15 January 1998 Edition

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Sinn Féin candidate exposes health and safety scandal

By Marcas Mac Ruairí

MARTINA Kenna, the Sinn Féin representative in Dublin South Central has exposed scandalous working conditions for cleaning staff at St Joseph's Hospital.

After receiving complaints from workers in the Hospital, Martina carried out an undercover investigation and applied for work with Professional Contract Cleaners Limited.

She was told to report for work at St James' on 13 November where she was started with no proper training provided and no background check carried out.

Though the supervisor gave her a quick rundown of what she was to do, when she enquired about receiving Hepatitis B injections, which are necessary for workers in a hospital, she was told she would receive them in eight to ten weeks. Nor was she asked about her own health or immunisations she had received.

Denial of immunisation against Hepatitis B can prove fatal if the highly contagious disease is contracted.

Martina was was expected to clean six wards including bathrooms and offices within two and a half hours. She was provided with no protective clothing

Criticising the conditions, Martina said: ``The continual disregard for the cleaners and their health and safety is all the more scandalous as they have to clean special isolation wards where patients with highly contagious diseases are kept. Yet the they receive no training on safety measures.''

The materials for the job consisted of ``old toilet brushes, bits of rags and scouring cream There was no bleach available which is unbeleivable if toilets are to be cleaned and germ free.''

Martina continued: ``The cleaners are employed by the contractors, but the Hospital has a responsibility to both patients and to employees.''

She further complained that drugs and syrinches are easily accessible and that on a number of occasions staff had been attacked by psychiatric patients.

She worked in the Hospital for four days and also highlighted the poor wages of the cleaners which fall below the minimum wage of £5.00 per hour as advocated by the ICTU.

One former worker is in the process of bringing a case against it to the High Court. It involves a needlestick injury resulting in the lady in question contracting Hepatitus B.

The Sinn Féin representative has offered to give evidence at the hearing in support of the action.

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