The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a large-scale meat factory in the south of the country has been told by the HSE that it will be temporarily closed if there is one more outbreak of COVID-19 in the plant.

Factory management is understood to be very concerned and taking additional precautions in light of the recent localised lockdown sparked by virus outbreaks in factories in Kildare and Offaly.

Over 100 workers tested positive at the plant in the initial outbreak and testing was repeatedly carried out on workers. The Health and Safety Authority was also called in to carry out an inspection of the plant.

A high number of the workforce in the factory come from Brazil and eastern Europe.

The possibility of another factory closure will concern many farmers, who feel the closure of Kildare Chilling has had an impact on quotes for livestock.

All four affected plants - Kildare Chilling, Irish Dog Foods, O’Brien’s Fine Foods and now Carroll’s Cuisine - have taken the decision not to reopen this week.

HSE

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has previously said that he feels that meat factories should close if their workers have cases of COVID-19.

However, the HSE has not been definitive in how it will assess whether it’s necessary to close a plant.

“Initially, if there are only one or two cases, only the cases and their contacts would be tested and put off work to isolate,” it told the Irish Farmers Journal.

It said the decision to close a plant would depend on different circumstances - including the environment, work practices, travel arrangements, accommodation and social practices of workers.

Fortnightly blanket-testing of meat factory workers has also been suggested by Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary, but in regard to testing, the HSE also said that a decision to test all staff would be based on a number of different factors.

SIPTU

The workers’ union SIPTU and Meat Industry Ireland (MII) met on Monday 10 August to discuss testing and work sick pay.

A statement from SIPTU said both parties would seek a meeting with the HSE to discuss improving testing at meat factories.

It said: “This will focus on delivering quicker testing and results with a view towards protecting meat workers from infection while maintaining continuity in production.”

Both groups are to meet later in the month once MII has had a chance to discuss SIPTU’s other requests around the provision of sick pay for workers with their members.

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