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By Joe Azar

Panola Partnership

 

Are you wondering how industrial businesses are keeping our economic engine running under the outbreak of Covid-19?

Our industry leaders are collaborating, implementing, and sharing best practice methods with one another. Many procedures are rooted from CDC and OSHA recommendations.

These are some examples:

Distancing as much as possible. Some industries use lines, zones, or stations so distancing is difficult but doable. Some have segmented these divisions where employees are assigned to specific areas including restrooms and breakrooms. This way, if someone were to test positive in a specific zone, the others in that zone could self-quarantine and the plant could continue to function.

Some have staggered their shifts to accommodate social distancing.

Restrooms and breakrooms are also under reasonable guidelines for social distancing. Hand washing is a priority.

Cleaning has stepped up significantly. Companies are constantly sanitizing with hourly concentrations on high-touch areas.

There are hand sanitizer stations.

Companies encourage respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.

Whoever can work from home are doing so.

Workers do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment, when possible.

Most all our facilities are off-limits to visitors.

Keep in mind, outside forces could cause our plants to close. Their supply chain on raw materials could cease or their customer could close due to Covid-19.

If someone does test positive, the co-workers that self-quarantine can rest assured their company will continue to look out for them.

It makes me proud to know how our companies value their greatest assets, their employees, or better said, each other!