Mt Coolum butcher puts up ‘no dobbers welcome’ sign after Covid breach accusation

A Sunshine Coast butcher has a blunt message for “dobbers” after staff were reported to police for not wearing masks.

Marlon Villegas and his coworkers at Mt Coolum Meats say they are not required to wear a mask at all times due to safety concerns with machinery.

A sign warning off “dobbers” is greeting customers of a Coolum butcher after staff members were reported for not wearing masks.

Police were called to Mt Coolum Meats on Tuesday, August 3, after customers were concerned that some staff members were not complying with Covid-19 restrictions.

But staff have hit back at the accusations and have explained the reasons why they weren’t required to wear masks at all times in the shop.

Marlon Villegas and his co-workers at Mt Coolum Meats say they are not required to wear a mask at all times, after customers “dobbed” on them.

Staff member Sam Brown said his team wore masks in the front of house and when serving customers, but they were not required to wear masks in the back of house, especially when using machinery.

“We don’t wear masks out the back, but we do when we’re serving,” he said.

Mr Brown said the masks posed a safety issue when staff members used equipment such as the saw.

He said when they had to look down at what they were doing the masks affected their peripheral vision which could be a risk.

Mr Brown said some customers had taken photos of staff members not wearing masks while in the back of the store, which is visible from the customer area, and reported them to police.

He said police officers visited the store on Tuesday but were “fine with it”.

Mr Brown said his boss then put up the sign near the entry, which reads “Informants (dobbers) not welcome here”.

Mt Coolum Meats say “dobbers” aren’t welcome after staff members were reported for not wearing masks, despite exemption.

Coolum Police Station officer-in-charge Hardy Wirth said officers had conducted a check at the store last week.

Senior Sergeant Wirth said the officers were happy with the level of compliance at the butcher and no warnings or infringements were issued.

“Essentially, back of house staff or those with medical exemptions don’t need masks,” he said.

“If you’re in the front of house, serving customers, you do.

“If you’re in the front of house and have a medical exemption, your employer needs to find alternative work you in the back of house.”