Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. is working to develop an infectious disease preparedness plan that will minimize health-related plant closures.
Smithfield, the largest pork processor in the country, closed its Sioux Falls plant for 25 days last spring to contain a COVID-19 outbreak. By June 16, 2020, a total of 1,294 workers had tested positive and four had died. In an effort to ensure this does not occur again, the meat producer made an agreement with OSHA to put together a team of experts for the plan, which will be implemented at all Smithfield plants.
“In a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor, Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. has committed to changing its health procedures and training relating to infectious diseases,” a release by the Department of Labor said. “The action follows a March 2020 Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection that led OSHA to cite the company under the general duty clause for failing to protect workers from coronavirus hazards at its Sioux Falls facility. As part of the agreement, Smithfield will pay the assessed penalty of $13,494.”
While the team works to create the plan, Smithfield will use the current plan that it has in place to reduce employee exposure to the coronavirus. Part of the agreement includes that the company evaluates work areas and areas where employees gather so exposure will be minimized.
There are several aspects to the agreement that the team will be required to do. The team must review the existing programs and also evaluate administrative and engineering controls. Another requirement is to identify personal protective equipment and respiratory protection needs, while also addressing the status of the on-site clinic. It will also train and provide paperwork in languages all employees will understand.
OSHA Regional Administrator Jennifer Rous said that this agreement is meant to protect Smithfield workers and ensure a scenario like that of the spring of 2020 doesn’t recur.
“What happened at this facility was tragic and we must ensure that all steps in the agreement are followed to prevent a mass outbreak from happening again,” Rous said.
Smithfield has agreed to review and revise the plan when needed, and also review union feedback pertaining to the plan on a yearly basis.
