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Area companies deemed "essential" by the state of Ohio have taken a variety of steps to fight the coronavirus and keep employees safe.
Several companies have closed for a brief time following a positive coronavirus test or a connection to a possibility of the virus spreading through a relative of an employee, according to area manufacturing leaders.
Iten Industries, presently working on a major collaborative project to provide face masks for first responders, is also working hard to keep employees safe, said Chief Executive Officer Pete Huggins.
He said the company was closed for about a week in late March as a precautionary move after an employee's wife said she might have been affected by the virus, The company restarted in early April.
"We check temperatures at least twice a day," Huggins said. He said employees are checked when entering the building and around lunch time.
"We've got two people assigned in each building to do this," he said.
"We leave all the doors open," Huggins said of a plan to reduce the potential of infection. He said employees are provided sanitizer and are reminded daily by email about procedures.
"We provide masks for all our employees," Huggins said.
Laura Richards, human relations representative for Wayne-Dalton Plastics in Conneaut, said her company has been practicing social distancing with its 61 employees.
"We provide masks," she said.
The work-place environment also helps the company achieve social distancing, she said.
"Each group we have is more than 30 feet apart," she said of the social distancing dynamic involved in the company. She said three shifts are running at the plant.
Geneva City Manager Doug Starkey said a variety of "essential" designated companies are operating in the city. He said one complaint was filed regarding a specific company, but their procedures were determined to be in line with regulations provided by the state.
Grand River Rubber and Plastics President Donny Chaplin said working out business procedures has been a challenge.
"It's been a learning process that is for sure," he said.
One of the procedures is a reduction in shift time from eight hours, to seven-and-a-half hours, to reduce contact between people, Chaplin said. He said employees are paid for eight hours, but leave early and the new shift is not allowed in until the first group is gone to reduce as much contact between people as possible.
He said extensive cleaning is being done "pretty much around the clock."
Chaplin said the company has 205 employees and some temporary workers that man three shifts.
"We are very busy," he said of some of the need created by the coronavirus regarding products the company produces that are specifically needed at this time.
"We are working Saturdays," he said. Chaplin said the company values its employees and provides food and other incentives to maintain morale.
Plastpro, a fiberglass door company located in Saybrook Township, closed its doors for about 10 days in early April after two employees tested positive for the coronavirus, according to information posted on the company's website. The company states that despite temperatures being taken, hand sanitizer widely distributed and other preventive measures, the infections occurred.
The company website said the operation was restarted in mid-April and workers were provided base pay during the shut down.
The company has also been active helping area emergency organizations. The website states that 1,400 masks were donated to 11 different organizations in Ashtabula County including a nursing home, a prison, a police department and numerous fire departments.