for specialist equipment to be moved so they can operate as a team, which they argue will stop hotdesking and moving around, to allow them to create their own bubbles.
Another worker on an affected floor claimed: “People are worried about catching the virus as the floor is completely overcrowded and no social distancing seems to be adhered to. Staff are being told if you don’t feel safe then take unpaid leave, your own leave, or go off sick. There’s no support and staff don’t know who to speak to.
“All staff on the same floor have been told they all need a test and to go back to work, as there’s no need to self-isolate, when at the test centre the people conducting the test are telling us we have to selfisolate and follow government guidelines.”
Another claimed that after the first set of cases: “People who had tested positive were in work the previous day but people were not told not to sit at their desks as people with Covid-19 had been sitting there. There was no sealing off of desks used by the people who had tested positive and two people sat at the desks not realising before being told to move.”
The claims were put to the DVLA, and a spokeswoman said: “The safety of our staff is our top priority and we have put in place a range of measures to keep staff safe on site.
“These include one way systems, perspex screens, staggered shift times, wearing of face coverings and social distancing and we regularly remind staff of their responsibilities to follow the guidelines.
“We have rigorous and regular cleaning in place across our estate which takes place throughout the day and when staff have gone home.
“We continue to follow Public Health Wales guidance including, on their recommendation, to arrange for staff to be tested as a precautionary measure.”