CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Global and national companies including Hankook Tire American Corporation, Jostens, Trane, and LG operate local Clarksville factories that continue to remain open with guidance and regulations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several have sent communication to their employees explaining protocol for continuing operations. Workers are concerned as social distancing is being advised and some workers have reportedly presented symptoms similar to coronavirus.
“With the ever-changing landscape of what is happening nationally concerning COVID-19, Hankook Tire’s Tennessee Plant is working to keep employees and their work environment safe,” said a Hankook spokesperson. “Our employees are our major priority and so we are continuing to follow the Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines as outlined on their website. Our disinfecting process is in full compliance with the CDC.”
They went on to say that there are no known cases of employees testing positive for COVID-19 as of Friday, March 20.
In a letter to employees, Hankook said they would continue to operate in full compliance with local, state, and federal government guidance and with recommended precautions would continue operations of the offices and plant.
However, Hankook officials did admit three day-shift workers displayed coronavirus symptoms and were sent to on-site EMTs for preliminary testing. Two of the employees were sent home and their work areas thoroughly disinfected according to CDC guidelines.
Hankook employees were told officials were closely monitoring national activity as GM, FORD and FCA had suspended all factory operations through the month of March.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and remain flexible as events unfold,” said the spokesperson.
Montgomery County government officials declared a local State of Emergency on March 18 so that normal procedures could be waived to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens.
Worker and Family Concerns
Family members and local plant workers have sent various letters to the ClarksvilleNow.com newsroom voicing their concerns about employees working in close quarters despite advice regarding social distancing from local officials. Many employees fear losing their job or being penalized for being sick or calling out of work.
The concerns from several local factory employees and their family members continues to be focused around remaining gainfully employed while still cautious about their health.
“I have a relative that works at (a factory) located in Clarksville. Since Wednesday, they have released emails to their workers concerning COVID-19,” one family member stated. “They continued to notify their workforce but made clear that they would receive penalization if requesting to leave early or call out.”
Most often penalization includes (but is not limited to) negative points on a point system, write-ups due to missing work, not being paid for sick leave, etc.
In a statement to all LG-Clarksville employees, the company said:
The letter from LG officials states, “We intend to be transparent with information. Rumor and opinions only serve to increase the level of stress and worry among our employees and can lead to making misguided plans/decisions.” The letter then continued to say, “Yesterday (March 18, 2020) and today (March 19, 2020) a total of twelve Clarksville employees who may have been exposed to the coronavirus or have exhibited symptoms consistent with COVID-19 were sent home immediately. They have been asked to seek professional guidance from their doctor on next steps.”
As COVID-19 spread, proactive measures were being taken to minimize risks and concerns to teams. Employees at LG have been assured they are the company’s top priority. On-site temperature screening of everyone who entered campus has been implemented. The plant continued stating they were increasing disinfecting of high risk areas, collecting information on employees who had been in close contact with potentially infected employees, and confirming facts related to the situation.
Another large scale Clarksville plant is finding difficulty enforcing the social distancing directive. As one employee said, “Due to the nature of the work environment, for the factory workers on the floor, social distancing is not being practiced and cannot be enforced by management.” Employees at the factory received an information sheet from management on March 16, but the guidelines did not include mention of social distancing. “Employees are crammed in, shoulder-to-shoulder, and sharing tools and parts that have not been disinfected.”
While social distancing has become the phrase of choice by most health care professionals and government leaders, businesses are struggling to realistically implement the practice.
According to national reports, factories across the globe have suspended production amidst the COVID-19 crisis. (Read more: Car & Driver says GM, Ford, Honda, and Toyota Halt Production)
Several companies surveyed have the same reaction to COVID-19: crisis management teams, travel restrictions, heightened business impact meetings, mitigation plans for employees’ physical and financial well-being, and testing for new technology, communications and training.
Requests for comment by LG and Trane have gone unanswered at this time.
This is a developing story.