Nghe An establishes 'Covid-19 Safety Team' to protect workers' health in industrial parks

HELP WORKERSFEEL SAFE

These days, members of the “Covid-19 Safety Team” of An Nam Matsuoka Garment Co., Ltd. are actively carrying out their duties. Each team has 4 members. Every day, before 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., the health status of workers, people related to epidemic areas, and people in contact with F1, F2, F3, etc. are updated and reported by the teams to the company's Covid-19 prevention and control steering committee.

“Along with that, the process of scanning QR codes, washing hands with sanitizer, measuring workers' body temperature at the entrance gate; controlling body temperature, wearing masks, keeping distance... throughout the working process is also implemented by the members.“Covid-19 Safety Team”"Continuously monitor and remind workers to comply," said Mr. Nguyen Van Quynh - Chairman of the Trade Union of An Nam Matsuoka Garment Company Limited.

Workers' body temperature checks are maintained regularly and continuously at An Nam Matsuoka Garment Co., Ltd. Photo: Contributor

Masan MB Company Limited is one of the enterprises that closely implements the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic. Ms. Le Thi Nga - Chairwoman of the Trade Union of Masan MB Company Limited said: "From the beginning of 2020, the company has initiated the epidemic prevention system. The company has a Medical Department to conduct initial examinations and classify workers with signs of cough and fever.

There are partitions in the cafeteria, and meals are divided into several shifts. The company also established a "task force" to carry out on-site epidemic prevention and control work. 100% of workers entering the company must wear masks and have their temperature taken. There is hand sanitizer everywhere in the company, and workers' dining tables are separated by partitions. Especially every day, when all the workers leave, a team sprays disinfectant throughout the company.

Social distancing lunch at Masan MB Company Limited.

According to the Chairman of the Trade Union of Tan Ky Mineral Processing Joint Stock Company, Ho Thi Luyen, the company's "Covid-19 Safety Teams" are currently operating effectively; information is exchanged via Zalo of each team so that union members and workers can be notified promptly. The company has built 2 layers of epidemic prevention. That is, measuring body temperature, disinfecting, and making medical declarations at the entrance and exit and "Covid-19 Safety Teams" at the workshops. When the first Covid-19 outbreak occurred, the company established a Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control with full members of business leaders, trade unions, and medical staff.

During this outbreak, following the directive, the company established a “Covid-19 Safety Team” with the core being the union leader and hygiene safety officer. The company’s steering committee has developed a scenario with 5 levels, in which the highest level is to detect F0 with full preparation of necessities in case of lockdown…

Mr. Hoang Van Linh - Member of the "Covid-19 Safety Team", Tan Ky Mineral Processing Joint Stock Company said: "Previously, we covered and reminded workers about ensuring occupational safety and hygiene. Now that the "Covid-19 Safety Team" was established, team members are reminded to wear masks and stand apart while working. If you see any unusual signs, you must immediately notify the team. What the team members thoroughly understand to the workers in the workshop is to comply withmeasures to prevent and control epidemics,Promote the sense of responsibility to detect signs of the epidemic, first of all to protect yourself, protect your family, protect your company and society".

The Union Chairman and member of the Covid-19 Safety Team of Tan Ky Minerals Joint Stock Company checks on employees' compliance with epidemic prevention. Photo: Contributor

Mr. Le Dinh Hung - Director of Asia Minerals Joint Stock Company said: "Although newly put into operation, the "Covid-19 Safety Teams" with the core of union leaders and safety and hygiene officers have operated very professionally due to their experience from the first wave of the epidemic. Although implemented under the direction of the Provincial Federation of Labor, the Provincial Steering Committee for Epidemic Prevention, and the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone, this is a very necessary and useful work to help workers feel safer, and businesses feel secure in their production and business activities."

BUSINESSES SHAPE THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF EPIDEMICS

Faced with the increasingly complicated outbreak of the epidemic, in order to promote the role of the Trade Union organization and the workforce to actively participate in the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, the Nghe An Provincial Labor Federation requests the District, Town Labor Federations, and Industry Trade Unions to coordinate with the authorities at the same level to guide enterprises to establish Covid-19 prevention and control units at enterprises, referred to as“Covid-19 Safety Team”.

Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union supports automatic hand sanitizer machines at businesses. Photo: Contributor

The “Covid-19 Safety Team” was established with operating regulations issued by the employer in accordance with the production conditions at the enterprise. The core is grassroots union officials, safety and hygiene workers, and workers with experience in ensuring occupational safety, each team has at least 3 members.

The members of the “Covid-19 Safety Team” are quickly provided with full information by the team leader about the epidemic situation and measures to ensure safety and disease prevention at the workplace through Zalo groups and internal networks; they are given at least 30 minutes a day while still receiving salary to perform epidemic prevention and control tasks.

Workers comply with keeping a safe distance while working and traveling. Photo: Contributor

Accordingly, every day, the "Covid-19 Safety Team" in industrial park enterprises propagates, urges, guides and reminds workers to strictly implement preventive measures.Covid-19 prevention at workand outside working hours; strictly comply with body temperature checks, wearing masks, keeping distance, and honest medical declarations. Monitor, inspect, and supervise health status and implementation of disease prevention and control measures at two levels (enterprise gate and in the factory) as well as detect, remind, and recommend responsible persons to promptly handle violations of disease prevention and control work according to regulations of local authorities andcorporate regulations.

In addition to wearing masks, workers also bring their own water bottles to limit the risk of infection. Photo: Contributor

According to Mr. Vuong An Nguyen - Chairman of the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union, currently most businesses are doing quite well in preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, but they have not yet defined the specific work, which will lead to confusion when situations arise. When being informed about the activities of the "Covid-19 Safety Team" with methodical, specific and practical activities, businesses have accepted and felt more secure. Some businesses have responded that "Covid-19 Safety Team helps businesses shape epidemic prevention".

Most of the “Covid-19 Safety Teams” have developed scenarios to respond to the epidemic, not to be passive in the face of unexpected situations. Therefore, union members and workers in industrial parks feel more secure when entering shifts, united and unanimous with the union and businesses to stand firm against the pandemic.

Vice President of Nghe An Provincial Labor Federation Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi said: Right from the discovery of the epidemic spreading in the community, especially the epidemic that appeared in some enterprises in industrial parks in Bac Giang and Da Nang, Nghe An Provincial Labor Federation issued an official dispatch directing the grassroots trade unions to guide grassroots trade unions, especially trade unions in industrial parks, to immediately apply stronger measures in epidemic prevention and control; establish a "Covid-19 Safety Team" to ensure the health of workers and stabilize production and business activities of the unit.

To date, most businesses in the Southeast Economic Zone have developed a Covid-19 infection risk assessment table at the company, an emergency response plan when there are infected patients, and established a“Covid-19 Safety Team”at the enterprise. HAiming to raise awareness of Covid-19 prevention and control in businessescareer, contributing to disease prevention and control, The Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union has supported 36 automatic hand sanitizer machines, masks and disinfectant solutions for businesses.

Hoang Yen