More HSA meat plant visits urged to tackle Covid
THE level of inspections carried out at meat plants has been described as ‘disappointing’ given the risk of outbreaks and Covid variants within the sector, industry sources have warned.
The Irish Mail on Sunday requested details of the inspections by the Health and Safety Authority since it was authorised to do so from May 18 last year.
From May 18 to December 31, 2020, there were 189 inspections and from January to February 26, 2021, 97 inspections, out of a total of 1,163 Covid-related workplace visits.
Of those inspections, the HSA found a high level of compliance with Covid regulations.
In a statement, the HSA said: ‘The Authority has received a high level of cooperation from management, staff and contractors in plants inspected and has noted an overall responsiveness to guidance and advice issued both onsite and subsequently.
Based on the inspections carried out, the HSA identified a generally high level of adherence with the recommended measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 in a workplace context, in line with the guidance issued by the NOCT (National Outbreak Control Team) and the Work Safely Protocol.’
Siptu manufacturing division organiser Greg Ennis told the MoS: ‘I would be very disappointed with the number of inspections at meat plants as a percentage of the overall inspections carried out. And I wouldn’t be sold because of a proven high transmissibility factor within meat plants where over 3,500 workers out of 15,500 have contracted Covid. You are talking about almost 25%, one in four. And that’s why the inspection rate needs to be much higher.’
Mr Ennis also raised concerns at the lack of implementation on the majority of recommendations issued by the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 in October 2020 – including a statutory sick pay scheme to cater for low-paid workers such as those in nursing homes and meat plants, and making Covid-19 a notifiable disease under health and safety regulations.
In relation to sick pay, Mr Ennis said it was not enough for Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to say this payment will be brought in at the end of 2021. ‘It’s too little too late,’ he said, arguing that a payment mechanism was required to discourage workers from going to work despite showing Covid symptoms.
He said making Covid-19 a notifiable disease was crucial as it would empower the HSA to close down a workplace if necessary.
The HSA told the MoS it was a matter for public health authorities to close workplaces in relation to Covid-19, if necessary: ‘As Covid19 is a public health matter, it is the responsibility of the Departments of Public Health and specifically the Medical Officer of Health to manage outbreaks in workplaces.’
Sinn Féin Health spokeswoman, Louise O’Reilly described the level of inspection as ‘woefully inadequate’
‘Inspection rate needs to be much higher’
‘Light-touch regulation is not acceptable’
given transmission rates. ‘These workers, in some instances, are vulnerable and they need the State to step up and resource more inspectors and more inspections.’
She added: ‘The HSA should have the power to shut down plants. Light-touch regulation is not acceptable.’
The HSPC has identified 308 outbreaks in workplaces from November 22, 2020 to March 6, 2021. Thirty-eight of these were related to meat processing plants.