The Cedar Meats cluster shines a blowtorch on how to reopen following an outbreak.
Australia is having tremendous success in managing COVID-19. We are the envy of the world in many respects. Our success now means we are now seeing the gradual opening up of society with the relaxation of lockdown measures in most states.
Whilst being a cause for celebration, the cluster that has emerged at the Cedar Meats facility in Victoria is a poignant reminder of how precariously fragile the situation is, and a powerful reminder for why businesses must continue their vigilance with risk management processes against COVID-19. It shines a spotlight on an important question for all businesses. How do we reopen after an outbreak?
As of the 7th of May, 62 COVID-19 cases have been reported as associated with this cluster. Following the first reported cases, the facility was closed barring essential workers required for animal welfare. It would be expected that the number of positive cases will rise over the coming days.
Meat packing plants have been a focal point of the COVID-19 outbreak in the USA. Along with aged care centres and prisons, meat packing plants are seeing significantly increased infection rates compared to other businesses. Over 5000 reported cases have emerged in meat packing facilities in the USA to date, with close working conditions, environmental conditions and shift lengths have been proposed as possible reasons for such rapid spread within the facilities.
There are fascinating moral, ethical, and legislative questions to ponder about the situation in the USA. With meat stocks dwindling on the shelves, animals that would otherwise have been sent to processing plants being euthanised, and a protracted supply shortage likely, how do they re-open? What trade-off will be made between worker safety and the needs of the nation?
We are fortunate to not be in this position in Australia. However, Cedar Meats will now be facing a similar challenge as those plants in the USA. How do they re-open? When is it safe?
It poses the question - what risk management strategies do you need to have in place to reopen following a COVID -19 outbreak within your facility? How can you ensure that the risks for transmission have been mitigated, and how do you know for certain that you are not letting asymptomatic carriers back onsite that may reinfect others? Short of testing everyone repeatedly, how can you know?
Standard protocols for reopening should contain at least the following:
- - Isolation of all confirmed cases.
- - Isolation of all those who may have been in close contact with confirmed cases, regardless of symptoms or test results
- - Deep cleaning of the workplace
Implementing processes such as temperature testing and fitness for duties declarations should also be considered. The emergence of point of care (POC) rapid testing could also be explored as a strategy. These are currently in use already from some businesses in Australia and some airlines around the world.
The other important step to take is to reexamine your initial risk management processes. Understanding how transmission occurred in the workplace in the first place will need to be understood. At a risk management level, the presence of an outbreak within your facility will undoubtedly change the likelihood level of further transmission. Your control measures should be adjusted accordingly.
The effectiveness of initial controls such as increased hygiene practices, education around signs and symptoms, health declarations and social distancing should be reviewed. Cleaning and disinfecting processes will need to be reviewed. Further steps such as investing in engineering controls to reduce worker proximity or improve ventilation will need to be considered.
Most importantly, you should consult with your workforce before implementing a reopening process.
Finally, Cedar Meats will have to prepare for an increase in reports of musculoskeletal soreness as they return to manual work following a period of de-loading. More about this HERE.
Whilst many businesses will have thought about these challenges in advance as part of their continuity planning, the Cedar Meats circumstance makes the situation hit home. Businesses across Australia will be watching closely, with crossed fingers that they get it right, and it creates a blueprint for us all to follow.
