Raven mill employee concern following Covid diagnosis allegation

The Raven Mill site in Chadderton

Employees at the Raven Mill in Chadderton remain extremely concerned about their potential health and safety following allegations that a member of staff has tested positive for Covid-19.

In April, the Chronicle reported how Raven Mill staff were worried following management's apparent disregard for the Government's strict social distancing measures at the Raven Avenue site.

Clipper Logistics are currently operating returns and pre-retail services on behalf of fashion giants Very.co.uk at the site.

A concerned employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, contacted the Chronicle today with news of the alleged Covid diagnosis.

They said: "Management have kept this quiet from its staff.

"There has been no deep clean and nobody has been offered any testing.

"Our mills are like breeding grounds, so everyone is worried."

Clipper was created in 1992, and is now one of the UK’s leading independent logistics companies with a turnover of over £450m. 

They employ 6,500 people across 46 sites in the UK. 

The company manages 10 million sq ft of warehousing space and operate a fleet of over 300 vehicles.

Meanwhile, a mobile testing lab has recently been set up at JD Sports’ central warehouse in nearby Rochdale after a small number of workers there tested positive for coronavirus.

Rochdale borough council said it was investigating if there were any links between cases at the fashion retailer’s site which were identified through its local test-and-trace system after testing “as many employees as possible.”

Clipper Logistics have been approached by the Oldham Chronicle for a response, but so far they have not yet provided us with a statement.

Recently, we reported on local MPs Jim McMahon and Debbie Abrahams' demanding ‘clarity’ for local warehouse workers being exposed to Covid-19.

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