Almost 60% of meat workers in Ireland say they have been injured in work.

That's according to a new report from the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) detailing “dangerous working conditions” in the meat sector in Ireland...

The report heard from more than 150 workers across 13 counties in a variety of roles, including de-boners, cutters and trimmers, kill line operators, packing hall operators and chill room operatives.

The survey found that 58% of workers didn’t know who the Health and Safety Officer was while a fifth of respondents said that injuries were an expected occupational hazard...

In the report, workers said that injuries occurred due to faulty tools or machinery, none or limited training on health and safety or on how to use equipment properly, a lack of protective measures or equipment as well as exposure to toxic chemicals and high noise levels.

Almost half (43%) said that they felt verbally bullied in the workplace, 11% felt physically bullied and 35% felt psychologically bullied...

Undocumented workers face more discrimination...

A number of meat plants were found to have clusters of Covid-19 during the pandemic.

52 outbreaks have been associated with meat plants and some workers said there has been a backslide in Covid-health and safety measures.

Workers told the MRCI that “they are being told to physically distance on the factory floor in areas where it is not possible to do so, especially when production targets remain so high”...

Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has, however, refuted the claims made by the MRCI in the report.

MII, who represent primary meat processor companies, said: “Were such practices to exist we would expect and encourage them to be reported to the proper authorities.

“The primary meat processing sector is highly regulated and subject to the full rigors of employment law, with meat plants regularly inspected by officials from the Workplace Relations Commission and Health and Safety Authority (HSA) who have legislative powers to intervene.

“The findings of multiple inspections by the HSA across the industry in recent times do not support the allegations being made by MCRI.

“All employees in the sector, regardless of nationality, are protected by the same Irish employment and health and safety legislation.”