Midlands Meat Processor Issues Response To Covid-19 Outbreak In Factory

Friday, 1 May 2020 14:17

Rosderra Irish Meats confirmed they had cases of coronavirus in Roscrea.

A meat processing factory in the Midlands has issued a response to an outbreak of Covid-19 at it's plant and concerns about the measure taken to combat it.

Speaking in the Dail last night, Sinn Féin TD for Laois-Offaly, Brian Stanley said the company is not implementing social distancing or health and safety measures, despite employees raising concerns with management.

When asked by Midlands103 for a response, a spokesperson for Rosderra Irish Meats gave the following reply.

STATEMENT IN FULL:

Our sites are fully regulated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine who, as is normal practice in the sector, have their own representatives on site at all times.

From the outset of the Covid-19 crisis, in conjunction with guidelines from the HSE, WHO, DAFM and the Irish Government and in consultation with Union Officials, Rosderra Irish Meats have implemented stringent and detailed control measures and protocols to ensure employee and DAFM Staff safety while continuing as an essential service to provide an adequate supply of high quality food to our customers and a high level of service to our suppliers. A continued flow of open communication with all employees was implemented immediately the crisis was announced and Rosderra Irish Meats will continue to do so until further advisement from the HSE and the Irish Government.

All of these steps compliment the very high standards of hygiene and the sanitary environment in place at all our sites. As part of this, we have fully engaged with the HSE and DAFM in a consultation process which has led to the co-ordinated testing of all of our staff at the Roscrea Plant. A number of employees had a positive result from that testing and they are self-isolating per HSE protocols. We have reconfigured the process with the remaining staff who have been tested and are clear of Covid-19 and are continuing with a scaled down process in the short-term until the staff return. We expect those staff will be returning over the next number of weeks having adhered to HSE protocols.

We will remain vigilant and continue to maintain our robust procedures while Covid-19 remains an issue within Ireland.