Scottish Government praise for Norbord “vital role” in Covid-19 crisis

The plants at Dalcross and Cowie have provided wood-based construction materials to the Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow, London Nightingale Hospital and other emergency hospitals in Swansea Bay, Maidstone and Exeter. All these temporary hospitals have been built in order to treat patients with COVID-19.

“The forestry and wood processing sector in Scotland is playing a vital role during the current COVID-19 pandemic,” said Scottish Rural Economy and Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing.

“Key products such as pallets, packaging, biomass fuel and other wood-based construction materials are all helping to keep the country running.

“We are facing unprecedented and very difficult times and any worker who is contributing in the national cause deserves recognition and thanks.

“At Norbord, a greatly reduced workforce has managed to keep critical operations going in order to supply construction material for these important emergency hospitals.”

At the Norbord plants, only critical people remain on site to continue key operations. All social distancing guidelines are being observed along with safe working practices and where this is not possible, the operations have ceased.

“Scotland’s forestry and wood processing industry is seeking to do its bit to help in the fight against Covid-19,” said Stuart Goodall, chief executive of Confor.

“In this time of national emergency, all parts of the sector are keen to provide what assistance we can and welcome Scottish Government’s support to help us do that.”