(file photo/ CHAT NEWS Today)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Union calls approach so far a failure

OHS inspection of Brooks meat plant done by video days before employee death

Apr 28, 2020 | 10:25 AM

BROOKS, AB – Nearly a week before the province announced the death of a JBS employee an OHS inspection was done remotely and not in person, CHAT NEWS has learned.

In a statement, the province confirms the last Occupational health and Safety inspection of the Brooks meatpacking plant was done by video on April 15.

“Due to the circumstances of the pandemic, video conferencing was employed. It was a live inspection and fully interactive, with the inspector directing movement as required. Video is also recorded so that the OHS official can go back and review and follow-up if required. Video inspections are being conducted to mitigate risk of exposure of all parties,” said Adrienne South, press secretary for Alberta Labour Minister Jason Copping.

A unionized UFCW worker at JBS and a union representative at the facility also took part in the inspection, according to South.

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The province announced the death of a male JBS worker on Wednesday April 22.

In response, the union UFCW Local 401 said the approach taken by OHS has “been a failure so far.”

“We are disappointed in the approach, our understanding is that the inspections were done virtually using FaceTime, and we also understand that the reason the OHS inspectors would not visit the plant was because they were unsafe,” said Michael Hughes spokesperosn for the UFCW local 401.

“If it is unsafe for an OHS inspector to visit the plant, how is it safe for thousands of workers to crowd into a plant?” Hughes added.

The province said the facility was found in compliance during the virtual inspection on April 15.

“The officer was able to verify that measures such as temperature screening, dividers and floor markings to encourage social distancing, employees wearing masks and enhanced cleaning and sanitizations measures were in place,” said South.

“Occupational Health and Safety did not issue any non-compliance orders, and determined that the health and safety measures were in place. The report was provided to the employer on April 16,” South added.

AHS officials also visited JBS in Brooks on a number of occasions, according to the ministry.

Video inspections were also conducted at the Cargill meat plant in High River, Alta. One worker there died and hundreds tested positive for the virus.