McScurry: Rats spotted ‘almost daily’ at Hindley Street McDonald’s, burger buns ‘nibbled’

Rats have been seen in a notorious Adelaide McDonald’s restaurant “almost daily” with workers reporting seeing “nibbled” burger buns.

A worker photographed a rat at the McDonald's fast food restaurant on the corner of Hindley and Bank streets, Adelaide. Picture: Supplied

Rats have been seen in a popular Adelaide McDonald’s restaurant “almost daily” with workers reporting seeing “nibbled” burger buns.

But when a union representative went to investigate the allegations of unhygienic and dangerous conditions at the Hindley Street store, they say they were denied entry by the fast food giant.

One worker, who asked not to be identified, told The Advertiser there were numerous health and safety issues at the restaurant – including a “rat infestation”, falling tiles, a dangling light and roof leaks.

A rodent has been photographed on the premises, including one nibbling on what appears to be cheese on the floor in a rear storage area, while in another image taken this week, a packet of burger buns also appears to have been nibbled on.

Buns believed to have been eaten be a rat at McDonald's on the corner of Hindley and Bank streets, Adelaide. Picture: Supplied

McDonald’s Hindley Street. Picture: Kelly Barnes

The worker said members of staff reported seeing rats – including a dead rodent – in the restaurant “almost daily” for about six weeks but said “nothing was being done”.

“It has become that common people are just getting used to it which is obviously not very good,” the worker said.

The worker said a recent roof leak had also sent water “gushing” into the kitchen and workers were told to “just keep working”.

Workers complained to the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, which sent a representative to the store to investigate the alleged contraventions but was prevented from entering the store.

In a published report to SafeWork SA the union representative noted the issues raised by staff members included a “rat infestation”, complaints about inadequate airconditioning and a lack of experienced supervision for workers during weekend shifts.

The union representative arrived at the store at 12.15pm on December 8 to investigate the complaints but was then asked to wait “for an hour or two”.

In the report, the union representative said they believed the restaurant representative was “aggressive/frustrated” and deemed the delay “refusal of entry”.

Rats have been seen in the Hindley Street McDonald’s restaurant “almost daily” with workers reporting seeing “nibbled” burger buns. Picture: Kelly Barnes

In 2009, the same McDonald’s was photographed littered with rubbish and discarded food. Picture: Supplied

SDA secretary Josh Peak said the union had “exercised our legal right to investigate a rat infestation that was posing a risk to worker and consumer safety” but was “blocked”.

“McDonald’s should not be attempting to cover up health and safety concerns,” he said.

“Workers and consumers deserve to know that their workplaces and the products they sell are safe.

“It’s not just rats, but falling ceiling tiles, exposed wiring, and broken air conditioners that are subjecting workers to unnecessary risks.

He said McDonald’s needed to “start ensuring worker and consumer safety”.

A spokeswoman for McDonald’s said the fast food chain took “safety, cleanliness and hygiene very seriously and expect our restaurants to follow our strict cleaning, sanitisation and hygiene procedures at all times, including pest control”.

“This clearly falls short of those standards, and we are addressing this directly with the franchisee and restaurant,” she said.

She said “clear policies” existed to ensure compliance with the Fair Work Act including right of entry requirements.

“McDonald’s Australia does not accept or condone ‘anti-union’ conduct within our business or franchisee-owned restaurants,” she said.

A spokesman for SafeWork SA said the watchdog was “aware of the allegations and is conducting inquiries”.