Dear Members,

Below you will find information about where to have your employees tested for COVID, how to get your office/warehouse workflow inspected for safety, and what to do if one of your workers has COVID or has been exposed.

CRITICAL WORKERS: Employees in the nation’s critical food infrastructure have a distinct set of guidelines from CDC, in the case of potential sickness from COVID. This represents the most updated guidance for workers in the food industry.

The CDC guidance for critical infrastructure employees have different restrictions than the CDC guidance for general employers.

For critical infrastructure workers, such as at FPAA distributors, CDC states that, “To ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.”

Below is an excerpt from the CDC guidance for critical infrastructure workers:

A potential exposure means being a household contact or having close contact within 6 feet of an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The timeframe for having contact with an individual includes the period of time of 48 hours before the individual became symptomatic.

Critical Infrastructure workers who have had an exposure but remain asymptomatic should adhere to the following practices prior to and during their work shift:

  • Pre-Screen: Employers should measure the employee’s temperature and assess symptoms prior to them starting work. Ideally, temperature checks should happen before the individual enters the facility.

  • Regular Monitoring: As long as the employee doesn’t have a temperature or symptoms, they should self-monitor under the supervision of their employer’s occupational health program.

  • Wear a Mask: The employee should wear a face mask at all times while in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure. Employers can issue facemasks or can approve employees’ supplied cloth face coverings in the event of shortages.

  • Social Distance: The employee should maintain 6 feet and practice social distancing as work duties permit in the workplace.

  • Disinfect and Clean work spaces: Clean and disinfect all areas such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment routinely.

If the employee becomes sick during the day, they should be sent home immediately. Surfaces in their workspace should be cleaned and disinfected. Information on persons who had contact with the ill employee during the time the employee had symptoms and 2 days prior to symptoms should be compiled. Others at the facility with close contact within 6 feet of the employee during this time would be considered exposed.

For employees, following are some Do’s and Don’ts. A printer friendly version is here.

Do

  • Take your temperature before work.

  • Wear a face mask at all times.

  • Practice social distancing in the workplace as work duties permit.

Don’t

  • Stay at work if you become sick.

  • Share headsets or objects used near face.

  • Congregate in the break room or other crowded places.

TESTING: Please note that at FPAA we are working with health authorities to bring more testing capacity to the produce industry. We are hopeful to have NextCare in Nogales next week to conduct rapid tests (same day result). More details are coming.

In the meantime, here are some options for your consideration.

NextCare Nogales: NextCare offers testing without an appointment or referral. We confirmed that this facility received a new batch of tests today. Test results take 3-5 days and may be covered by insurance. They are located at 298 W Mariposa Rd #2, Nogales, AZ 85621. (520) 394-7388. Please note that this facility is open Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 8 pm. They are closed Friday to Sunday, and for Memorial Day as well.

Mariposa Community Health Center advises to set up an appointment with your primary doctor. The primary doctor will have a telephone call with the patient, then the doctor will evaluate the patient and decide if he/she should receive the test. If so, the doctor will give the patient instructions to receive the test. (The testing may be conducted within the same week of the appointment with the doctor).

Holy Cross Hospital – Carondelet Health Network recommends to call your healthcare provider for medical advice.

There are numerous sites in Pima County offering testing. Check google for updated information.

Fry’s is conducting free testing in Phoenix at Diablo Stadium. The additional testing dates will be from May 20 through May 23 and May 27 through May 30. Testing will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Registration is required. Register at krogerhealth.com/covidtesting or call 1-888-852-2567 (select option 3, then option 1).

WHAT TYPE OF TEST AM I GETTING? If you have questions about the types of testing available, the Food and Drug Administration has a good primer.

FREE OFFICE WORKFLOW INSPECTION: Mariposa Community Health Center has graciously offered to have a physician visit your work site to offer tips on best practices in workflow. Here is a message from Dr. Phillip Williams:

At Mariposa Community Health Center we have a developed strict screening protocols in an attempt to keep our staff and patients safe. We are more than happy to share some these workflows including information on temperature checks for staff, information on personal protective equipment, screening questions for workers, workflow if a staff is exposed to COVID 19 etc.. 

Please contact me if you would like us to do a site visit or speak virtually about ways to make your business safer.

Thanks,

Dr. Philip Williams MD

Mariposa Community Health Center

You may contact Dr. Williams at pwilliams@mariposachc.net

OSHA WORKPLACE GUIDANCE: Here is a complete update from OSHA on preparing your workplace.

UPCOMING WEBINAR: FPAA is planning a Webinar soon to give you more tips. Please check your inbox later for an update.

FPAA GUIDANCES: Also attached to this email you will find some voluntary guidances that FPAA has issued, including some best practices for the produce warehouse.

At FPAA, we will continue to provide updates about this issue as they become available. We are working with regulating authorities to ensure that all operations can continue. We appreciate all that you are doing to feed North America, and together we will succeed.

Sincerely – Lance Jungmeyer, President, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas

warehouse COVID one-pager[1]

USDA Inspection Protocol FPAA[1]