Surabaya, 9 June 2020 - Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, PT HM Sampoerna Tbk. (Sampoerna) continues to increase and implement strict health and sanitation protocols, and adapt to new normal standards in carrying out its business activities. This is a form of Sampoerna's commitment to maintain the health and safety of its employees, as well as a commitment to ensure product quality and the best brand integrity for adult consumers. All is implemented by referring to the directions and regulations of the COVID-19 Prevention Protocol for business issued by the Government and the Task Force.
"One of the mitigation measures, we require each employee to conduct self-health risk analysis before leaving for work. Referring to MoH Decree, only low-medium risk* employees are allowed to go to work. After that, they will then follow a series of other protocols. We have implemented this in all of our production and operational facilities," explained Mindaugas Trumpaitis, Sampoerna's President Director. Previously, the company had distributed thermometers to all production employees so that they could carry out body temperature checks independently. (*Self-analysis risk form as regulated in the Decree of the Minister of Health RI Number HK.01.07 /Menkes/328/2020)
Specifically for production facilities in Surabaya, Sampoerna requires every employee in Rungkut 1 and Rungkut 2 to take the Rapid test. This will be carried out gradually before Sampoerna resumes production activities on June 9, 2020.
"This Rapid Test is important as a mitigation effort and ensures no infected employees are entering Sampoerna production facility area, considering that employees in Rungkut 1 have stopped working since the last 4 weeks, while Rungkut 2 employees have been in the last 6 weeks. Only employees with non-reactive rapid test results and hold a health certificate can enter those production facilities, "said Mindaugas.
The next protocol, when employees enter production facilities, their body temperature will be detected through a thermal camera with a maximum limit of 37.3 ° C. If it exceeds the above conditions, health checks are carried out at the health facilities in the factory and asked not to work temporarily. And for those whose body temperature is within normal limits, they will pass through the area of antiseptic liquid spraying thoroughly and perform special hand sanitation before then wearing the mask that has been provided and will be replaced every 4 (four) hours.
Furthermore, the implementation of physical distancing of 1 (one) meter is carried out strictly in all areas of production activities, both when they are working or performing other activities such as resting/having lunch and worshiping. The production area is redesigned with a small unit system which consisted of a maximum of less than 40 employees and each small unit is given a partition. This small unit management system is a stricter measure to implement distancing, as well as anticipatory efforts to facilitate contact tracing if later needed. Meanwhile, spraying disinfectants at production sites along with public facilities such as canteens, toilets, prayer rooms, lockers, cooperatives, ATM machines, etc. is done in every 2 (two) hours.
"We have presented and consulted with the local Government and Task Forces on implementing health and sanitation protocols that are more stringent than recommended. The adoption of this protocol is a new normality standard which is very important for the continuity of our business with two main objectives. First is to ensure the health and safety of our employees. And second is to guarantee the best product quality and brand integrity for our adult consumers," explained Mindaugas.
Not only implementing health and sanitation protocols, since March, Sampoerna has also carried out product quarantine standards for at least 5 (five) days before being distributed to the distribution channel. The quarantine time standard of the product is almost double the time standard recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Center for Disease Control (European CDC) which states that COVID-19 lasts for 3 (three) days in plastic media and lasts less than 1 (one) day on cardboard/paper.
"As a further precautionary and mitigation measure, we carry out education and ongoing efforts that health and sanitation protocols must be carried out by every employee with discipline even if they are not in a production area. We distribute and require the use of masks when inside and outside the factory and provide hand antiseptic fluid for regular use. In addition, we also provide sprayers along with disinfectant liquid to employees to take home, which can be used to clean bedrooms, bathrooms, or objects that are frequently touched in their house/boarding house area respectively," continued Mindaugas.
Sampoerna put every efforts to raise awareness and discipline of its employees to implement health and sanitation protocols when they carry out activities outside the factory, such as when using public transportation, shopping for daily necessities in traditional market, or doing other activities outside the home.
"As one of Indonesia's corporate citizens who has more than 23 thousand employees and operates 6 production facilities, we are committed to implementing strict health and sanitation protocols, and adapting to new normal standards. At the same time, we are also committed to remain productive in carrying out business activities so that we can participate in moving the country's economy. In line with the Government's efforts and priorities, Sampoerna is taking an active role in contributing its best contribution so that Indonesia can get through the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining stability in the socio-economic aspects," concluded Mindaugas.