Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods and JBS USA are being investigated by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis over COVID outbreaks at their facilities and what the panel said was a failure of the companies to protect workers.
The panel sent letters Monday to the companies and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requesting information on their actions during the COVID pandemic relative to complaints from workers, how the companies track those complaints, all documents related to inspections by federal or state officials at facilities and a list of those inspections, the number workers that have contracted COVID or died from it, information on plant closures, implantation of COVID safety measures and more.
The panel is seeking similar information from OSHA, including a list of each COVID-related complaint received, a list of inspections and any documents linked to those inspections, the training and guidance OSHA gives to inspectors, and more. Meatpackers "have refused to take basic precautions to protect their workers, many of whom earn extremely low wages and lack adequate paid leave and have shown a callous disregard for workers' health," panel chair Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.
The companies issued statements in response to the investigation, with Smithfield countering they have invested "$200 million in health and safety interventions, more than $160 million in bonuses and permanent increased pay, and donated more than $50 million to support our local communities.” They also pointed to extra practices put in place in their plants relative to worker safety.
It's not clear what the results of the investigation will bring or the timeline given the volume of documentation the panel is requesting of OSHA and the companies in question.