Here, printed jackets remind workers of social distancing

Thiruvananthapuram: To ensure that social distancing is maintained at the workplace, management of Family Plastics at Manvila has introduced a Covid-warning jacket as part of the uniform for employees.
More than 400 employees at the company, from workers, machine operators, administration staff, quality controllers, supervisors, managers to company MD, wear the jacket.The brain behind the idea is Simson Fernandez, MD of the company, which manufactures plastic household products. Warning messages in both Malayalam and Hindi are printed on the jackets as the staff comprises people from other states too.
The factory was struck with a massive fire in October 2018 and half of their facility was destroyed. The company had started refurbishing last year. They constructed a new building and shifted the warehouse to Kinfra.
“We were on the path of revival when this global pandemic struck us. After lockdown, we resumed our operations in May by strictly adhering to Covid protocols, but soon found out that maintaining social distancing is a big task in the real work scenario. We can’t afford yet another shut down after the massive fire and extended lockdown. When our MD suggested the idea, we immediately stitched the jackets in a raincoat-type material (water proof) and printed the warning images on it,” said Denny Kuriakose, senior manager at Family Plastics.
The jackets were distributed to the staff members when the company reopened after Onam holidays on Wednesday. The management is making another set of jackets for the employees. “Masks were also distributed to staff and sanitizer is provided at the workplace. Temperature of the staff is checked with thermal scanner before they enter for duty,” Kuriakose added.
Sanitizers are provided at all areas of the factory so that workers frequently do hand sanitizing.