Table 2.

Progressive timing of implementation of risk mitigation measures, classified as prevention of infection, prevention of entry of infected individuals, prevention of spread of infection, and high-level management response.

Prevention of infection of staff with COVID
	Early march	Late march	Early april	Late april	May
Communication	Letter to staff High risk conditions and need to go to occupational health doctor			Information about social welfare compensation Letter to staff	Whatssap group – daily messaging Factory wide communication evening with CC, gardai and managements
Education	Posters – several languages COVID signs and Controls explained in letter Staff on each line educated on COVID 19 signs – when not to come and contact GP			Information about self isolation and mitigation of risk in community COVID signs and controls explained in letter	Handwashing signage in different languages COVID-19 tailored induction introduced
Travel risk mitigation	Request to not carpool Or travel with zone members	Pod questionnaire			Provided gloves, masks and sanitizer
Prevention of entry of infected individuals
	Early march	Late march	Early april	Late april
Entry-point Control	Hand sanitizer Temp screening COVID symptom survey	Disabled all staff entry cards Restriction list, for RTW illness/travel COVID signage put in place		Information about social welfare compensation Letter to staff
Return to Work Protocol	RTW protocols introduced RTW staff, separate flow chart questionnaire	COVID-related symptoms – HSE rtw policy Non-COVID symptoms – GP clearance for RTW		Information about self-isolation and mitigation of risk in community COVID signs and controls explained in letter
Restrictions of non-Factory staff	Staff contact with haulers/farmers stopped	VI restrictions Refusal of visitors Restriction on hauler/farmer movement on site COVID survey for essential non-factory staff
Prevention of spread of infection within the factory
	Early march	Late march	Early april	Late april	May
Increased hygiene	Hand sanitizer factory wide Increased cleaning of toilets, locker rooms Increased cleaning of corridors and high touch points Disinfection of canteen between breaks Cleaning of office high touch points Common area COVID cleaning SOP Issue 1	Induction room to be sanitized before and after use Fogging weekly of factory floor lines			COVID cleaning SOP Issue 6 – far more detailed and area specific, with training for cleaners included.
Managing staff numbers	Staggered break times to prevent congregation Zoning on lines Office staff who can work from home sent home Extended break between boning hall shifts	Pod questionnaire – area on line, travel and living arrangements. Specific restriction on managers, supervisors and charge-hands	Addition of Chill 4 to both boning shifts – more distance Movement of staff between lines must remain in Pod
Managing staff work place	Reposition of staff 2m distance boning hall Pod allocation for areas where 2m distance was not possible Other lines – 2m distance normally in place Relocation of office staff to allow distancing		Blue boards, physical barrier in boning hall Slowed lamb line to allow social distance		Curtain – physical barrier in boning hall
Managing common areas		Designated times for dining for all staff Advice signage about COVID smoking etiquette	Floor markings Physical barrier for canteen staff COVID supervisors put in place – social distancing and seating	Cooking in canteen ceased Queueing system modified	Reduced numbers in canteen further (80-30) Marquee with social distancing for overflow
PPE		Masks made available to staff		Mandatory mask wearing
Prevention spread of infection with the factory management response
	Early march	Late march	Early april	Late april	May
High level response	Establishment of COVID Committee. SOP for site management developed	Assignment of responsibility to designated aspects of COVID control
Positive cases response		Formation of protocol for COVID possible events: Symptomatic at work Symptomatic at home Close contact (Note – assumption transmission needed case to be symptomatic)		Addition of protocol for COVID possible events: Referred for COVID test Referred but not done COVID positive Rapid identification of Pod and Zone Pod sent home for isolation 14 days isolation if positive
Coordinated LOCT response				HSE suggest mass testing