Farmers and handling staff, as well as those who work in the food chain, are currently, since The State of Alarm was declared on March 14th with Royal Decree 463/2020 They are one of the few groups that cannot stay home in order to guarantee food for the population. Therefore, they must take extreme safety, prevention, and containment measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In this sense, from EDYPRO We have gathered information from various sources, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Associations of fruit producers and exporters such as Proexport, various agricultural associations, and the General Council of Official Colleges of Agricultural Engineers to convey these important measures.

One of the first actions that must be taken, whether for permanent or temporary workers for various reasons, is to ensure that they are all equally treated trained and informed about all the measures implemented in the company through website, social networks, information posters in the center itself or company vehicles, or images on screens located in company areas.

1.-The first measure is Minimize contact between people and maintain the minimum safe distance of 1.5 metersYes, whether in warehouses or in the fields themselves for farmers. As well as avoiding the concentration of people. And increasing caution in the collection, delivery and handling of products.

2.- When working on farms or in sheltered agricultural areas, the following must be done Define work zones and assign each worker one with the greatest possible distance and always respecting the minimum safe distance. In this regard, it is important to provide each supervisor with a thermometer to take the temperature of the farmers, as work should be avoided when the temperature exceeds 37 degrees Celsius. The person performing these checks must wear gloves and use hand sanitizer to disinfect their hands afterward.

3.- You must have identified the equipment and machinery used in the field as well as regularly disinfecting surfaces that come into contact with workers. Bleach is very effective for cleaning surfaces at a 0.1% dilution. This is 10 milliliters of sodium hypochlorite in 10 liters of water, which should be left to act for at least one minute.

4.-It must be Organize work and common spaces to reduce the number of people exposed and maintain safe distances in areas such as dining rooms, bathrooms, or changing rooms.

5.-With reference to transport, those people who travel In private vehicles, a maximum of two people may travel in a diagonal position; in 9-seater vans, a maximum of 3 people in a zigzag pattern; and in buses, they must travel at a maximum of one-third of their capacity, in a zigzag pattern and without any person in the co-pilot seat.

In addition, the modification of “Order INT/262/2020, of March 20, which develops Royal Decree 463/2020, of March 14, which declares the state of alarm for the management of the health crisis situation caused by COVID-19”, has been published in matters of traffic and circulation of motor vehicles.

This includes vehicles transporting supplies, but specifically excludes vehicles involved in the production, marketing, processing, and distribution of agricultural, livestock, and fishing products and their inputs in the event of road closures or traffic restrictions. You can consult it here. link .

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food itself answers questions about agricultural activity during the State of Alarm and the opening of retail trade for the sale of agricultural supplies.

Thus, he explains, “the retail trade that supplies these types of inputs continues, as these activities are essential to ensure primary production and, therefore, the food supply for the public. Sometimes, this retail trade is provided by the agricultural cooperatives themselves, fishermen's guilds, fish markets, or ports, which must be able to continue providing this service.” You can also consult it here.

For those who work in fruit and vegetable warehouses or cooperatives, we also highlight the following as essential;

–Minimize visits from other people as much as possible unlike those essential ones such as logistics and preventing staff from congregating between shifts.

–Take extra hygiene precautions, including frequent hand washing., as well as the placement of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in different areas for when staff remove the gloves they must also wear while working.

-The Professional drivers can drive in the different Autonomous Communities However, they must avoid contact with the local population and take extreme hygiene measures, as well as travel with the company's accreditation document to justify the reason for their trip.

– There is a coronavirus incubation period in which the symptoms are not yet noticeable, but it is necessary that at the slightest sign or symptoms such as dry cough, fever (it may be mild), breathing difficulties or general malaise, you communicate, go to the health center or call the telephone number of each Autonomous Community and the person isolates at home.