Providing Masks to Production Employees
A note from the Health & Safety Department: Additional Health & Safety Support for Teams on Site
It was recently announced that the CDC is now recommending wearing face masks in public places. We want to ensure that all employees have a face mask solution available to them for their health and safety while at work.
According to the CDC, cloth face coverings created at home using common materials can be used as an additional voluntary public health measure. They are not, however, recommending the use of surgical masks or N-95 respirators as these are critical supplies for healthcare workers and first responders. While masks should be worn, social distancing protocols such as ensuring 6 feet distancing from others at all times are the primary and most effective way to reduce the spread of the virus.
That said, our Coronavirus Response Team has been working to determine a solution that will offer protection to our employees and ensure medical grade Personal Protective Equipment remains available for healthcare workers and first responders fighting on the front lines against COVID-19. Over the past few days, a team has assembled at the Bourbon Heritage Center to begin homemade mask production as a temporary solution for employees. Using extra stock of 100% cotton Deep Eddy Vodka bandanas, our team has made 900 masks in Bardstown alone with more created in Buda for the Deep Eddy Team.
The process of mask distribution is underway to ensure all locations can supply one mask to each employee. Completed masks are being delivered to the following locations:
- Bottling Facility and Warehouses in Bardstown, Kentucky
- Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky
- Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Downtown Louisville
- Deep Eddy Distillery in Buda, Texas
- Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room in Dripping Springs, Texas
- Black Velvet Distillery in Lethbridge, Canada
Your safety is our number one priority. By the beginning of the first shift on Tuesday, every on-site employee will receive one homemade face mask to be worn on a voluntary basis. The Coronavirus Response Team is working on sourcing a more permanent face covering solution for all employees that can be easily mass produced and easy to access, maintain, and clean.
While homemade masks are a great solution in the current circumstances, there are a few requirements to make them effective in protecting against the virus. Below you will find the instructions for making the 100% cotton bandana face coverings being produced by Heaven Hill. The CDC has issued guidance on their website for making face coverings using other materials and methods as well.
Materials:
- 100% Cotton Bandana (approximately 20”x20”)
- Two Hair Ties
- Scissors
Tutorial:
Care Instructions:
It is important to clean your homemade mask every day or after use. It is recommended that a minimum of hot water with soap is used to clean, but washing it in the washing machine with detergent is the best option. Dry your mask in the dryer and store it in a clean Ziplock bag when not in use (keep the bag open enough to let the moisture out). You do not want the mask touching surfaces that have not been disinfected. Once the mask is dry, use the instructions above to reconstruct your mask for next use.
Once we are able to source a more permanent solution, those masks will be distributed across facilities. Additionally, during the four-day holiday weekend, a third party cleaning company will be sanitizing the work areas in each facility before return on Tuesday.
As we have said before, the safety of our employees is our number one priority. We hope this information provides encouragement for our team as we endure these circumstances together. If you have any questions or concerns regarding masks, please feel free to contact the Heaven Hill Health & Safety Team.
