Hazle Twp. checking plants for virus prevention

Hazle Township can’t stop Humboldt Industrial Park plants and distribution centers from operating during the coronavirus pandemic, but it is checking to see if they are following hygiene and social distancing protocols, township Supervisor Chairman Jim Montone said Monday.

In recent days, township code enforcement officers — two full-time and one part-time — have been visiting facilities at the massive complex to review whether they are in compliance, he said.

The move was prompted by many complaints, most anonymous, from workers alleging they are packed too closely into workplaces without access to protective gear, he said.

Montone said one plant, which he would not identify, had eight or nine confirmed coronavirus cases among its workforce. Code enforcement visited that employer and learned it is down from several hundred to 100 workers and is providing “plenty of room for workers to stay away from each other,” Montone said.

He said a manager at one facility, also not identified by him, indicated many workers are not taking the threat seriously and adhering to social distancing protocols. Montone said an advocate plans to visit that location with a language interpreter to discuss coronavirus precautions with employees who speak Spanish.

Based on feedback from code enforcement officers to date, Montone said plant managers are “doing everything they possibly can” to bring in handwashing stations, disinfect facilities and secure masks.

“People are putting things on social media that nobody is following rules, but that does not seem to be the case,” Montone said.

Code enforcement also reported that “three quarters” of the facilities at the industrial park are not operating, the supervisor said.

If unsafe conditions are found, Montone said the township will inform the employers of its concerns and may notify the state, Montone said.

“We can’t force them to do anything. All we can do is ask them to abide by it,” he said.

Joining several other Hazleton area municipalities, the township imposed a curfew and other measures aimed at preventing people from mingling and unknowingly spreading the coronavirus. He said he received some emails and texts from residents unhappy about the curfew.

“If it protects one person, I’ll take the heat,” Montone said.