Tayto coronavirus outbreak is referred to authorities by Corby MP

Corby's MP has referred the coronavirus outbreak at the Tayto factory to the authorities after being contacted by a number of concerned constituents.

Tayto, a crisps manufacturer, have confirmed there are "a number of employees at Corby who have tested positive for Covid-19." Staff at the factory say 16 people have tested positive.

Tom Pursglove, Corby's MP, said: "I have raised it with the chief executive of the county council and the chief executive of Corby Council, and taken it up with the local NHS CCG (clinical commissioning group) given there are clear public health implications.

"Given the seriousness of this and the number of cases it's essential they investigate these matters as one of priority."

Mr Pursglove said employers had a duty to their staff during the pandemic and expressed the view that if a workplace could not be open safely, it should not be open.

He said: "I am very, very keen that the authorities look at this and work with the company to resolve this."

Tayto said it did not wish to make any further comments at this stage.

Corby currently has 102 confirmed cases of coronavirus according to government figures. Tayto is no longer confirming the number of cases at the factory, but if it is 16 then that would account for 15 per cent of the Corby's infections.

Yesterday (Thursday, May 14), Tayto's group operation director, Martin McElhinney, sent a letter to employees to confirm the situation a week after the first case was confirmed on Thursday, May 7.

The letter said: "As you are probably aware, we have had a number of employees at Corby test positive for Covid-19."

Mr McElhinney went on to say he wanted to address workers' concerns and said the company continues to monitor the situation closely.

He said: "Firstly, please be assured that we have shared our approach with a number of external bodies including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), local environmental health officers as well as our recognised union (USDAW)."

HSE is the government agency responsible for regulation and enforcement of workplace health and safety. A spokesman for HSE said: "HSE is aware and is currently making enquiries."

A Corby Council spokesman said: "Corby Council is aware of a report of a number of positive coronavirus cases in one of Corby’s factories.

"Advice was provided to the business by environmental health together with how to access infection control support via Public Health England (PHE).

"Health and safety enforcement on site is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive."

Yesterday (Thursday, May 14), PHE said it had still not been notified of any cases at the factory.

The letter from Tayto added: "Tayto Group takes the health and safety of out employees extremely seriously and has been following the latest Government guidelines throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

"Since early March we have implemented social distancing, enhanced cleaning and have changed the way we operate to allow employees to work safely in light of the challenges of coronavirus."

However, the Northamptonshire Telegraph has been overwhelmed by the response from staff within the factory who have raised concerns about what is going on at the factory.

Every single worker has requested anonymity and many spoke of a culture of fear. Some said there had been threats of job losses if people spoke out.

One member of staff said: "It's impossible to have 2m distance from everyone."

Another said: "Social distancing is difficult partly because of noise and partly because the factory isn't designed for distance working. As with many factories, machines are placed next to each other."

Several members of staff described a long narrow corridor that workers have to pass through to access the factory floor and said the only change is a 15 minute lag between shift change overs.

One worker said: "You still pass people in the corridor and when you get to the changing room there are people in there who have just finished and others who are getting ready to go in."

Someone else said: "When you walk into the building you have about a metre in the passageway where you have foot traffic going in both directions as you have to try to keep out the way or brush past to get where you need to go.

"When I get changed I have four to six people within 2m. Go to the canteen and there is three to a table about a metre apart."

A number of staff at the factory said the canteen had remained open throughout the pandemic with no attempt to enforce social distancing. One person said: "They left four chairs at the table in the canteen but that is not 2m apart."

One worker said there had been no additional protective clothing and added: "Workers entered the factory with face masks (and) they have been ask to leave and remove the mask and then come back."

Some staff said they had vulnerable family members and were frightened.

One said: "Some have quit their jobs, but most are just not coming into work for their own safety."

Another member of staff said: "Many are only minimum or just above minimum wage and cannot afford time off."

Many are hoping for changes, but one person said: "Let's hope it doesn't resort to deaths for drastic action."