COVID-19 inspections set for six Sask. meat plants

Joint health and labour ministry teams examine safety after Alberta outbreaks

REGINA Occupational and public health officers are launching joint inspections this week to ensure slaughterhouses and meat processing plants are complying with COVID-19 restrictions.

The Ministry of Health confirmed on Tuesday that public health inspectors from the Saskatchewan Health Authority and occupational health officers from the Labour Ministry will visit six large facilities in Saskatchewan.

According to a statement provided to the Leader-post, the inspections “will focus on ensuring that the facility operators have implemented adequate COVID -19 mitigation requirements and are in compliance with the Saskatchewan Public Health Order.”

Two of Canada’s largest COVID -19 outbreaks are connected to two large meat facilities in Alberta.

Cargill’s plant near High River is connected to more than 900 cases, roughly half its workforce. The plant reopened this week.

An outbreak at the JBS Canada plant near Brooks is believed to be responsible for hundreds of cases of COVID-19.

Saskatchewan’s joint inspections will review COVID-19 response plans, ensure mitigation measures are in place throughout the facility and review cleaning and disinfection measures, according to the health ministry.

The ministry declined to give any information on whether slaughterhouses and meat processing facilities have been connected to any cases in Saskatchewan.

It also avoided directly answering a question about why the joint inspections are only happening now, despite ample warning from Alberta that such facilities could be at risk.

Pat Horbay, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union local that represents workers at a Maple Leaf plant in Saskatoon, said safety measures have already been put in place to protect its roughly 600 members.

A separate UFCW local represents workers at the Cargill slaughterhouse in Alberta.

Horbay said Maple Leaf began to take action in Saskatoon as early as the first week of March.

He mentioned that some lines were fitted with screens about two weeks ago, with more set to follow. According to Horbay, the company has tried different ways of spacing out employees. He also mentioned mandatory masking and temperature checks conducted by student nurses.

“If you have a temperature higher than 38, you’re not allowed in,” Horbay said.

While reporting by the Globe and Mail has suggested workers at Cargill were given incentives to continue working even when sick, Horbay said Maple Leaf has been clear that workers with symptoms should stay home.

“They’re being very proactive,” he said.

“They’re trying to make it as safe as possible, I need to admit.”

But Horbay also welcomed news of government inspections. He said he learned that one is on the way at the Maple Leaf plant.

“Anything Maple Leaf can do or the government can do to make it safer for us, great,” he said.

“I don’t want this place to close down. I want it safe.”