(COLDWATER) – An area business has taken steps to protect their workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Protecting the safety and well being of essential service workers is critical to maintaining operations of businesses that provide essential goods and services to our communities. Businesses in Southwest Michigan and all around the country continue to adapt their policies and procedures to help protect their workers.

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency says one of those businesses is Maroa Farms, a 2.2 million square foot greenhouse in Coldwater that grows fresh produce year around. CHA Health Officer Rebecca Burns says they have been working closely with Maroa Farms, and appreciate their continued efforts in protecting their workers.

Maroa Farms have implemented several measures including: working with the CHA and state health authorities to comply with all government and Center for Disease Control guidelines to stay abreast of real time developments; conducting daily temperature and health screenings at the beginning of each shift for onsite essential workers who can't work remotely; enforcing hygiene with an emphasis on proper hand washing; installing additional hand sanitizing stations throughout the farm; and increasing cleaning and sanitizing of all facilities including high touch point areas multiple times a day.

Burns says Maroa Farms recently took the proactive step of conducting mass testing of onsite workers, in order to identify anyone that were tested and may be positive, but not showing any symptoms.