ACTION ITEMS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS

Stakeholder safety

Please find below information and actions regarding COVID-19 and the processes in place at Elastomers Australia.
We are continually updating our actions in line with government recommendations and notifications, and will update this page with any changes.

Any new updates since last publication will be listed in red.

LAST UPDATE: 28 AUGUST 2020
ACTION ITEMS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS
Health risk management process for vulnerable personnel
  • Elastomers Australia released a company-wide COVID-19 Health Risk Assessment Form aligned to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) recommendations for managing vulnerable workers released 30th March 2020
  • This process was commenced 7th April 2020
  • All results were received by 16th April 2020 and have been reviewed for any high-risk personnel under the following guidelines:
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions
    • People 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions. Conditions included in the definition of ‘chronic medical conditions’ will be refined as more evidence emerges (the most current list can be accessed on the Department of Health website)
    • People 70 years and older
    • People with compromised immune systems (see Department of Health website)
    • Personnel who are currently pregnant
    • Personnel who are identified in the higher risk category are required to have a further risk-based assessment by a medical professional & where deemed suitably manageable, a specific COVID-19 health management plan developed and implemented
  • Elastomers Australia can confirm that currently we do not have any service personnel attending customer sites that meet these criteria

Service Personnel (visiting client sites)
  • Electronic Mental Health Assessment Form distributed to work force
  • Implementation of mandatory facemasks throughout Victorian and NSW operations
  • 2 persons per vehicle in NSW
  • Development of individual work plans to mitigate additional stressors for those working at home while home schooling children – maximising output while minimising stress
  • Compliance with site specific pre-entry screening, daily health questionnaires and checks
  • Tracing system in place to assist with monitoring of each person contact area in the event of a confirmed case contact
  • Pre and post shift temperature screening for all personnel
  • 2-person vehicle policy front and rear seating
  • Cessation of toolbox meetings – information now supplied electronically
  • Adherence to all border control measures
  • Development of site-specific action plans for service crews
  • Personal sanitary packs implemented for service staff
  • Additional Elastomers Australia facility & vehicle cleaning with regular touch surface wipe downs with hospital grade disinfectant or equivalent
  • Ensure those that are affected, or display symptoms are managed in accordance with current national health guidelines and customer processes
  • Personnel with symptoms or potential exposure are directed to medical review and immediate quarantine until definitive clearance is provided
  • Continued monitoring and updates to internal processes in line with government recommendations to ensure effective containment
  • Ongoing support and information releases to ensure continued management of workforce with latest health advice and national management methods
  • Mandatory pre-operational self-assessment before all site attendance
  • Electronic form for all personnel’s notification of upcoming travel commitments to enable forecast management if needed
  • All inductions are to be carried out electronically in branch wherever possible
  • All internal business travel to be approved by General Manager – Operations
  • All overseas work and non work-related travel has a mandatory 14-day quarantine before return to service
  • All service personnel have completed specific training in COVID-19 infection control and awareness
  • Implementation of a 4sqm social distancing in our manufacturing area and where possible on servicing visits
  • Supervisor COVID-19 pack inclusive of suspected case control plan
  • Additional suspected case PPE on hand (our crews carry a pack of masks and disposable gloves in vehicles)
  • Contaminated PPE disposal process

Workforce (Manufacturing & Office Personnel)
  • COVIDSafe audit of Victorian Operations to ensure alignment with Victorian Government regulations
  • Electronic Mental Health Assessment Form distributed to work force
  • COVID-19 audit of EA suppliers
  • Ongoing COVID-19 management training of key personnel
  • Implementation of mandatory facemasks throughout Victorian and NSW operations
  • Separation of manufacturing teams’ days and hours to ensure deep cleaning is carried out and no cross pollination of crews – Melbourne Facilities
  • Adequate supply of facemasks available for employees in line with Victorian Government regulation – Melbourne crews
  • Risk mitigation plans for return to work of office staff currently on hold
  • All non-essential workforce in Victoria Operations continuing with the working from home arrangement in accordance with Government requirements
  • Development of individual workplans to mitigate additional stressors for those working at home while home schooling children – maximising output while minimising stress
  • Tracing system in place to assist with monitoring of each person contact area in the event of a confirmed case contact
  • Pre and Post shift temperature screening for all personnel
  • No deliveries accepted at reception – creation of a non-contact acceptance process
  • Maximum staff number signage for all work spaces
  • Development of branch level Management plans
  • Infectious disease policy developed.
  • Development of Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP)
  • Weekly Covid-19 risk mitigation audit plan developed and implemented in all branches.
  • Development of PPE and cleaning stock minimum checklists for each branch.
  • Maximum numbers signage for all crib rooms implemented.
  • Client support teams have been split into two teams with maximum number working from home and office-based personnel staff practicing Social Distancing, to reduce the exposure to our personnel
  • Additional Elastomers Australia facility and vehicle cleaning
  • Ensure those that are affected or show signs of symptoms are managed in accordance with current national health guidelines
  • Personnel with symptoms or potential exposure are directed to medical review and immediate quarantine until definitive clearance is provided
  • Continued monitoring and updates to internal processes in line with Government recommendations to ensure affective containment
  • Ongoing support and information releases to ensure ongoing management of workforce with latest health advice and national management methods
  • All internal business travel under approval by General Manager – Operations
  • Completion of specific training in COVID-19 awareness and hygiene
  • All overseas work & non work-related travel has a mandatory 14-day quarantine before returning to work
  • Separation of manufacturing/production shifts to minimise risk
  • Additional Elastomers Australia facility cleaning
  • Engineering Team – To maintain our high level of design and developments to meet our clients’ needs the engineering team have developed a rolling roster with one of the engineering team in the office every day and the remainder working off site
  • Finance Team – our Finance Team & Reception will have at least one team member in the office each day to ensure onsite support for our clients, suppliers and personnel
  • IT Team – have developed a rolling roster and are here to support staff in setting up home based offices and to supply support and technical troubleshooting
  • Implementation of a 4 square metre social distancing in our manufacturing arena

Supply Chain
  • COVIDSafe audit of Victorian Operations to ensure alignment with Victorian Government regulations
  • COVID-19 audit of EA suppliers
  • Audit process of suppliers in regard to COVID-19 risk mitigation – Supply Melbourne
  • Inventory Management strategies to be reviewed and discussed with both customers / supply chain partners
  • Development of individual workplans to mitigate additional stressors for those working at home while home schooling children – maximising output while minimising stress
  • Tracing system in place to assist with monitoring of each person contact area in the event of a confirmed case contact
  • Out of Scope orders process implemented to respond to increased supply to sites.
  • Increased manufacturing hours
  • Pre and Post shift temperature screening
  • To ensure continuity of supply we are serviced and supplied by many local suppliers to reduce our lead time and remove any negative impact on our supply chain
  • Elastomers Australia products are all Australian made
  • Elastomers Australia do not directly source goods from other countries and use local raw products and materials where possible to enable continuity of supply
  • We have adopted flexible manufacturing hours to meet market demands
  • We are in constant communication with our suppliers to determine any impact by COVID-19 (Coronavirus) for the supply of raw materials Our suppliers have advised that they have multiple factories that can manufacture if needed
  • Whilst there is no direct impact to our current supply, we have contingency plans in place for alternative sources of supply as part of our ongoing risk management
  • We are forward ordering to a forecast (at least 3 months ahead)

HR & OH&S
  • Ongoing COVID-19 management training of key personnel
  • Risk mitigation plans for return to work of office staff currently on hold
  • All non-essential workforce in Victoria Operations continuing with the working from home arrangement in accordance with Government requirements
  • COVID-19 Control Group representative attendance in all operational planning meetings to ensure all risk to Company and Clients is effectively managed
  • Staggered facilitation of Elastomers Australia flu vaccinations to mitigate any impact from post vaccination symptoms
  • Development of individual workplans to mitigate additional stressors for those working at home while home schooling children – maximising output while minimising stress
  • Tracing system in place to assist with monitoring of each person contact area in the event of a confirmed case contact
  • All staff have access to online LIFT Fitness exercise program for their health and well being
  • Development of Duty cards aligned with TARP for key personnel within the business
  • Tracing tools developed
  • All staff are working remotely and are available on email and phone across the nation
  • EAP support provided to our staff
  • Regular updates on the situation have been provided to staff (coming from one source) to ensure staff remain informed and information is accurate
  • Form created to assess the level of exposure / risk staff may have potentially had to the coronavirus– used to assist with protecting the health and wellbeing of staff
  • Self-assessment tools have been provided to staff to assess their individual situation and contact OHS for further recommendations
  • Manager’s support flowchart developed to assist managers in managing any situations that arise at work
  • Training developed on managing the risk of the virus spreading
  • Development of a Control Group whose sole focus is risk mitigation

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