Loblaws workers had virus symptoms on the job

A Calgary food distribution warehouse owned by grocery giant Loblaws is in hot water after an inspection found numerous violations of public-health orders meant to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In their inspection of Westfair Foods, a warehouse at 55 Freeport Boulevard N.E. that services Loblaws stores, including Real Canadian Superstore and Shoppers Drug Mart, Alberta Health Services officials found at least 10 people worked at the site while symptomatic during an ongoing outbreak.

There are 60 cases linked to the current Westfair outbreak, with 13 remaining active. It's the second outbreak at the site during the pandemic, with an earlier outbreak in September infecting 38, all of whom have since recovered.

In a report, AHS inspectors detailed inconsistent masking for forklift operators, many seen working without masks. During the current outbreak, 30 per cent of the Westfair forklift employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

As well, inspectors said sanitization and disinfection protocol is unclear at the facilities, not enough information about the virus is being provided to staff and documentation by management on measures in place to prevent COVID -19 spread is lacking.

AHS ordered Loblaws to implement daily screening, maintain records and ensure mask use is consistent. The company also must provide AHS with a detailed COVID-19 risk mitigation plan and materials they will provide to employees regarding the virus.

Loblaws said Friday the conditions outlined in the resulting report fall short of company expectations.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the safety of our team members has been at the forefront of everything we do,” the company's emailed statement said. “Specifically at our distribution centres, we have put a number of protocols in place, including daily health screening, increased sanitization efforts, and physical distancing requirements.

“The report from AHS is not in line with our expectations for a site, and we're working closely with the local public health team on next steps and any recommendations.”

Warehouses and distribution sites in Calgary and the surrounding area have seen a number of COVID -19 outbreaks during Alberta's second wave.

At the Balzac warehouse of Sobeys, another grocery chain, nine cases have been detected in an ongoing outbreak, with two still active.

Alberta Health also considers three individual Walmart distribution locations to have active outbreaks. There are 23 combined cases across the company's Calgary, Balzac and Rocky View County warehouses, with only one remaining active.

Amazon's Rocky View County site has 114 reported infections, with 22 still active.