Our company’s deepest sympathies go out to all who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Undeniably, this is an unprecedented time for our country.
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads globally, we are taking precautions to ensure the safety of the Artone community -- including our employees and their families, customers, and prospective customers. These protective measures are under the advisement of government and health officials.
How Artone is Doing its Part
We are taking every necessary precaution to help prevent the further spread of the virus. We will continue to do so until a time deemed safe again. As an additional precautionary measure, for several days (prior to Artone being deemed an essential business in New York) our facilities and maintenance team cleaned and disinfected our entire 250,000 sq. ft. facility; from the shop floor to offices, bathrooms to machinery. We are currently cleaning surfaces that are touched regularly like doorknobs and handrails, bathrooms several times a day.
Here are some of the ways we are protecting our employees and serving our communities and customers during this difficult time:
Protecting Employee Health and Well-being
This is a dynamic environment that we are constantly monitoring. Based on guidance from local, state and federal governments and health officials, our management team has:
- Required regular hand washing or using 60% alcohol-based hand rubs. Workers should also always wash hands when they are visibly soiled and after removing any PPE.
- Provided resources and a work environment that promotes additional personal hygiene. For example, we have provided employees with tissues, no-touch trash cans, hand soap, alcohol-based hand rubs, disinfectants, and disposable towels for workers to clean work surfaces.
- Asked that all employees take their temperature before coming to work. If their temperature is 99 degrees or higher, they’re not permitted to come into work.
- Notified all on-premise personnel that if a physical meeting is imperative to invite-only essential (i.e. the minimum number) people deemed who are deemed absolutely necessary.
We will adapt our efforts and responses around the world as needed.
Prioritizing Safety in Production and Distribution Facilities
Since the coronavirus outbreak began, we have implemented additional cleaning and sanitation routines focusing on high-touch surfaces. We have also restricted visitors to our facilities.
We have reinforced hygiene and exposure guidelines with our employees. If we become aware an employee is ill or had direct or indirect contact with someone with COVID-19, we will immediately implement our isolation and sanitation protocols, as well as begin necessary quarantines, in accordance with guidance from local health officials.
Encouraging Remote Working
Based on recommendations to reduce large gatherings and increase social distancing, Artone has asked select office-based employees to work remotely. This includes members of the following departments:
- Sales
- Estimating
- Graphics
- Information Technology
Restricting Travel
We have suspended all employee travel at this time. Until additional travel guidelines are outlined for health officials, Artone employee travel will remain suspended for the foreseeable future.
How We Will Move Forward: Together
Though these times are uncertain, we strongly believe the United States will rebound -- as it has after any other crisis. We will together emerge stronger and more resilient than ever.
