WORKERS at a maintenance firm run through River Clyde Homes are angry at being told to continue going out on jobs despite the government's plea for people to stay at home.

Staff at Home Fix Scotland say they have been told to proceed with non-essential tasks like cleaning empty properties and closes and carrying out bulk uplifts.

A source also says members of the team were told to 'call people to check if they needed new smoke alarms' and that workers are going into homes without any protective equipment.

Our source said: "People are being told that they're key workers and they're going into people's houses with no gloves or masks on.

"If an older person is left without lighting that's an essential job, but a lot of the workers are being sent out on non-essential jobs.

"Emergency jobs are things like loss of heat and water and roof leaks.

"There's no need to be cleaning out void properties and being sent into houses to do jobs that just don't need to be done.

"Some of these properties don't have running hot water so people have to go to the toilet and then find somewhere else to wash their hands. "

Another insider told us he recently saw grass cutters out picking up litter at Riverside Gardens, a sheltered housing complex run by RCH.

He added: "They have two guys out in vans at a time.

"The guys are absolutely terrified.

"It's astounding what they're doing.

"They're putting productivity over health and safety."

Home Fix Scotland is the repairs contractor for River Clyde Homes and its services include responsive maintenance, work in assisted living complexes, ground maintenance and estate services, electrical installation and maintenance, gas installation and maintenance, and planned maintenance and empty homes.

A spokesperson for the company said: "In conjunction with our community partners and in line with other Scottish housing associations, we have identified the essential and statutory services we will undertake during the current crisis.

"This means that many of our staff have been identified as key workers.

"Our priority is to ensure that our customers’ homes, the places where they have been instructed to remain for at least three weeks, are safe and secure.

"We also have a role to play in minimising the spread of COVID-19, hence the increased focus on cleaning of communal areas.

"At the same time, we have a commitment to ensuring a supply of homes to those who have through no fault of their own become homeless as a result the current situation.

"We do not underestimate the challenges of keeping the Inverclyde community safe at this time, particularly its most vulnerable members and we applaud the effort and goodwill being shown by our staff, both those on the frontline and those supporting them from home.

"We have encouraged staff to continue to take annual leave during the current crisis to ensure that those working on the frontline and those supporting them in the back office take time off for their personal wellbeing."