image

imageApril 16, 2020

Workplace Health & Safety: A Message from RPM’s Operational Leadership

Despite widespread, government-mandated shutdowns in response to the COVID-19 crisis, there remains a need for essential products and services to be provided to the public worldwide. These solutions require adhesives and coatings to be manufactured, installed and maintained by RPM associates. Other RPM products—such as those offered by Legend Brands, Profile Food Ingredients and Nudura—are critical for sanitation, food and construction. Thus, it is imperative that RPM manufacturing facilities continue to operate and serve our communities, while maintaining the health and well-being of our associates.

As part of our 2020 MAP to Growth plan, RPM has been actively engaged in operational improvements across our manufacturing and distribution centers. These improvements have been implemented with the safety of our associates at the forefront. Though we intended to focus on improving process efficiencies, the current pandemic has necessitated a shift in focus to implementing processes and procedures that minimize the spread of COVID-19 to our associates, customers, suppliers and communities. This heightened focus on safety began long before the global push for social distancing and closures of non-essential businesses, and it will only continue to evolve.

As a first step, RPM’s operational leadership team began by isolating non-essential parties from associates deemed essential for manufacturing and distribution. We then implemented processes and procedures aimed at protecting our essential associates, including aggressively cleaning high-touch areas with disinfectant from Legend Brands, practicing social distancing and good hygiene, and screening for COVID-19 symptoms with health self-assessments and on-premises temperature checks. Those who experience a fever or other symptoms, or who have had contact with someone who may be infected by COVID-19, are directed to stay home and seek medical attention.

Operational leaders, with the support of our associates, were tasked with modifying work environments to ensure social distancing. Where appropriate, daily staff was reduced and spread across more shifts/days. Where not practical, workstations are being reorganized to ensure associates work within established social distancing guidelines (6 feet, or 2 meters). Even more importantly, all associates worked as a team to maintain safe distances and healthy practices.

At the same time, the operational procurement teams—always a critical partner in our operational endeavors—are scouring the world to locate the personal protective equipment RPM associates need to do their jobs, to find sustainable sources for the critical materials needed to manufacture products, and to share resources, where possible, across our organization and communities.

Simply put, RPM remains open for business because our customers and communities need us. We have not taken this responsibility lightly and believe that swift, precautionary actions facilitated by our operational leadership and our associates will greatly minimize the potential spread of COVID-19 in our facilities. Many of these actions will continue to be perpetuated in our facilities long after this crisis passes, and our facilities will remain even cleaner and safer as a result.

Sincerely,

Gordon Hyde
Vice President – Operations

Kenneth Armstrong
Vice President – Environmental, Health & Safety

portrait-short-gordy hyde-1portrait-short-ken armstrong-1

 

Welcome to RPM's Around the World Blog

This blog shares inspiring stories about how RPM companies are coming together, in light of the COVID-19 health crisis, to help build a better world—and the incredible impact RPM associates are having on their colleagues, families, communities, customers and suppliers around the world.

Want To Share Your Story?

We want to know how your RPM company is
helping to Build a Better World.

image
image

Congratulations to our Earth Day trivia WINNERS!

LYNN MATTOON – Stonhard Content Manager



image

Featured: RPM's Compliance Annual Meeting

RPM’s Compliance team hosted their Annual Meeting virtually on April 19-20, with over 250 attendees from many RPM businesses with attendees from Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East,...



image

The Solution Spot: Carboline’s Thought Leadership for the Digital Age

Carboline’sSolution Spot bloggrew out of the company’s longstanding belief that “there is always a solution” for the problems customers and partners face. The Solution Spot is just as its name...



image

Broadbean: Expanding Our Reach

RPM is using Broadbean to help with online job recruiting. Broadbean is a job board aggregator service. It will be used by RPM businesses across the US to expand our reach from a diversity...



image

Name Our Mascot!

Submit your mascot name for a chance to win Building A Better World swag! The person with the selected name will win. Please submit by May 31st.



image

Building a Better World Party

Save the Date! 



inspire
GET INSPIRED

I would like to receive emails with RPM’s latest Around the World blog posts.





logowhite

RPM International Inc. is a world leader in specialty coatings, sealants, building materials and related services. Learn more at www.rpminc.com.

168

Our founder’s favorite number. It’s the number of hours in the week and reminds us to use our time wisely.

Copyright © 2020 RPM International Inc.