Amazon workers ‘walkout’ at Darlington warehouse over lack of PPE and social distancing

Amazon workers have reportedly walked out at its Darlington warehouse over a lack of PPE and social distancing rules but bosses are allegedly threatening to sack them.

Staff who walk out over the lack of personal protective equipment face being replaced, it is claimed. 

The online retail giant is accused of putting the lives of hundreds of contract workers ‘at risk’ as further allegations of health and safety breaches emerge.

A number of contract staff finishing off Amazon’s Fulfilment Centre in Darlington, County Durham, have slammed ‘unacceptable and unsafe’ conditions on the site.

Darlington Borough Council has received several complaints from workers claiming Government advice is being ignored.

Concerns were first raised by one worker, who last month, claimed contract staff were not being allowed the ‘two metre social distancing’ rule, and that they were routinely crammed into the canteen area during break times.

At the time, Amazon said it had ‘reminded’ contractors of the government’s latest advice on coronavirus and said it would ensure this was adhered to at all times.

However, fresh concerns including further social distancing breaches and a lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were last night raised by contract workers at the site.

One worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that colleagues faced dismissal if they walked off the site over safety fears.

The worker said: ‘It’s a big site and the Amazon building is huge and there is nobody wearing masks or gloves – people are not social distancing.

‘Bosses have said if people walk off the site they will be sacked and replaced with someone else.

‘The only way you can work safely is if there were five people on site. It’s impossible. There are hundreds.’

Meanwhile, a cleaner who works for TC Facilities Management, accused Amazon of ‘ignoring’ a ‘worsening’ situation.

The worker said: ‘There is nobody enforcing social distancing rules, people are in very close proximity with each other.

‘Cleaners do not have PPE, we have the worst rubber gloves to clean the area, no aprons and no masks.

‘When I approached my manager about it they said ‘you’ve got to sneeze and cough’ over you to catch it.

‘Workers who don’t feel safe are told they can have agreed unpaid leave – a few have already quit from the agency.

‘Some have gone home with symptoms in the last two weeks. Amazon should be overseeing this to make sure everyone is doing their part. They are still letting contractors put everybody at risk.’

In response, TC Facilities Management (TCFM) and Amazon UK responded to the claims.

TCFM told us that contract workers would be provided with face masks and that it would ensure that social distancing was being adhered to.

They said: ‘We take seriously the responsibility we have to our people in keeping them safe and well at work, and in doing so make sure that every colleague is provided with the correct equipment and tools for the jobs they are asked to complete, we can confirm that there is no shortage of the correct Personal Protective Equipment in any of our sites.

‘We are working closely with our partners we have been able to go further to support our teams by providing face masks to all and also temperature checking everyone on entry to sites for all colleagues protection.’

Cllr Alan Marshall, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for the economy, said: ‘Our environmental health team has received several complaints relating to various companies claiming that public health guidelines are not being followed, but we have received no specific evidence to support this.

‘We have discussed the complaints with the companies who have assured us they have policies and procedures in place and comply with the guidelines.’

An Amazon spokesperson said: ‘Amazon is disappointed that some individuals working on the completion of the Darlington site have not complied with social distancing guidelines set by the contractors.’