Dail told 60 COVID-19 cases in Edenderry meat plant

A local TD has told the Dail that she has been informed that 60 workers at Rosderra Irish Meats in Edenderry have contracted COVID-19.

Deputy Carol Nolan was speaking yesterday when raising concerns about meat factories.

She said she wished the workers a speedy recovery and return to full health and said there was “major concern” about this in the town of Edenderry.

In response Health Minister Simon Harris said he took the points raised very seriously and although the regulation and management of meat factories resides with the Minister for Agriculture, he undertook to write to Deputy Nolan in regard to “specific protocols and safeguards in place and the work that is under way.

Rosderra also operates a facility in Roscrea. In the Dail on Aprl 30, Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley said that 120 staff had tested positive there for the virus.

In a statement to the Offaly Independent, Rosderra Irish Meats Group said: “in common with many other sizeable essential businesses, regrettably we have staff across the business who are self-isolating and are awaiting tests or test results, staff who have tested positive from mid-March, some of whom have returned to work following the HSE agreed self-isolation protocol and some who continue to self-isolate under the same protocol and staff who have tested negative and continue to work.”

It said it continues to work closely with the HSE, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with occupational health professionals to implement “significant COVID-19 control measures and protocols to ensure that all health, safety and sanitation requirements are being strictly adhered to in order that transmission of the virus is minimised.”

It said the safety and welfare of employees was of the utmost importance to Rosderra and it said it continue to be extremely vigilant with protective measures for infection control- including supervised distancing, mandatory face coverings for all employees on all sites, temperature screening and a staggered approach to breaks and start times to reducethe possibility of gatherings.

“All employees have been informed NOT to come to work when feeling ill or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. We are extremely thankful to report that the employees that tested positive are recovering well or have recovered and returned to work.

“From week commencing 16th March, we instituted temperature screening which included completion of a symptom interview-questionnaire for all staff and essential visitors entering our sites and have followed the advice of our Occupational Health Professionals

In addition, we have;

· Introduced additional PPE – visors, masks and goggles.

· Extended and reorganised canteens to facilitate adequate social distancing at break-times and in changing rooms and have extended washing facilities

· Increased hand sanitising stations – which were already at a high level as befitting a food production plant.

· Reconfigured operations to facilitate social distancing or partitioned workspaces where appropriate.

· Staff working from home where possible

· High risk and vulnerable staff have self-isolated at home

· Trained and briefed all staff in their relevant languages on Covid-19 related issues including Covid-19 related financial support measures.

· Engaged with the HSE to co-ordinate testing of all staff at two locations

· Broadened the scope of the Company Employee Assistance Programme

The company statement concluded by saying: "We continue to work with DAFM, Unions, HSE, Occupational Health Practitioners, Farm Suppliers, other Suppliers and Customers to keep our employees safe and healthy in this unprecedented time, while delivering much needed food to consumers and avoiding significant animal welfare issues on farms."