What Growers Are Doing to Protect Workers During COVID-19 Crisis
April 24, 2020 Despite a slew of news stories about farmers putting their workers at risk of coronavirus infection, many growers are going the extra mile to keep their teams safe.
At the most basic level, normal food safety and phytosanitary measures ensure crews wear personal protective gear. But given COVID-19’s highly contagious nature, growers are putting more stringent measures in place. Take a look at what some growers have shared with us regarding worker safety, and tell us what you are doing at your operation in the comments section.
Adding Buses for Daily Transport
Many larger farms have increased the number of buses they use to transport workers to the fields. This allows for social distancing on the buses. Smaller growers are running crews out in multiple runs for the same purpose.
Wiping Down Equipment with Each Use
Duncan Family Farms asks crews to wipe down equipment with peracetic acid sanitizer prior to using, followed with another swab down after use. It has also increased the number of sanitation stations on its ranches.
Emphasize Hand Washing
The California Department of Industrial Relations’ guidelines for preventing infection among farm workers during the pandemic includes a list of times your workers should wash their hands through the day:
- When employees arrive at work and before they leave work
- Before and after eating or using the toilet
- After close interaction with other persons
- After contacting shared surfaces or tools
- Before and after wearing masks or gloves
- After blowing nose or sneezing
For more tips, continue reading at GrowingProduce.com.
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