F&P says no panic at mexican site

Fisher & Paykel Appliances says it has increased hygiene awareness at its factory in Mexico but is not taking any extreme measures over swine flu.

The whiteware maker last year shifted manufacturing from New Zealand and Australia to several overseas sites including a plant in Mexico's Reynosa, on the border of Mexico and Texas.

Fisher & Paykel head of investor relations Paul Brockett said the company was not aware of any reported cases of swine flu in Reynosa although schools had closed as a precautionary measure across Mexico.

Fisher & Paykel employs 300 people at the factory that makes fridges, dishwashers and cookers. Brockett said most employees were Mexicans although three expat New Zealanders were employed at the site.

The company was being proactive in encouraging better health procedures including washing hands regularly but did not see the situation as any reason to panic. Staff were not wearing masks.

"It's really just a reserved approach at this stage," he said.

Fisher & Paykel was signed up to global medical insurance provider International SOS which was providing constant updates and was also checking the updates from the World Health Organisation.