Moy Park worker from Co Tyrone site dies from coronavirus
Unite describes the news as "devastating"
Last updated 12th May 2020
A worker at Moy Park's Dungannon factory has died after contracting Covid-19, a trade unionist said.
The woman, in her 50s, was a member of the production staff.
There is no suggestion that the firm was at fault and it said "robust'' measures have been put in place to keep workers safe.
Sean McKeever, regional officer for Unite the union, said: "Unite has now confirmed that a worker based in Moy Park Dungannon has died following contracting the Covid-19 virus.
"This is devastating news and we would like to extend our condolences to her friends and family.''
Moy Park is one of Northern Ireland's main chicken producers.
It previously said it had identified seven measures aimed at enhancing social distancing, including staff taking staggered breaks and re-spacing communal areas and work stations as well as installing screens on production lines.
In a statement last night (Monday) “We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of one of our team members. Our thoughts are with Luciana’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
"The terrible impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to greatly affect everyone’s daily lives throughout our community.
"As we have consistently stated, the health, wellbeing and safety of our Moy Park team members is always our most important consideration. It is all the more disappointing therefore to have to respond to these inaccurate claims made by Unite the Union.
"Moy Park worked quickly with all key parties (government, industry bodies, employees and unions) as the COVID-19 crisis unfolded. We evolved our actions to create and implement bespoke solutions early on, with many of them now recognised as leading the way for food processors. The key significant measures taken included the following:
• Installation of perspex screens.
• Social distancing / team member traffic flow on site.
• Staggered breaks / socially distanced restaurants.
• Enhanced cleaning and additional PPE.
• Incentive payments to all site based team members.
"These measures have been in place for some time at all our sites and are stringently followed.
"These are also exactly the type of measures that government guidance is now calling for as other industries return to work. We continue to consult, evolve and review our measures to ensure rigorous safety, for example we are in the process of introducing thermal temperature scanning of all team members as they arrive at work."
Meanwhile, Mr McKeever said Stormont ministers should act urgently to bring forward an emergency response to what it said is a rising number of Covid-19 clusters in workplaces in the poultry and meat industries.
"The Northern Ireland Executive must act now before it is too late.
"There are particular challenges in meat processing factories which mean they need a sector-specific strategy.
"We want to avoid the risk of the industry facing the same crisis as in the USA and Brazil, where tens of thousands of workers have caught this virus.''
In a statement, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland said it sympathised with the family and friends of the Moy Park employee "who has tragically passed away. Discussions are currently ongoing with the employer to understand the circumstances."