COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Business Continuity
March 19, 2020
Dear Valued Customer,
In response to recent requests regarding the risk to Coronavirus impacting our business and contingency planning. We have been monitoring the status updates as released by the following reputable sources and following appropriate recommendations;
The World Health Organization WHO:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Center for Disease Control CDC:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/
Food and Drug Administration FDA:
https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-issues/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-1
Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit
https://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/
Our key areas which we have addressed are:
- Communication with our staff to ensure we remain diligent with employee hygiene, hand washing protocols, other infection control techniques
- Encouraging employees to not come to work if they feel ill or exhibit additional symptoms
- Increasing the frequency of sanitizing common areas and door handles etc. and on machines in between shifts, time clock
- Hand sanitizer remains readily available throughout the facility and encouraged to be used in between hand washing
- Masks have always been available to contain coughing in common work spaces
- Observe social distancing in work areas and common areas
- Creating a temporary travel guidance policy for our staff
- Creating a temporary visitor and contractor protocol for travel history
- Our sales team has suspended any plans to attend recent tradeshows or the need for any international business travel
- Allowing workers to work from home if possible
- Allowing temporary work accommodation flex hours/ flex shift for our production staff
- We have been encouraging teleconferences with our vendors and suppliers to avoid non-essential visiting to our facility
- Creating “zones” within our facility to minimize interdepartmental interactions
We have remained in constant consultation with our critical suppliers for raw materials. To date, we are not aware of any delays or issues for receipt of supplies. In almost all areas we have secondary suppliers which we can alternate, in case of major supply disruptions. We are looking at forecasts for raw materials and adjusting our ordering accordingly.
Maintaining a healthy work force is at the forefront of our efforts. We realize that these are challenging times for our employees and our families. We are looking at many options and ideas to further support and protect the health and safety of our employees.
Our goal is to be proactive as this is an ever-changing scenario. Being a food packaging manufacturer, we are considered part of the food chain and will need to be as supportive as possible to our customers and the Canadian public.
We are taking monitoring of the aforementioned sources will guide any modifications to our business activity. We will communicate with you should we begin to experience delays affecting our standard lead times.
As an opportunity for continuous improvement, will be taking steps to review and expand our Business Continuity Plan and Infectious Disease Management.
We appreciate your continued business partnership and support during these unprecedented times.
Best Regards,
Tempo Plastics Limited
Lee-Anne Giglio
VP Quality Assurance
lee-anne.giglio@tempoplastics.com