All around the world, including Australia, slaughterhouses and meat factories have proved to be workplaces with a greater risk of spread of coronavirus transmission.
The United States has recorded more than 17,000 cases of COVID-19 in meat factory workers.
In Australia, infections at the Cedar Meats factory in Melbourne are linked to more than 100 cases of COVID-19.
Two animal slaughterhouses in Melbourne - Somerville Meats and JBS Meats - recently found their employees tested positive for the coronavirus.
Long working hours, prolonged close contact, and difficulty practising physical distancing are thought to make it more difficult to maintain safe regulations for COVID in slaughterhouses.
A working holiday visa holder from Indonesia, Vita Nur Khasanah, shared her experience (listen to her interview in Bahasa Indoneisa) of working at a slaughterhouse in Rockhampton, Queensland.
88 cases have been linked to the Cedar Meats facility in Victoria. Source: AAP
Vita said at the start of the pandemic, the factory where she worked had installed a body temperature monitor.
"The employees have to go in to like a tunnel when entering the factory, there was a camera and when I entered, it was like being shot with an infrared ray,” she said.
"The tool was used for three weeks. Previously, body temperature was monitored with a device that measures from the forehead. "
At the meat factory Vita works in the cleaning of organs (ouval) section.
“After the cow has its head cut off, its organs are removed. I'm in the section that cleans the fat from liver, heart and innards . "
On her section, there are six people working at one long table which is still ideal for maintaining social distance between workers.
Vita said not all parts of the slaughterhouse were cold.
“The cow's body is hot. If the room is cold, the fat will freeze, making it difficult to cut, "she said. "The killing floor is conditioned at room temperature."
According to Vita, the difference in work situation during a pandemic is that the quality assurance (QA) officers rae monitoring workers even more closely.
"If someone talks too closely, QA officer will immediately reprimand them. Supervisor was also reminded. They are also monitored through the cameras, "said Vita.
In addition, at lunch time in the canteen, one table is limited to four people at the table.
Vita said until now, the factory where she works had no cases of corona.
