STGT reassures about the safety of gloves, with strict hygiene measures at every stage of production
Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) (STGT) provides reassurances about the safety of the gloves, with strict health and hygiene measures at every stage of production, from before entering the factory area and production lines to packing and shipping, and an increase in the frequency of sanitization of the factory area and the surrounding communities. The Company has fully cooperated with the Trang provincial health authorities and takes full responsibility for providing the employee quarantine housing. The Surat Thani factory is expected to resume production within early next week.
Miss Jarinya Jirojkul, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) Plc. or STGT, a major global producer and distributor of latex and nitrile gloves, said that, following cases of daily-wage employees at the Trang and Surat Thani factories who tested positive for COVID-19, the Company would like to reassure customers about the safety of the gloves. The Company has implemented the strictest health and hygiene measures at every stage of production and has increased the frequency of sanitization in the factory area and the surrounding communities to ensure the safety and quality of the gloves. The Company has received the international ISO13485, ISO9001, ISO22000 (Food Safety) & HACCP, Thai GMP and Halal certifications.
The Company has in place the strictest health and hygiene measures at every stage of the production process. Before entering the factory area and the production lines, all employees have to go through a temperature screening and sanitization checkpoint. Employees also have to wear a mask, wash hands with soap and disinfectant, put on a gown and hair covering to prevent any contamination. Throughout the shift, alcohol is sprayed periodically. The Company utilizes an automated production process that involves high heat and a cleaning process that complies with the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification.
Employees responsible for the packing of gloves have to wear an attire that complies with the GMP certification, wash hands and disinfect before entering the packing area and use alcohol every single time before packing the gloves. The gloves do not come into direct contact with the employees and are subject to random testing to detect any contamination. Alcohol is periodically sprayed throughout the shift and employees have to wear a mask at all times and disinfect the area before the start of and during the shift to prevent any contamination. The gloves are packed into a sealed package. The shipping of gloves also complies with international standards and the storage area and the employees involved have to comply with the GMP certification and strict health and hygiene measures.
Additionally, the Company has increased the frequency of sanitization of the factory area and the surrounding communities. For example, the canteen is now being sanitized daily instead of every 3 days, and the employee housing and surrounding communities are now being sanitized every 3 days instead of every 7 days. The number of cleaning staff has also been increased to ensure that the factory area is being cleaned throughout the day. A total of 5 disinfection tunnels have been placed at the factory entrance and the employee housing entrance. Ozone sanitizers have also been placed in the meeting rooms and offices.
The following additional employee screening measures have also been put in place: 1. An employee who exhibits any of the symptoms listed (fever, dry cough, sore throat, eye irritation, rash) will stop working immediately; 2. Staggered work shifts and holidays to reduce density; 3. Suppliers have to show a negative COVID-19 test result to be allowed entry to the factory area; 4. All new employees will have to undergo COVID-testing; 5. Interviews of applicants will be conducted virtually; 6. The medical building will provide in-person services only in emergency cases.
The Company would like to reassure all customers and users that the gloves produced by the Company comply with the most stringent safety standards.
Following the cases of COVID-19 at the Trang factory, the Company has cooperated with the Trang provincial health authorities to conduct testing of all employees at the factory, provide quarantine housing for those tested negative and conduct testing of close contacts of the employees in order to contain the spread and minimize impact on the local communities so that the situation can return to normal as quickly as possible.
The Company takes financial responsibility for the quarantine housing and the daily provision of food and water. The employees are separated into 2 groups, with one being quarantined at the employee housing at the factory and the other in nearby hotels in order to reduce density. Any employees who test positive during quarantine will be hospitalized. Regular sanitization of the quarantine housing is being carried out.
The Surat Thani factory is expected to resume production within early next week following the implementation of health and hygiene measures and the testing of all employees.