More grocers add shields to help protect workers; reusable bags discouraged in Tacoma
Plexiglass shields and Tacoma’s temporary rollback of its “Bring Your Own Bag” measure are the latest efforts to help protect grocery workers amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Late last week, Safeway/Albertsons announced the installation of the shields at checkout stands.
On Tuesday, Fred Meyer and QFC both announced the installation of similar clear plastic “sneeze guard” shields in its stores.
“Many of our stores are beginning the installation process this week, and we anticipate every check lane having a partition, including pharmacy counters and Starbucks registers, within the next several weeks,” the two retail chains said in separate statements issued Tuesday.
“In addition, we are installing educational floor decals to promote physical distancing at check lanes and other counters.”
The retailers also are pushing for grocery workers to also be given a chance to access personal protective equipment to help shield them from COVID-19.
The grocers noted that their workers already are permitted to wear protective masks and gloves, adding they are “advocating to government officials at all levels for help securing a priority place in line for all grocery workers — after health care workers — to have access to protective masks and gloves.”
Grocery workers in recent weeks have repeatedly expressed their fears about exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace.
Among the concerns raised by workers in recent weeks is the use of customers’ reusable bags, which often are rarely if seldom cleaned. In response, municipalities have taken to rolling back ordinances to allow for grocers to once again supply bags to customers.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Tacoma joined in that effort, approving immediate suspension of Tacoma’s “Bring Your Own Bag” ordinance.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 1:40 PM.
