THE mail must get through but Dunfermline posties are "concerned" about catching the coronavirus.

Classed as key workers, Royal Mail staff are still delivering across the UK with measures in place to prevent the spread of the disease.

Postman Garry Haldane, the rep for the Communication Workers Union who is also a local councillor, said there was some doubt about how effective those measures were.

He said: "They're providing gloves, the plastic cellophane ones, and fingerless gloves too but I don't wear them myself.

"I think they're just to make you feel better.

"If you touch something and then touch your face it doesn't matter if you're wearing gloves or not, you could still get the virus.

"And if you're wearing gloves, you can't wash your hands as often."

Cllr Haldane continued: "We are all concerned about coronavirus but it hasn't really hit the office yet.

"We've got people off who are sick or self-isolating or in the at-risk group but we haven't had a confirmed case yet.

"It may change if there is one but that's the same for any workplace just now."

He said there were issues at the Woodmill Road sorting office that had left posties concerned.

He explained: "There was a problem to start with, the cleaner was self-isolating and went off, so we had to raise that with management as the place was filthy as it wasn't getting cleaned.

"And there was no hand sanitiser for a time but now we've got it for when we're coming in and out of the building.

"They have put measures in place to make it as safe as they can.

"They've also split the shifts. Where there were two drivers going out in a van before, now there's only one and the other postie starts later.

"We don't have personal protective equipment but I don't think we really need that as we're not in contact with people and we've got good washing facilities."

New social distancing measures have been introduced to ensure colleagues are at least two metres apart and Royal Mail are also "implementing a new rule that means there will only be one person in a Royal Mail delivery vehicle at any one time".

There will continue to be no contact with customers and a statement said: "We have taken a number of measures and provided preventative guidance to our colleagues.

"This includes promoting regular handwashing with soap and water. We have good supplies of soap and paper towels.

"We are also providing disposable latex gloves, available to anyone who wants to use them."

It added: "We are doing everything we can to protect our people while remaining open for business and offering delivery services throughout the UK."

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