An East Cork TD says the latest incident at Stryker in Carrigtwohill confirms his fears that lives are at stake at the plant.
Sinn Fein TD Pat Buckley was speaking as a 41 year old man is on life support at Cork University Hospital after he suffered serious burns while working at the plant yesterday.
The incident happened on the roof of the company's Anngrove building after 1pm where two men were working when an explosion occurred.
One man was rushed to CUH suffering from serious burn injuries and the scene has been preserved for an examination as the Health and Safety Authority have launched an investigation.
Deputy Pat Buckley says this is not the first time that Stryker has made the news and just 3 years ago staff made a protected disclosure to the HSA which included references to gas leaks, argon leaks, solvents escaping, several hospitalisations, plant evacuations, broken fire alarms, and faulty equipment.
He says at the time he received assurances from the company and the Health & Safety Authority which he says he now is no longer willing to accept.
Speaking to RedFM News Deputy Buckley says he is seeking a meeting with the Minister responsible to demand a detailed health and safety review into procedures at Stryker.
"What we need here is clarity, and going back in all those instances going back prior to possibly 2020 or 2019, and review the whole lot of it and go back with a fine tooth comb and say, these were identified, why weren't they acted on if they weren't acted on.
"More worryingly is the information in the protected disclosure and the photographic evidence that I have. The HSA had gone in after that and had said there's nothing to see. That's my big worry here - I don't have faith in the HSA at the moment."
Meanwhile trade union SIPTU has requested an urgent meeting with management at Stryker following the incident.
The group say the two workers and their families are uppermost in their thoughts and have wished them a speedy recovery.
SIPTU say they have written to Stryker management seeking an urgent meeting to discuss what they say are the "safety concerns of workers" at the companies three sites in Carrigtwohill.
