CASE STUDY: STAYING PROTECTED AND SAFETY COMPLIANT

Food processing workers are essential workers, so when the COVID-19 pandemic required new safety precautions for essential workers, food processors all over the country needed face coverings quickly. Here’s how RefrigiWear helped one customer meet stringent new safety requirements without delay.

The Customer

This RefrigiWear customer is a full-service warehousing and distribution company with 3 locations in California. Their customers include retailers, food service distributors and manufactures of frozen and chilled prepared foods, and juice bottlers of frozen and hot pack juices. Employees work in frozen, refrigerated and dry conditions ranging from above 45°F down to -15°F.

The Problem

As part of the food supply chain, the warehouse employees of this customer were deemed essential employees and had to remain at work when shutdowns began due to the global pandemic. As a safety precaution, face masks were needed for all of the employees in a hurry. The county implemented mask requirements on businesses with employees working on location, so this customer needed masks fast to be compliant. The supplier they were using didn’t have the inventory and couldn’t get what they did have shipped to the customer fast enough.

With time and cold a factor, a few things became apparent:

• The facility needed a supplier with quick service and shipping
• The employees needed gear that would reduce pandemic safety concerns
• The employees needed to remain warm in the freezer and refrigerator
• The gear needed to be high quality that could handle the long shifts

The Solution

We recommended a few of our neck gaiters to both cover the mouth and nose for county safety protocol compliance and to keep the employees warm in the cold warehouses. Our Flex-Wear Neck Gaiter is great in cooler conditions, with lightweight construction and 4-way stretch material for comfort and fit. Our knit Silver Magic™ Neck Gaiter is lined with smart silver for an antimicrobial addition to the warmth and safety it already provides. The Wool Neck Gaiters and Fleece Neck Gaiters are durable, warm protection that can be relied on, day after day.

The Results

By receiving the neck gaiters within 4 business days, the facility met the county’s ordinance on protective face wear and were able to operate in compliance. The neck gaiters had the added benefit of providing additional warmth for those working in the frozen and refrigerated warehouses.

“The difference in quality is pretty clear. Not only are RefrigiWear’s Customer Service and Sales teams top notch, but we also received our gear quicker than our previous supplier ever shipped. The gear is also better quality and longer lasting than anything we bought from our previous supplier,” says the facility’s General Manager.

The customer noted the improved sales and customer service experiences, as well as the high-quality products, and has shifted more of their PPE buys to RefrigiWear. This has resulted in their employees having gear that lasts longer, reduced replacement spending and a better ordering experience for the customer.

Explore More Cold Weather PPE

If employees in your business need warm, durable freezer gear, insulated workwear or thermal PPE, please contact RefrigiWear Customer Service for assistance.