Naturafrig Alimentos has suspended all its activities since the end of the day of Friday, June 26. The decision was communicated over the weekend and aims at the well-being of the employees in preventing the spread of the new coronavirus in the Rochedo region. Throughout the day today, the company is in the process of formalizing this to its workers and the entire chain that forms all cold storage activities between the cattle raisers and the customers.
“We must stay calm and stand together. Naturafrig values its employees most of all, and we made this decision because we understand as we are a part of the city, we also need to collaborate. It’s a matter of social responsibility,” says Sérgio Capuci, director of the unit.
Since the first confirmed case in the country, Naturafrig has taken the necessary precautions and removed from the staff of almost 800 direct employees, all employees who are part of the risk group, as well as the ones who needed to accompany their children because of school dismissal.
On Friday, an asymptomatic employee of the unit was tested positive for COVID-19. He was contaminated by his wife who does not work in the cold storage unit.
The company has since then decided to halt its production so that employees can comply with the isolation measures of the city of Rochedo.
The company notified SEMAGRO, through the Secretary, Mr. Jaime Verruck, and the secretary Mr. Geraldo Rezende from the State Secretary for Health (SES). All measures were promptly supported by testing 100% of the employees and integrated actions of the state, municipality, and the company.
The preventive procedures of the Rochedo unit have been validated by the Public Health Surveillance Department of the municipality and by the Ministry of Economy. The company has an excellent relationship with the Health Department of both municipalities, Rochedo and Corguinho, and all actions are decided together.
The company already has an internal prevention plan, where several measures have been adopted since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Examples are compliance with social distancing; change of working hours of the departments to avoid social gatherings; temperature screening when entering vehicles and the company; the adaptation of the cafeteria, living areas, changing rooms, etc.;
constant disinfection of the common areas of the company; among several others.
According to a statement issued yesterday by the company the following are the unit’s commitments:
A Link with the worker
The Workers’ Union is part of the internal prevention committee; therefore, the entity participates in decisions and oversees all the actions that are implemented on-site.
Technical health team
In addition to the Health and Occupational Safety Department, composed of work safety technicians, nurses, engineers, occupational health physicians, the company currently hired an infectious disease specialist, who will coordinate all the interventions in regard to the internal containment plan to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Technology
The company’s Technology Department has developed a software where, through data crossing, and algorithm, it can track down everyone that the employees were in contact with so that containment measures are efficient.
Social responsibility
Taking into consideration society as a whole, the company has already made donations of PPEs and equipment to the municipalities of Rochedo and Corguinho and has always been in contact with the administration of both municipalities to help in whatever is necessary to contain the virus from spreading in the region.
To cattle raisers
The company’s cattle purchasing department is reallocating all purchased animals to the Nova Andradina/MS and Pirapozinho/SP units.
Return of activities
To ensure the health of our staff, as well as the society of Rochedo and its region, when activities return, the company will be testing 100% of its employees and will follow all the prevention protocols mentioned previously.
Press information:
Media Context
www.contextomidia.com.br
Dilma Bernardes – dilma@contextomidia.com.br
+55 67-992074496
Luciane Mamoré as mamore@contextomidia.com.br
+55 67-992074497