Refuse crews ‘need better protection’

REFUSE collectors continuing their vital work during the coronavirus crisis need better protection and to be allowed to distance themselves from colleagues, their union says.

Waste collections are carrying on as normal as one of the critical services provided by councils.

But the GMB union, which represents many refuse collectors across the country, says local authorities must make sure the bin men and women are safe and can work at an appropriate distance from each other.

It wants councils to issue gloves and hand sanitiser to crews, and to change working practices to allow a greater distance between members when working.

Swindon Borough Council says it is making changes to allow this and might go further.

The GMB’s senior organiser, Keith Williams, no connection to the borough council cabinet member of the same name, said: “Despite the Government’s directive regarding social distancing and the lockdown, refuse crews are being instructed to carry on work as normal. This cannot be right. Employees are expected to go out in cabs that are inadequate for compliance with social distancing. Further, they have not been provided with daily masks and anti-viral hand gel.

“The Government directive on social distancing to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic is unequivocally clear that we should all keep two metres apart and only two people should be together unless they are living in the same household.

“We recognise the collection of refuse is essential in these times and we call on local authorities to put immediate measures in place with their waste management service providers to protect the welfare of our members.”

Crews in Swindon, at least until yesterday, were still working in threes – a driver and two loaders – for the standard size dustcarts.

A spokesman for the borough council said: “The safety of our staff is always a top priority and we currently have social distancing rules in place and have made hand sanitisers widely available to staff. For the crews collecting waste and recycling, we are developing measures to enable staff to follow proper social distancing rules. One example is that crews will be reduced to just a driver.”