From mandatory masks and sanitization of facility to societal distancing and unconstipated self - tick , farmers , like Washington Bulb Company ’s Polly Welch , are putting their employees ’ wellness front and center during the COVID-19 pandemic .
embark more than 70 million cutting flower all over the U.S. each year , Washington Bulb Company has about 500 employees during height production times and about 200 year - round employees . The farm is place an hour north of Seattle . In addition to tulip and daffodil bulbs and cut bloom , they also farm grain . Among the employees ’ many job are institute , harvesting flowers and bulbs by hand and automobile , packing , barcoding and merchant marine .
Welch , frailty president of Washington Bulb Company , said they started thinking early on about how to protect their employees from the coronavirus .
“ It started with informational signage . Now , in all our warehouses and greenhouses we are requiring masks . We ’re also doing extra cleansing throughout our facilities . We have societal distancing in place and we ’ve stagger all of our break , ” Welch explained .
In fact , the farm was so far ahead of the secret plan that when the state Department of Health issued emergency rule for employees , it was but a topic of put the new protocols into their written coterie management plan because they had already been implemented .
Washington Bulb also encourages employee to be extremely mindful of what they ’re doing when they ’re not at work .
“ We spend more time with our coworkers than we do our crime syndicate , ” Welch noted .
Along with some of the more obvious approaches to preventing the spread of the coronavirus , like providing masks for employee and keeping workers as far aside as potential , the Washington Bulb Company also posts ego - assessment signs at building entrance . The mansion prompt workers to consider if they have any COVID-19 symptoms , and , the sign instructs , if they do , they should go home immediately and call the spot for help .
As Welch explains , the COVID-19 prophylactic protocols were a natural extension of the farm ’s approach to employee guard .
“ You ’ve got to always reckon at everything from the linear perspective of what ’s secure for the employee , what ’s honorable for customers , what ’s adept for the party – all three of those study hand - in - hired hand . ”
She proceed , “ It all boil down to concern for our employees ; let ’s keep everybody dependable and animated . That ’s kind of been our safety mantra . We want you to go home every night in the same condition that you total to work in . ”
For more data : American Farm Bureau Federation600 Maryland Ave SWSuite 1000WWashington DC 20024Phone : ( 202)406 - 3600www.fb.org
