AN AGENCY worker driving minibuses for the city council’s cleansing team feels he has lost out for “doing the right thing” after getting no self-isolation support.

Mark McCafferty, 30, claims he was advised to isolate when he called the NHS Covid-19 helpline after a worker at a council depot tested positive for the virus.

He made the decision due to underlying health conditions.

But he wasn’t contacted by Test and Protect – Scotland’s test and trace strategy – and has missed out on a self-isolation grant as a result.

As an agency worker, he didn’t qualify for sick pay from the council and says he is now out of work and facing “financial hardship”.

A council spokesman said if procedures are followed properly, there are “no circumstances in which drivers of support vehicles should come into close contact with 
others”.

He added agency workers should contact their agency for further advice on support available.

Mr McCafferty reported for work at the Dawsholm depot but was sent to the council’s Western depot, where he picked up a crew of refuse collectors.

He said he was told by workers that a refuse collector had been in a bin lorry with a driver who had a close family member with symptoms.

The family member tested positive, and the lorry driver later tested positive himself, Mr McCafferty said.

He claimed that although workers sat apart in the bus, they were not wearing face coverings. He was also concerned the virus could spread on surfaces or door handles.

Mr McCafferty said: “Once the council knew an individual had tested positive, all his close contacts should have been sent home straight away and the minibus should have been deep cleaned.”

He had started working with the council through ASA Recruitment in August.

To qualify for a £500 self-isolation support grant, you must have been asked to isolate by Test and Protect.

The minibus driver said Test and Protect had told him his details aren’t on the database and he believes the worker who caught the virus would not have known his contact information.

The council’s spokesman said all national rules and guidance to stop the spread of Covid-19 are followed.

He added: “Therefore, any worker will be advised to self-isolate immediately if they indicate that a person they live with has Covid-19 symptoms.

“Our cleansing service has been fully risk assessed in terms of the threat posed by Covid-19 and appropriate measures put in place.

“A key part of these measures has been the use of support vehicles to limit the number of people within vehicles and to allow appropriate physical distancing among staff.

“Anyone who fails to follow the current Covid-control measures intended to keep people safe at work is putting themselves and colleagues at risk.

“All agency staff are advised of our procedures prior to starting work with the council.”