Application of Protective Measures against COVID-19 in Polish Production Companies

The study aimed to identify and analyze measures used in manufacturing enterprises to protect workers from COVID-19 infection and maintain business continuity. Measures were identified based on literature studies, recommendations presented in the guidelines of international and national organizations, information from manufacturing companies, and the study authors' expertise. Measures were classified into five groups. A survey was conducted using a mixed model Computer Assisted Web Interview/Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CAWI/CATI) on a representative group of 600 manufacturing companies in Poland. Measures were analyzed according to the occurrence or non-occurrence of COVID-19 in the enterprise. It was confirmed that the vast majority of identified measures were being applied, and enterprises implemented other solutions developed in-house. Legal and regulatory measures, individual protective measures, and protective measures for groups of workers were mainly applied at similar levels, both in the occurrence or non-occurrence of COVID-19. The implementation measures of work organization and production organization are mostly higher in enterprises without COVID-19. The proposed approach can be the basis for developing a methodology for studies of crisis events of a similar nature. The results can be used to select and implement a set of measures for an individual enterprise.

Automated summary

This study aimed to analyze the measures used by manufacturing enterprises to protect workers from COVID-19 infection and maintain business continuity. The majority of identified measures were found to be implemented, with additional in-house solutions being developed by the enterprises. Legal and regulatory measures, individual protective measures, and protective measures for groups of workers were applied at similar levels regardless of the occurrence of COVID-19. Measures related to work organization and production organization were generally higher in enterprises without COVID-19.