Farmers and handling personnel, as well as those people who work in the food chain are, at this time, since last March 14 the State of Alarm was decreed with Royal Decree 463/2020 one of the few groups that do not he can stay at home to guarantee food for the population. And therefore they must take extreme security, prevention and containment measures for the spread of COVID-19.
In this sense, from EDYPRO we have collected information through various sources such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, associations of Producers and exporters of fruit such as Proexport, different agricultural associations or the General Council of Official Associations of Agronomists to transfer these important measures.
One of the first actions that must be carried out, either for permanent or temporary workers for various reasons, is that all of them are equally trained and informed about all the measures implemented in the company through the website, social networks, informative posters in the center or company vehicles, or images on screens that are located in company areas.
1.-The first measure is to minimize contact between people and keep the minimum preventive safety distance of 1.5 meters, either in warehouses or in the field for farmers. As well as avoiding people concentrations, increasing caution in the collection, delivery and handling of products.
2.- When working on farms or sheltered agricultural areas, work areas must be delimited and each worker assigned one with the greatest possible distance and always respecting the minimum safety distance. In this sense, it is important to provide each person in charge with a thermometer so that farmers can be controlled at the temperature, since they should avoid working when the temperature exceeds 37 degrees. The person who must carry out these controls should wear gloves and use hydroalcoholic gel to disinfect himself after performing these tasks.
3.- Work equipment and machinery in the field must be identified as well as assiduous disinfection, especially those surfaces that are in contact with the worker. Bleach is very effective for cleaning surfaces in a 0.1% dilution. This is 10 milliliters of sodium hypochlorite in 10 liters of water that must be left to act for at least one minute.
4.-Work and common spaces must be organized to reduce the number of exposed people and maintain safety distances in areas such as dining rooms, bathrooms or changing rooms.
5.-Regarding transport, those people who travel in private vehicles may do so a maximum of two people in a crossed position, in 9-seater vans, a maximum of 3 people in a zig-zag and in buses, they must circulate at a third of its maximum capacity, zigzagged and without anyone in the passenger seat.
In addition, the modification of “Order INT / 262/2020, of March 20, which develops Royal Decree 463/2020, of March 14, which declares the state of alarm for the management of the health crisis situation caused by COVID-19 ”, in terms of traffic and circulation of motor vehicles.
It includes the vehicles that transport inputs in a concise way, since in the case of road closures or traffic restrictions, the vehicles used for the production, marketing, transformation and distribution of agricultural, livestock and fishing products, and their inputs are exempt. You can check it in this link.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food itself resolves doubts about agricultural activity within the State of Alarm and the opening of retail trade for the sale of inputs for Agriculture.
Thus, he explains “the activity of the retail trade that supplies this type of inputs has continuity, since they are essential activities to ensure primary production and, with it, the food supply to the citizenry. On occasions, this retail trade is provided by the agrarian cooperatives, fishermen’s associations, fish markets or ports that should be able to continue providing this service ”. You can also check it here.
For those people who work in fruit and vegetable warehouses or cooperatives, we also highlight as essential;
–Reduce visits from other people to the minimum possible unlike those essential such as logistics and prevent staff from getting together between shifts.
–Extreme hygiene measures with hand washing, frequently as well as the placement of gels with alcohol in different areas for when the personnel remove the gloves with which they must also work.
–Professional drivers can circulate through the different Autonomous Communities but must avoid contact with the local population and take extreme hygiene measures, as well as travel with the company’s supporting document to justify the reason for their trip.
– There is an incubation period for the coronavirus in which the symptoms are not yet perceptible, but it is necessary that at the slightest sign or symptoms such as dry cough, fever (may be mild), respiratory difficulties or general malaise, contact the center health or call the telephone number of each Autonomous Community and the person isolates himself at home.