Rising to the challenge

GFG Alliance, sustainability > 28th April, 2020

At a glance

0 min read

  • Our teams have worked in a collaborative way around the world to implement practices to ensure the health and safety of our workers, customers, suppliers and local communities.
  • Social distancing measures, temperature checking and a focus on hygiene underpin our approach.
  • We’re working in cooperation with advice from government and health authorities in the countries we operate within.

Resilience and adaptability have underpinned the way in which GFG Alliance has responded to the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the COVID-19 situation took hold and spread rapidly across the world, our global businesses have adjusted and incorporated changes aligned to global and relevant domestic public health advice to ensure the safety of our people, customers and communities we operate within.

From novel temperature checking ideas to social distancing measures, transport initiatives and work from home arrangements, our businesses have risen to the challenge to implement changes and ensure, where possible, we remain operational and open for business.

GFG’s Global Head of Safety Fran Nores has praised the work of our teams to adapt and adjust during this unprecedented time.

“The collaborative way in which our people have pulled together to quickly find solutions and implement practices which comply with the various health requirements in the countries we operate in is to be applauded,” he says.

“I want to thank all our teams supporting the group around the world and those within our businesses for the way they have worked together, tirelessly, to ensure our people, customers and the community – our extended GFG family – remains safe during this time.”

Social distancing measures

Applying the principles of social distancing at an operational site is not straightforward, but our teams from Belgium to Australia have found novel ways to adjust.

Using high-vis tape to mark out work spaces, helps provide the necessary visual cue and reminder to all employees about the need to maintain social distancing protocols.

The image gallery below shows examples from Liege-Dudelange and Sydney of how these measures have been put in place in control rooms and stand up meeting areas. Also included is a photo from LIBERTY Steel UK – the team has installed partitions in control rooms to provide further protection.

Increased signage outside of sites, control and meeting rooms, reminding all of requirements during this time are important and useful, as signage examples from Australia and the US illustrate.

While globally our people are adjusting to new, non-contact ways of greeting each other, like the workers from Ostrava in the Czech Republic giving each other the thumbs-up.

Another useful practice has been the adoption of split shifts with A and B teams at our work sites. Along with reducing or minimising periods of shift overlap, this is helping to further minimise the risk of transmission and stop the spread of COVID-19.

Temperature checks

One of the tell-tale indicators of COVID-19, is having a body temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius (of 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher.

Our teams around the world have been using thermal body thermometers to check temperature of employees and where relevant customers and suppliers who arrive onsite.

The Acacia Ridge team in Brisbane has been experimenting with a self-testing, standalone temperature checking unit to further minimise risk of transmission.

At our Romanian steel plant in Galati, a thermocamera at the main entrance scans the body temperature of employees and visitors alike.

Hygiene is important

Increased hygiene is a key plank in helping to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Deep cleaning across the work sites and offices in our businesses is in place, with an increased frequency. Our image gallery has an image showing disinfection taking place in common spaces at Galati.

Businesses have also implemented reminders to all workers about the important of maintaining good hygiene practices at this time, evidenced in these signs used by LIBERTY Steel UK.

They emphasise the important of correct handwashing technique, and other hygiene measures including the use of tissues to cover sneezes or coughs, or the use of your elbow if you don’t have a tissue handy.

Fran Nores says further advice and measures may need to be introduced or adjusted, as the situation evolves.

“Every country is having its own unique journey and responding to COVID-19 with measures that are relevant for them so our team will continue to monitor what’s happening globally and make changes and provide updates to safety advice that may be required across our businesses,” he says.

“I want to thank all our teams supporting the group around the world and those within our businesses for the way they have worked together, tirelessly, to ensure our people, customers and the community – our extended GFG family – remains safe during this time.”

Our latest stories

View all stories