Here's how salmon processor Milarex sprung into action when two employees tested positive for coronavirus

Company had many measures in place in order to ensure production as usual.

Thomas Farstad, CEO of Milarex
Thomas Farstad, CEO of MilarexPhoto: Ronny Rosenberg
International salmon processor Milarex was quick to act when two workers tested positive. The company anticipated such a situation and implemented action plans that allowed it to continue operations as usual, CEO Thomas Farstad told IntraFish.

"To reduce the consequences of a situation when someone tests positive, the company should focus on protecting the health and safety of the workers so that the virus is not spreading inside the workplace, while doing what it can to keep the business operating," Farstad said.

Production continued after the workers tested positive, however, some workers were quarantined after being in direct contact with the infected employees.

The impact was minimal due to the protocols the company had conceptualized early on.

"We were missing some people but we were able to cope with most of the orders and only a few things had to stop but they weren't so crucial for the company itself," Farstad said.

“Today, both the people that were infected and the quarantined colleagues are back to work, and none of the quarantined tested positive.”

The company was open and transparent with customers when its workers tested positive, making sure all stakeholders were well informed of the consequences.

--

--

In addition to the generic procedures most companies are following, Milarex ran an educational campaign addressing what individuals and workers can do to reduce the risk.

The campaign -- “oursafety.info” -- was inspired by Milarex but executed by an external company, Farstad said. Anyone can access the campaign, which is now being translated to other languages.

Charles Kasprzak, a member of Milarex's management team, identified the need and decided to do something that both Milarex and the extended society could benefit from.

Milarex is educating its employees how to decrease the risks of catching coronavirus through the educational campaign "oursafety.info"Photo: Milarex

"The rules are easy to understand, but the challenge is to have compliance," Farstad said.

"This is going to last for a long time, which is why you have to do something to learn to live with it and learn to work with it and make it part of your normal standard behaviors."

Several other seafood companies have had workers test positive at their facilities, including Camanchaca, Blumar, Leroy Seafood, Trident Seafoods and High Liner Foods.
(Copyright)
Published 21 April 2020, 23:38Updated 22 April 2020, 17:18
MilarexThomas FarstadSalmon processingPolandCOVID-19