Sasol Secunda recently held an appreciation ceremony for health workers at Highveld Mediclinic, Trichardt for their sterling work in the continuing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Sasol honours frontline health workers, as healthcare workers are our source of strength during this period as they work tirelessly, with selfless determination to ensure that community members are screened, tested and their lives are saved. This is highly commendable.
“Sasol appreciates all the nurses and doctors who have been working hard in our hospitals and clinics during this difficult time, making personal sacrifices to save lives and help the country survive this global pandemic. We recognise their bravery and thank them for going above and beyond the call of duty to fight the virus,” said Mashudu Ndou, Vice President: Corporate Affairs, Sasol Secunda.
ON THE FRONTLINE SINCE LOCKDOWN
Since the national lockdown was announced in March 2020, Sasol has worked with various stakeholders in an effort to flatten the COVID-19 curve. The company’s contribution includes:
- Donating more than 80 000 litres of alcohol-based sanitiser to health and education institutions such as Evander Hospital, local schools in Mpumalanga; the Govan Mbeki, Gert Sibande, Dipaleseng, Lekwa and eMalahleni municipalities; the South African National Defence Force and the South African Police Services; local taxi associations and other government departments;
- Rolling out COVID-19 education and awareness programmes in collaboration with the Gert Sibande District municipality;
- Donating general hygiene and safety-kit items such as masks, gloves, sanitiser, hand soaps, linen, blankets, cutlery and medical aprons to the Evander and Standerton TB hospitals;
- Loaning three mobile science laboratory vehicles, fuelled by Sasol, to assist the Department of Health with community their screening and testing campaign. This was done in partnership with the Sasol Foundation and Sasol’s Education flagship programme, Osizweni Science Centre;
- Providing 10 administrators to assist the health department with data capturing;
- The donation of 66 mattresses and toiletry packs to homeless people currently housed at the shelter at the Kinross Golf Club Lapa in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality.
MEASURES AND CONTROLS
Sasol also has proper measures and controls in place, which are aligned to the Department of Health regulations, to ensure that it safeguards the health and wellbeing of its employees. These include protocols to manage positive cases. The COVID-19 response plan, which has been implemented and communicated throughout our operations (plant and mines) includes:
- Conducting regular temperature screening upon entry to our operations;
- Enforcing the mandatory wearing of face masks all the time;
- Disabling high-frequency contact surfaces and touchpoints, such as biometric access controls and key pads, and other high-frequency contact surfaces;
- Requesting employees to declare if they or their family members have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19. We have medical protocols to deal with such situations including clear isolation or quarantine procedures;
- Enforcing social-distancing and introducing de-crowding initiatives;
- Educating on and encouraging better hygiene practice and behaviour;
- Imposing stringent travel restrictions for our employees;
- Providing support at our onsite clinics for screening employees for symptoms.
“Sasol is committed to the safety and health of its employees, service providers and the community. Today’s event is a humble gesture of appreciation to the Health Workers, to continue doing the selfless service to us, families and members of communities around our operations,” said Ndou.
As Sasol honours frontline health workers, see more ways we support to our fenceline communities click here.
