The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fears raised after positive virus test
GLENROTHES: Bosch Rexroth worker found to have Covid-19
Workers in Fife have raised fears for their safety after a colleague tested positive for Covid-19.
Employees at the Bosch Rexroth engineering factory have called for the Glenrothes site to be shut down, saying their work is non-essential, but bosses insist they have taken measures to protect staff.
Local SNP MP Peter Grant said his office had been inundated with calls from people concerned about working conditions at companies across the constituency.
He was speaking as the number of confirmed cases in Fife rose to 76, out of a Scottish total of 1,993.
Elsewhere in Fife, bosses at Babcock confirmed the Rosyth yard would continue to work on defence programmes following talks with the UK Government.
Workers have called for the closure of a Fife factory after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19.
Employees of engineering firm Bosch Rexroth say they are worried for their health and wellbeing amid reports a colleague at the Glenrothes site is seriously ill in hospital.
Bosses at the Germany-based company have confirmed an office worker is being treated for coronavirus but said it had taken a series of measures to protect its other staff.
Concerned workers have contacted The Courier, saying they could not understand why the factory was still operating given Scottish Government guidelines that all non-essential businesses should close.
One employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I will be reconsidering my employment soon. I never expected this from a company with the Robert Bosch name.”
Another worker said: “All the workers are now greatly concerned for our wellbeing, yet the management still refuse to close.”
Glenrothes SNP MP Peter Grant said his office had been inundated with calls from members of the public concerned about working conditions at various companies across the constituency.
He said the Scottish Government had issued clear guidelines that they expect all manufacturing employers to follow.
A spokesperson for Bosch Rexroth said the company was in direct contact with the family of the employee concerned, adding that he was last in the office on March 20. “In line with our established procedures, we had already implemented a contact risk assessment process, including an evaluation of any deep cleaning...and a further appraisal of associates who may have been in close contact with the colleague in question,” they said.
“Bosch Rexroth continues to operate with a series of protective measures in place to ensure the necessary social distancing precautions in order to minimise risk for our associates.”
The company said practices at the
“We are committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our associates and will continue to monitor the situation. BOSCH REXROTH SPOKESPERSON
Glenrothes plant were continually reviewed and added: “We are committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our associates and will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
Employees at a number of other non-essential businesses have been contacting The Courier with complaints about being asked to work.
Staff at House of Bruar, Core Products in Perth and Glenrothes, Standard Aero at Almondbank and Dover Fueling Solutions in Dundee are among those who have raised concerns that they were expected to attend despite not being employed in key roles.
However, bosses insist they are following guidelines which allow staff in online and warehouse distribution centres to continue working as long as they practise social distancing.
Dover Fueling Solutions is now appealing for employees to return to work on a voluntary basis after seeking further government guidance on essential business status.