August 11, 2020

Thailand's CPF implements strong measures to prevent COVID-19 infections

Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CPF) has reassured that it will maintain strict preventive measures against a COVID-19 outbreak at its facilities to ensure 100% product safety despite not experiencing any transmitted cases of the coronavirus since the onset of the pandemic.

Using a successful experience from an operation in Wuhan, China, CPF has outlined a single-standard practice throughout all its business units including feed, livestock farm, processed food, logistic network, warehouse and offices. This helps guarantee the company's product quality and traceability.

To ensure safety, CPF has encouraged social and physical distancing at work. The company increased number of shuttle buses to service employees from their homes to manufacturing plants. Moreover, the company also extends lunch time to facilitate social distancing practice and increases health checkpoints and alcohol disinfectants for hand spray areas. There are also body temperature scanners at the entrances of operation sites.

Employees are required to wear gloves and masks at all times. Additionally, the company increased the frequency of sanitisations and applied automation to reduce human contact during logistic process.

CPF and contract farmers are also taking 'new normal' practices at their farms. Dr. Damnoen Chaturavittawong, senior vice president of the Swine Veterinary Service Department at CPF, said that strict animal and human disease control measures have been continually practiced for both CPF's livestock and aquaculture businesses, as required by international standards. With the outbreak of ASF across Asia and the COVID-19 pandemic, additional stringent measures and guidelines have been exercised.

To protect livestock raisers from COVID-19, CPF has exercised the following measures at buildings and farms countrywide: temperature monitoring that covers all employees who must take leave if they show symptoms like coughing, running nose, chest pain or sore throat; social distancing including two-meter distancing between persons, zero farm visit, alternate work hours, no travel to risk areas and a work-from-home policy; personal hygiene concerning face masks and protective equipment and regular hand washing and; safe transportation that requires the measurement of transporters' temperature, face masks, hand washing before and after work and contactless transportation.

Additionally, CP Freshmart, a retail business of CPF, has complied with a government declaration on safety guideline for food delivery. Under the government's guideline, it conducts temperature checks of its employees after they arrive at work. Delivery staffs are required to wear a mask and sanitise their hands before handing over products to customers.

The retail chain also encourages consumers to pay via digital payment, which is contactless, to minimise the risk of infection.

- CPF