REFUSE workers are back out on their rounds and emptying bins after a stand-off over the cleaning of their lorries.

Bins went uncollected across Brighton and Hove on Monday as workers refused to leave the Hollingdean depot until their vehicles were cleaned amid fears they could be vulnerable to coronavirus.

The GMB union said the workers had been asking for the deep cleans “for months” before dropping their tools on health and safety grounds on Monday.

READ MORE: Brighton and Hove bins uncollected amid coronavirus concerns

Brighton and Hove City Council has now agreed to add an additional measure for all the vehicles to be deep cleaned when they leave the workshop.

However, there is now a backlog of rubbish across the city with many readers claiming their trash remains uncollected.

A resident near said the communal rubbish site in Chadborn Close, Brighton, was overspilling and rats were “hanging in the bins”.

The Argus:

Chadborn Close residents say they have rats after as bin workers try to clear the backlog 

Gary Palmer, regional organiser for the GMB, said: “Everyone is back out today and staff have been trained how to clean their own vehicles.

“The workforce agreed to go out today on the understanding that there’s a proper rota in place to make sure all vehicles are cleaned.

“There have been broken promises before, but the workforce has put their trust in the management and we will now see what happens.

“The workers are residents as well and share the frustration that people feel.

“But if your management refuses to listen, something needs to shock them back to the table.”

The Argus:

Workers refused to leave the depot amid coronavirus concerns

The council says all vehicles were previously deep cleaned on a weekly rota.

There is now an additional measure that all vehicles leaving the workshop will now be deep cleaned.

It is now focusing on catching up with the missed refuse collections this week and hopes to have the rubbish cleared by Friday.

Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act allows employees to refuse to attend work due to health and safety concerns.

Section 4 of the Health and Safety at Work Act states a person in control of a premises has a duty to take all “reasonable measures to ensure that all are safe and without risks to the health of both employees and non-employees”.

On Monday the council said: “We’re aware that City Clean crews have not started any collections today due to concerns about whether vehicles are adequately deep cleaned following them being in the workshop for repairs.

The Argus:

The bin depot in Hollingdedan

“Our cleaning and work arrangements are in line with the Waste Industry Safety and Health forum guidelines.

“However we’re keen to understand our colleagues’ concerns so as to resolve them as quickly as possible.

“We apologise for any inconvenience.

“We also want to assure residents we’re doing all we can to understand the concerns of staff so collections can be started.”