Results 19,381-19,400 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Excuse me, can I finish?

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Can I finish, please?

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is not-----

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Can I explain? The HSA works with employers and employees. That information is dealt with on a confidential basis.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I do not have access to it and Deputy Stanley does not have access to it. Anyway, the matters are resolved and if necessary they are brought-----

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I do not need to know.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: What I can tell Deputy Stanley, if he cares to listen and if he would like to listen-----

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am sorry, Chair.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In the period from 1 March 2020 to Friday 15 May 2020 the Health and Safety Authority work contact unit received 3,188 requests for information and 547 complaints. Of these, 53% or 288 complaints related to Covid-19. There were 240 inspections carried out since last Monday, and meat plants were included.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: On the statistics, I understand from the HSE that there have been 35 outbreaks associated with workplaces, with 879 cases, of which 16 outbreaks occurred in meat processing plants, with 828 cases associated with these outbreaks. This is an ongoing outbreak, but preliminary estimates from the national outbreak control team indicate that between 55% to 60% of people in meat processing plants...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Covid-19 pandemic will continue to present a challenge on many fronts, not least in the workplace. At the launch of the national return to work safely protocol, I emphasised the overriding need for collaboration and co-operation at all levels between State agencies, employers and employees, as well as representative bodies. We saw this in the development of the protocol. The same...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Thank you. If the attitude of the Deputy from Limerick changed - perhaps he should look at his own approach - he might find that people would be more collegial.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The HSA has full powers to go into any place of work and carry out inspections. With the Covid-19 issue, the authority wants to work with employers and employees to resolve complaints if they exist. Every complaint receives attention.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy knows the HSA is an independent body and I have no problem asking it to respond to him.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I suppose, in fairness, Covid-19 has changed everything, including the way in which workers have had to change their processes.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The authority has carried out 240 inspections-----

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: -----since Monday. Included in that are some meat plants.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: If there is an outbreak in any meat plant, the first port of call is the HSE. The HSA does not go into a plant in that scenario.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: There is a responsibility to report such a scenario.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: A worker who has a problem and is concerned about health and safety in the workplace can contact the HSA. The HSA has received 3,300 complaints since 1 March. More than 200 of those related to Covid-19. Some were about premises that subsequently closed because of Covid, some were about premises that had not reopened and others were from people who were not working in the places about which...