Can this Solution Help Fight COVID-19?
Can this Engineering Solution Help Fight COVID?
MServ gives this semiconductor producer another layer of protection against Covid-19.
By Coni Tejada
Published November 20, 2020
SHI Manufacturing and Services (Phils), Inc., a significant player in the semiconductor industry, may seem to be just like any responsible company at the onset of this pandemic.
The company reconfigured the layout of their factory floor in First Philippine Industrial Park in Batangas, as to meet social distancing rules. They put up sanitation areas, procured face masks, face shields, and PPEs for their employees. They even provided them home-to-factory shuttle service.
But this Japanese subsidiary, producers of cryogenic compressors and control panels for the big equipment produced by its mother company Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., went above and beyond what was required to ensure the safety of its 288 employees. This has led them to working with MServ, a fully owned subsidiary of Meralco. MServ provides energy services and solutions, focused on electro-mechanical engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services, as well as energy-efficiency and urban services.
Ultraviolet solutions
MServ presented the Sumitomo team a couple of options to improve their health and safety measures against Covid-19. In the end, the UV air purifier and double-arm UV Lamp have proven to be the best for both parties.
The UV air purifiers are now installed in several areas of the premises such as their general office, manufacturing office, electrical office, two meeting rooms, canteen, and inspection room. “An air purifier is good for about 80 square meters,” explains Facility Supervisor and Pollution Control Officer Geruel Opeña. “So, we based the number of units we would install on our current floor area. We have a general office of around 200 square meters, where we now have three air purifiers. We have three small rooms, around 40-60 square meters where we placed one unit in each room. The number of units we installed is based on the capacity of an UV air purifier unit.”
“The solution that they gave is rather high tech,” says Opeña. “The UV air purifier is connected to an app on a smart phone and so the air quality in a room can be checked anytime, anywhere as long as there is an internet connection.”
Peace of mind in a pandemic
“Why are you hesitant to go to work? Why are you anxious? We put in some controls. I would then mention to my colleagues that we have a UV air purifier and would show them the data on my phone. With that, I can assure them that we have excellent air quality. Then, the employees are satisfied,” says Opeña.
Safety Officer and Assistant Manager Jericho Santiago has a sound piece of advice for the government and general public in navigating the new normal. “As of now, the actions recommended by the IATF are more like PPEs, social distancing, but they don’t emphasize on putting engineering controls to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Hospitals should’ve invested in UV lamps and UV air purifiers. If they did, perhaps not that many front liners were infected. They should involve engineers in this fight against Covid-19.”
SHI Manufacturing and Services (Phils.), on the other hand, did involve their engineers in strengthening their health and safety measures and now – with the help of MServ – they are confident to say that their premises are Covid-19 free.
To learn more, contact your Relationship Manager, call 16210 or email us at corporatepartners@meralco.com.ph.
Story originally posted on Power Club.