President Trump has declared meat-processing plants to be critical infrastructure and ordered them to remain open, even as COVID-19 has hit several plants across the country.
Across the country, 20 meat-processing employees have died of COVID-19 and more than 20 plants have closed due to the outbreak, but Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to require them to stay open.
The federal government released new guidance on protecting these workers,which includes a requirement that employers “conduct a hazard assessment” and “select and provide appropriate PPE to protect workers from hazards” as well as guidance on proper use and cleaning.
We need to keep America’s food supply chains moving—and keep the people who work in them employed as much as we can in this difficult time. Americans don’t need to worry about food shortages and even more lost jobs on top of everything else.
We also must ensure these workers and their families are protected against COVID-19—not only so we can keep supply chains and services moving, but also because it’s the right thing to do.
This is why PPE matters. It’s essential to keeping all essential workers safe, from those working on the front lines in hospitals and emergency services, to those working in food supply chains, grocery stores, for delivery services and trucking companies, and more.
We’ve called on the federal government to protect these essential workers. We joined a multi-industry letter urging them to prioritize essential workers for COVID-19 testing and take steps to ensure their safety.
And our industry is helping to supply it. Several BIO members have shifted manufacturing to make and distribute vital PPE to front-line workers across the country. We’re grateful for everything our members are doing in this fight.
Speaking of food… BIO is lucky to work from home—and work our way through our cookbooks and freezer stockpiles. If you have extra this month, join us in donating to the Capital Area Food Bank and supporting our neighbors in need. Learn more at www.capitalareafoodbank.org.
More Agriculture & Environment News:
Ethanol Producer Magazine: Bill authorizes $500 million to support biofuel infrastructure
Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) introduced the Clean Fuels Deployment Act of 2020, which “aims to provide funding for installing and converting fuel pump infrastructure to deliver higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel.”