MP fears funding cuts led to health and safety inspectors not visiting Yorkshire food factory where three employees died from coronavirus

Health and safety inspectors were sent out just 64 times between April and June to address concerns over coronavirus transmission in workplaces, it has been revealed, despite desperate families, friends, and MPs calling in with safety fears.

A question posed to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey unearthed that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) only started recording whether visits were linked to the pandemic four months ago, and between then and June 4 only 64 visits had been carried out.

HSE did not visit Cranswick Foods in Wombwell, near Barnsley, where three workers died from coronavirus and 11 tested positive for the disease, and Mr Healey said inspectors took the word of the company when given assurances about infection control practices.

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In a letter to Mr Healey, the HSE said they have received four reports about the Valley Park site as well as concerns about another Cranswick site in Hull.

Labour MP for Wentworth and Dearne John Healey. Photo: JPI MediaLabour MP for Wentworth and Dearne John Healey. Photo: JPI Media
Labour MP for Wentworth and Dearne John Healey. Photo: JPI Media

A spokesman for the HSE since said: “HSE’s enquiries into Cranswick Foods are ongoing, and we continue our ongoing dialogue with the Members of Parliament who have contacted us on this matter. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the families of the workers at this site who have sadly lost loved ones after testing positive for Covid-19.”

It comes amid concern about the spread of coronavirus in factories following a number of outbreaks across the country, including in Cleckheaton in Kirklees, and Batley in Yorkshire.

But Labour research claimed funding for the HSE, which is responsible for enforcing Covid-19 regulations, has been cut by more than half since 2010.

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Mr Healey said the concern was that without enough funding and a proper system for workplace inspections, the national effort to fight coronavirus is undermined.

The party also said the number of inspectors has dropped by more than one third, 30 per cent fewer enforcement notices were issued, there was a 62 per cent fall in prosecutions, and a 50 per cent drop in convictions.

They said in the same period, spending on health and safety by local authorities also fell by more than 40 per cent.

A Government spokesperson said: “We have made an additional £14m available for HSE to respond to the increased number of concerns from workers and we will continue to review further funding needs.”

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On the Cranswick Foods deaths, Mr Healey said: “Problems were raised with the Health and Safety Executive, but their ‘investigation’ went no further than getting emails from the company. They just took their word for it.

“If they didn’t do a site visit when three people died, what would it take?”

MP for Barnsley East Stephanie Peacock added: “It is deeply concerning that the HSE failed to visit Cranswick Foods even though three employees sadly lost their lives and others were seriously ill in hospital after contracting Covid-19.

“I requested a referral to HSE on April 30 as employees working in the factory needed reassurance. The HSE failed to provide this despite the seriousness of the situation.

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“As more workplaces begin to open, questions need to be asked as to why this happened and whether the HSE has adequate funding to respond to the current crisis.”

Mr Healey’s constituent Dave Baxter, who worked at Cranswick Foods, died on April 19.

His partner Leander Lupton, of Wath-upon-Dearne, said: “My Dave left for work for the last time on April 1 and was admitted to hospital on April 6.

“When he was in the back of the ambulance, he asked me to let them know he wouldn’t be going in – he didn’t want to let them down. If they’d shown the same concern, they might still have a loyal, hard-working employee, my son would still have a dad and the world would still have a kind, gentle and giving man.

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“They have put measures in place only since there have been deaths and hospital admissions. They put employee’s lives on the line for the sake of profit. People don’t speak up because they’re scared for their jobs.”

A spokesperson for Cranswick Foods previously said: “From the outset of the pandemic, we implemented additional measures to protect both the physical and mental wellbeing of our people, including social distancing measures where practical, recommended PPE for all employees in line with PHE and WHO guidelines, additional cleaning and hygiene measures, as well as support such as counselling and occupational health services.

"All colleagues are also advised not to attend work if they have any symptoms."

They said they were working with the relevant authorities, including the HSE, Public Health England, Food Standards Agency and local environmental health officers.

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The HSE spokesman added: “A HSE visit is made after we identify a need to assess conditions or to take enforcement action. This is decided on a case by case basis following a thorough assessment of information and evidence collected by an inspector.

“Since March 9 HSE has addressed nearly 8,000 concerns relating to the pandemic. Furthermore, between 26 May and 1 July, HSE contacted 3,856 businesses and 2,386 spot inspections were completed. Around a dozen notices related to COVID-19 have been issued, showing that the majority of businesses we have been in contact with act on our advice.”