Assembly Line Workers and COVID-19 - What Does An Employer Do About Touching Your Face?

Pizza courtesy of Pizza for Ukraine!

I have a number of friends who work on assembly lines and all of them are:

Terrified of getting sick
Have no option of working from home
Want to work
Need to work

Once upon a time my father used to own a manufacturing operation and this is the advice that I’d give him - buy these for all your line workers:

In the picture above, I am wearing my face shield that I use when I cut wood on my table saw. It:

Isn’t a mask (and that’s ok because there is a shortage of masks and masks aren’t as effective as you would think)
Costs only $15 at Menards or Home Depot
Should be readily available as it isn’t a medical device
Qualifies as valid safety equipment since that is its purpose
WILL REMIND PEOPLE TO NOT TOUCH THEIR FACE!

As an employer, whether or not you offer health care, you simply don’t want your employees getting sick. And I’m firmly of the belief that people are smart but often get distracted so giving them a visual reminder “don’t touch your face” is probably helpful.