Fireguards in place to prevent spread of virus at Columbus Steel
Following the latest Covid-19 infection at Columbus Stainless, the company has announced that 13 more employees have been traced and isolated, in an attempt to prevent further spread of the virus at the plant.
Chief Executive Officer, Johan Strydom issued a press release, giving information on safety measures put in place to keep employees safe from transmission.
Columbus Stainless confirmed that one of its employees has tested positive for Covid-19.
The employee works at the Water Treatment Plant (WTP), which is situated about 800 meters away from the main operation. The employee is currently in self isolation at his residence in line with the current health protocols.
The Company identified the risk through the daily screening and self-declaration questionnaire process, which all employees are subjected to before resuming their daily work schedules. It was revealed that the employee had traveled to Bloemfontein to attend a funeral during the weekend of 23-24 May 2020.
Based on the risk factor the employee was immediately removed from the premises and testing was initiated by his Medical Practitioner.
Also read: Columbus Stainless emloyee tests positive for Covid-19
Columbus received the test results late Sunday evening, confirming that the employee tested positive and was asymptomatic. Contact tracing was immediately done, which identified 13 other employees who have been exposed to and potentially came into direct contact with him.
Once identified these employees were removed from site, placed in quarantine and sent for Covid-19 testing to establish their status. These employees have all tested negative and will be allowed to return to work once the 14 day quarantine period has elapsed. All related work areas and equipment were subsequently disinfected and the matter reported to the relevant authorities.
Columbus management anticipated that our employees would be forced to face the Covid19 pandemic at some stage, and hence all the necessary safety measures had been implemented at Columbus before operations started up on 1 May 2020 after the national lockdown.
The company has implemented various initiatives to mitigate the spread of Covid19 at the workplace. These include, but are not limited to the installation of sanitizing spray booths at the main entrance to the plant, taking the temperature of every employee entering the premises, compulsory sanitizing of hands at the main entrance, issuing of masks to all employees, compulsory social distancing, reducing the number of employees in company provided buses as well as sanitizing change rooms and transport daily.
The affected employee and his family will continue to receive the necessary support from management and fellow stainless colleagues.
“The Company would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the level of integrity shown by the employee throughout this process and as the Country moves to ease the national lockdown, urge all employees to continue to comply with precautions to keep themselves and colleagues safe. We regard the health and safety of our employees as our number one priority, as we continue to add stainless quality to live. Together we all have a responsibility and we all should take accountability to stop the spread of the virus, protect our community, families and ourselves!” said Johan Strydom, CEO of Columbus Stainless.
