COVID-19 - Chilled Solutions

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Safety and Service Preparedness





To our valued customers and business partners,

As we all work together to manage through these unprecedented times, we wanted to share our thoughts and plans as we face the difficult challenge of responding to the coronavirus (COVID-19), which the World Health Organization recently declared a pandemic.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people who have been directly and indirectly affected by this unprecedented event. We appreciate, admire and thank the healthcare workers, local communities and governments around the world who are on the front line working to contain this coronavirus and help those in need.

Our top priority is the safety of our employees, all of you and the communities we serve. We will continue to monitor the developments of the COVID-19 situation and we will use our website as our primary tool for communication updates. Below are steps we are actively taking to focus on the safety of our employees, you and your customers:

•Assembling kits for each driver that include items to help them protect their health and the communities’ health while delivering. As long as supplies are available, the kits will contain disposable food service gloves that the drivers don before each delivery and shed after facilitating the transaction.  The driver will use a new set of gloves for each delivery.  The kit will also contain Lysol spray or sanitizing wipes that can be used to disinfect the scanner and other items that are shared between driver and customer. If hand sanitizer is available, each driver will be provided with an ample supply to continuously sanitize their hands after contact with external surfaces or customers.

•Before every shift and prior to driver dispatch, we will provide a safety briefing on the importance of proper hand washing and remind employees to avoid touching their face, as well as reminding everyone to cover their mouths and noses when sneezing or coughing and washing hands immediately thereafter.

•We will make hand sanitizer readily available, when possible, for all members of the workforce while they are at work. Similarly, management will ensure hand soap is readily available in all FDL washrooms.

•We will follow CDC matrix recommendations relating to reports of confirmed or potential exposure of any FDL employee.

•We are preparing a protocol for handling instances of employee absenteeism related to COVID-19 exposure or mandatory quarantines/school closures.  Employees may              ask to absent themselves due to fear or an abundance of caution. If possible, we will consider a reasonable personal leave procedure that permits employees to request a block of unpaid leave should they have legitimate concerns about virus exposure or need to be absent due to exposure or quarantine of some sort.

•Communication has already taken place with key staffing agency partners requesting their active support in ramping up our staffing pipeline in the event we need additional talent.

•We are developing a centralized reporting process through which Human Resources collects information about employee concerns to ensure consistency in handling of COVID-19 related issues.  FDL Human Resources will log all concerns as well as our handling of each situation.

•We have commissioned our cleaning vendor and additional cleaning vendors to ensure they are prepared to deep clean/thoroughly sanitize the workplace proactively as well as immediately upon confirmation of a verified case of exposure on FDL property.

•Should there be a more widespread outbreak in the local metro area, we are communicating the importance of social distancing practices in the workspace to avoid meetings or employee groups gathering in close proximity.  

•We are preparing for remote work practices for personnel who are not critical to be   on-site for essential warehouse and/or office responsibilities, and can effectively perform their duties while in an alternative location.

We will continue to proactively communicate with you regarding developments that have a direct or indirect impact on our service. We will also be asking for your continued support, collaboration and ideas as we work through this together. Here are some possible temporary considerations:

-We may have to refine/restrict certain days, areas we can deliver based on regulatory, community and/or FDL guidance.

-We may have to abandon windows based on geographic access limitations and/or delivery efficiency and capacity.

-We may have to identify alternative drop points for deliveries with designated individuals for consignee BOL signatures.

-We may be limited to warehouse, delivery capacity based on FDL talent available.

-We may have to discontinue bottle-picking.

-We may have to postpone sample deliveries.

-We may have to, and can, coordinate pick-ups at FDL.

Again, we will continue to focus on how we can best serve you and your customers, although the reality is, we are in a temporary new normal, and we need your help. Our top priority is, and will be, the safety of our employees, their families, you and your families and the communities we serve.

Thank you for your support, understanding and assistance. May you and yours all remain safe and healthy.

All the best,


Mark

Mark A. Duffy
President & Chief Executive Officer
Office: 732-650-9200 ext.150

 
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