Meat factories given 24-hour notice of inspections

Meat factories were given 24-hour notice by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) before inspections took place.

Independent TD Denis Naughten said the information was confirmed to him in a meeting with the HSE.

There was widespread concern when it was revealed that despite receiving complaints regarding meat plants during the height of the pandemic the HSA had not carried out any inspections before Monday 18 May.

No wonder there was such a high level of compliance during inspection

Deputy Naughten said that the HSA commitment to monitor COVID-19 standards across the country had to be questioned.

“How can the HSA stand over such an approach when over 90% of all COVID-19 infections in the workplace over the last two months were centred around meat plants?” he said.

“But what was the point of such inspections if there was advance notice? No wonder there was such a high level of compliance during inspection.”

Inspections

The HSA has always maintained that announced and unannounced basis and COVID-19 protocol has previously been referenced as a reason for announced inspections.

The information from deputy Naughten indicates that all inspections were announced.

My information is that it has found that most of the meat plants are working as they should

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed told the Dáil last week that he was pleased that most plants had been inspected by this stage.

“My information is that it has found that most of the meat plants are working as they should in terms of the new norm and taking the appropriate steps to protect workers in the plants,” he said.

However, there has been ongoing questions around the inspection procedure in factories.

Additional inspectors

The Department of Business has stated that an additional 250 mainly Veterinary Inspector staff from the Department of Agriculture have been assigned to support the HSA to inspect factories but these staff have not yet been trained and will have no power to assert protocol measures.

We wouldn’t be the enforcement, we’d be the eyes on the ground

A spokesperson for the Veterinary Officers Association (VOA), said the HSA plans were still at the “infancy stage”.

“The HSA will provide us with checklists,” he said. “We wouldn’t be the enforcement, we’d be the eyes on the ground.”

The Department of Business said it expects “a very small minority of cases” would need to be referred to the HSA.

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