Feature Article The Impact of Covid 19
by Bob Johnson, Shellcast, Inc. A
new challenge is before us. Covid 19 and the impact on the entire world is something that nobody ever thought would materialize. It seems to me that we as managers are getting a wakeup call and we need a rapid shift in how
we look at our day to day operations. Our employee group has moved to the front of the line as we attempt to balance the operational side of things. Critically the employees must operate in a safe environment and it is our responsibility to provide that. OSHA is issuing guidelines and while these are not yet regulations they are in most cases excellent ideas and we must embrace them. I am certain that there are people hard at work writing new regulatory requirements and it won’t be long before good ideas become mandatory opening the doors for fines and potential legal actions. The time to get on board is clearly now. So what will we do? Shellcast, Inc. is a small operation in West Michigan that has so far been largely spared from illness. In looking at the options it seemed clear the best approach was to focus on the basics but do so in accordance with OSHA guidelines.
• Review the workforce and categorize their roles in accordance with OSHA severity guidelines.
• Offer face masks to the employees.
• Daily sanitizing of the common areas (lunch rooms, bathrooms, wash stations, so on...)
• Providing workers with sanitizers (bleach and soap as alcohol based products remain scarce).
• Implementing distancing restrictions wherever possible (side by side work to be done only with masks and proper hygiene).
• Staggering work breaks to reduce group sizes.
• Eliminating unnecessary visitor access. Shipping and delivery driver access significantly restricted with face mask required for both the drivers and Shell- cast shipping personnel.
• Employees restricted from entering the production areas before taking every- one’s temperature and keeping a daily log. Anyone found to have a fever must immediately leave.
• Gloves and other PPE to be provided as needed. (Exam type gloves are almost impossible to obtain now)
Everything we do today requires a different approach but it goes without saying
that we have to keep the products flowing and keep the customer’s needs in mind at all times. I sincerely hope that all of us stay safe and can one day gather together again.
May 2020 ❘ 19 ®
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