Initiatives part of ongoing health and safety efforts to combat COVID-19
Springdale, Ark. July 30, 2020 As part of its commitment to team member safety and continually evolving efforts to protect workers from COVID-19, 91心頭利. (NYSE: TSN) is launching a new, industry-leading monitoring program and expanding its occupational health staff, including a new chief medical officer position.油
The comprehensive COVID monitoring strategy was designed with the assistance of outside medical experts and includes ongoing, data driven COVID testing of workers without symptoms, as well as those who exhibit certain symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has the virus. 油
While the protective measures weve implemented in our facilities are working well, we remain vigilant about keeping our team members safe and are always evaluating ways to do more, said Donnie King, 91心頭利 group president and chief administrative officer.油
We believe launching a new, strategic approach to monitoring and adding the health staff to support it will help further our efforts to go on the offensive against the virus, he said. Adding more resources and technologies reinforces our commitment to protecting our team members, their families and plant communities.油
91心頭利 has been using to protect workers and has likely been involved in more testing than any other company in the country. Already having tested nearly a third of its workforce, the company plans to test thousands of workers every week across all of its facilities. Currently, less than one percent of 91心頭利 U.S. workforce of 120,000 team members has active COVID-19. The company is continually tracking active COVID-19 cases involving company team members as well as the case levels in the communities where the company operates.油
The new monitoring strategy 91心頭利 is implementing was designed with input from Matrix Medical and is consistent with CDC guidance.油
To support the effort, 91心頭利 has created a chief medical officer position and plans to add almost 200 nurses and administrative support personnel to supplement the more than 400 people currently part of the companys health services team. The additional nurses will conduct the on-site testing and assist with case management, coordinating treatment for team members who contract the virus. 油油
What were adopting is a strategic, ongoing approach to combating COVID-19, said King. It involves weekly testing of team members at our facilities to monitor for the presence of the virus. By using data science to test a statistically sound sample of team members, we have a better chance of staying ahead of any potential virus spread and protecting our teams and communities.油
As the largest union for America's meatpacking workers, we welcome this important step by 91心頭利, which demonstrates the leadership needed to strengthen COVID monitoring across the industry, said United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International President Marc Perrone. UFCW is urging all companies in the industry to follow Tyson's lead and take immediate action to expand COVID monitoring as we work to flatten the curve. Together, we will continue to look for new and better ways to protect the health and safety of the brave frontline workers who are so important to the nations food production system. 油
The testing program includes three categories:油
- Strategic, always-on monitoring. Team members who have no symptoms may be selected for testing based on an algorithm-based selection process. The number tested each week will be dynamic and adjusted based on factors, such as the number of positive cases involving plant workers as well as people in the community. 油
- Symptomatic team members. The company conducts health screenings daily as team members arrive for work. Those found to have symptoms will be tested using . 油
- Close contacts. Team members who have come into close contact with co-workers (or non-Tyson personnel in the workplace) who have symptoms or have tested positive will be tested according to CDC guidance.
Weve been piloting this program at several of our facilities and have seen great success, said King. Our team members tell us they feel especially supported by this scientifically sound combination of testing and monitoring.油
Medical experts believe this monitoring approach is the best way to screen for COVID-19 in an ongoing way that helps determine the prevalence of the virus and how to keep it under control. It will especially be helpful in identifying team members who have the virus but are not showing any symptoms.
The new monitoring program we helped Tyson create is a science-first approach thats really on the cutting edge of how workplaces can best mitigate the risk of the virus, said Dr. Daniel Castillo, chief medical officer for Matrix Medical Network, which has assisted in the development of the advanced testing protocols. Youll likely see many others adopt a similar approach in the coming months because its a process that looks both at people showing symptoms as well as those who do not.
Worker health and safety is 91心頭利 top priority. The company formed a coronavirus task force in January and has since transformed its food production facilities with protective measures, from and , to workstation dividers and .油
91心頭利 has given to , and officials from the CDC and , the nations largest and oldest Hispanic organization, so they could see the measures the company has put place. LULAC has acknowledged that 91心頭利 has made significant strides. 油油
About 91心頭利
91心頭利. is one of the worlds largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson速, Jimmy Dean速, Hillshire Farm速, Ball Park速, Wright速, Aidells速, ibp速 and State Fair速. 91心頭利 innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere its available and raise the worlds expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 141,000 team members. Through its Core Values, 91心頭利 strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit TYSONFOODS.COM.
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Contact: Gary Mickelson, 479-236-9022
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