FOCUS Weathering the
FOCUS Weathering the Covid-19 pandemic Medical preparedness and safety are priorities at the Marula Platinum mine. As a member of the Implats Group, Marula supports the lockdown measures taken by national government to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and to mitigate the severe impact on the lives and livelihoods of employees, host communities and suppliers. Internal planning within the Group has focused on securing operational resilience during the pandemic based on the view that the virus will be a feature for some time and operating in a “business as usual” environment will not be possible in the near term. In addition, Implats has implemented and enforced several measures to provide protection to employees, rolling out a number of programmes across the group. Risk-based operating procedures were introduced specifically aimed at reducing the risk of viral infections in high-risk work areas and to vulnerable employee categories. These steps include improved hygiene, restrictions on the amount of work performed, social distancing while performing work and while travelling to and from work, the provision of additional personal protective equipment (PPE) and the implementation of screening and testing procedures. Stock levels of medical protective equipment and PPE were increased and regular large-scale disinfection of workplaces continues to be performed. A meaningful increase in medical care preparedness was also undertaken through increasing the capacity of internal medical facilities and through the coordinated collaboration with industry peers, public/private partnerships and both local and regional medical institutions. All employees are currently screened using questionnaires, thermo-scanning of skin temperature, and if necessary, core temperature screening, before entering their work areas. Employees with abnormal temperatures are isolated at dedicated areas and then transported to designated medical facilities for diagnosis and, if necessary, testing, quarantine and/or hospitalisation. Mogale Mashilane, Executive Marula Operations, notes, “As the pandemic progresses, we expect to face increasing challenges to our medical preparedness and operational resilience. The benefit of experience gained by our team over the past few months will prove vital to successfully navigating the nearterm operating environment and mitigating the impact on our employees and communities.” ■ LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2020/21 48
ENRICHING LIVES through our commitment to health Medical Preparedness High level of medical preparedness across all operations including screening and testing, isolation/quarantine facilities and equipment Education Intense effort to educate and prepare stakeholders for the Covid-19 pandemic Procedures Risk-based operating procedures to reduce infections in high-risk areas Marula is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of all our employees and continually strives for zero harm in the workplace. 49 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2020/21 CooleAd 18533
