CHALLENGES AND RESPONSES IN THE WORKPLACE IN RELATION TO

COVID-19

Demerara Distillers Ltd Group Of Companies,Guyana

Presentation Outline

Introduction-Challenges Faced-DDL’s Response in Stemming the Transmission and Safeguarding Health and Welfare in the Workplace-

Conclusion

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Corporate Efforts

• Due to the outbreak of the highly contagious ‘Coron avirus’ (COVID-19); DDL, its employees and its customers are all at ris k of contracting the deadly virus

• Therefore, the company has made provisions in order to play its part in reducing the spread of the virus; and to also fulfi ll its corporate social responsibility in the face of a viral outbreak

• The measures that DDL has implemented take into con sideration not only our premises and our employees, but our custom ers and the general public as well

Introduction

• Because the coronavirus, COVID-19 is new to the wor ld the challenges faced will be how employers and employees mitigate the transmission of this deadly and contagious virus.

• In general, these challenges include: placing and m aintaining physical distance between persons, enhanced sanitation and d eep cleaning methods for our facilities, employee sensitization and awareness, management of employees who may begin to show sympt oms and ensuring that sick/infected persons are not allowed to enter the premises.

Challenges Faced

DDL’s Response in Stemming the Transmission and Safeguarding Health and Welfare in the Workplace

• Strategically placed at the entrances of all locations across the group

• All individuals entering our premises are mandated to wash hands thoroughly before entering

• Handwashing signs posted with instructions for proper handwash method

• Wall-mounted soap dispensers made available for use

Providing of Additional Handwash Stations

Screening and Restrictions of Persons Who Enter Our Premises

• Temperature checks have been implemented at the head office and before entry to all other operations

• Access is denied to visitors, except those conducting urgent business or making deliveries

• Persons are to wash their hands thoroughly at the strategically provided handwash stations before entry

• Security checklist has been established for all visitors to DDL and its subsidiaries, to prevent sick persons from entering. The checklist is monitored daily by the HR Department.

Wherever possible, staff have been sent

on annual leave during this period

Persons capable of working from home have been made to

do so

Face-to-face conversations replaced with phone calls wherever possible

Replacing of face-to-face meetings with virtual meetings or Zoom

Reduction of physical work interactions

Employee Sensitization and Awareness

• S i g n s a n d p o s t e r s p o s t e d a r o u n d f a c i l i t i e s p r o v i d i n g i n f o r m a t i o n t o e m p l o ye e s o n t h e v i r u s , i t s s ym p t o m s a n d m e a s u r e s t o k e e p s a f e

• A d v i s o r i e s s e n t o u t t o e m p l o ye e s r e m i n d i n g t h e m t o :

� Wa s h h a n d s p r o p e r l y w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e c l e a n i n g a g e n t s

� C o u g h o r s n e e z e i n t o e l b o w, o r i n t o a t i s s u e w h i c h i s t o b e d i s c a r d e d a f t e r w a r d s

� Av o i d t o u c h i n g f a c e , e ye s , n o s e , m o u t h� Av o i d s h a k i n g o f h a n d s� E n g a g e i n a h e a l t h y d i e t , g e t t i n g e n o u g h V i t a m i n C

i n p a r t i c u l a r t o b o o s t i m m u n i t y

Sanitization and Cleaning

• Sanitizing solutions have been placed in all kitchens and washrooms for use

• Frequency of deep cleanings for offices and plant facilities, including machinery and equipment with 70% ethyl alcohol and other cleaning and sanitizing agents; has been increased

• Regular disinfecting of frequently touched areas and objects such as doorknobs, light switches and canteen surfaces

• One bottle of company-produced sanitizer is given to each staff for personal use from time to time

Protection of Mouth and Nose

• Masks have been provided to all employees on the job

• Protocol has been issued to employees for the wearing and cleaning of re-usable masks

• Re-usable masks are continuously being acquired

Management of Staff Who Show/Report Symptoms

Responsibility of the Human Resource Dep’t

� Appropriate steps are taken after discussion and after a period of time has elapsed

� Each employee is monitored and followed up with individually

CoughFever Shortness Of Breath

Sore Throat

All employees who show symptoms are advised to isolate themselves, contact the Ministry of Public Health hotline numbers, and not report to work!

� Protocol has been developed for the managing of staff who report symptoms

Arranging Transportation for After-Curfew Workers

• The government of Guyana has implemented a curfew of 6 p.m. in an effort to keep persons off the road during the evening hours

• DDL has provided transportation for its employees working after 6 p.m.

DSL Cash and Carry Outlets

• All customers are made to wash hands at the hand wash stations placed at the entrances of the outlets

• Restriction placed on the number of customers allowed in the store at once

• Customers must wear masks to be allowed into the store

• Distance markers placed in store to ensure customers stay 6ft apart from each other

• Enhanced cleaning procedures on premises

• Trolleys and shopping baskets are regularly sanitized

Corporate Efforts

New Product

Operations commenced

production of a new alcohol-based

sanitizing agent for commercial purposes

in sizes 700mL, 750mL, and 1140mL

(no VAT)

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Donations

In excess of 15000L of the alcohol-based sanitizing agent were

donated to Senior Homes, Orphanages,

Ministry of Public Health, and Health

Clinics.

Establishment of New Company

ProtocolsCOVID-19 Protocols

were written and introduced with

respect to operations and staff, including:• Courier handling• Sanitization and

Cleaning• External

Contractor Mgt• Shipping and

Logistics

01

ConclusionIn essence, DDL has done the following in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:• Made handwash resources and sanitizer more accessibl e • Sensitized employees to COVID-19 and encouraged prop er hand and

respiratory hygiene amongst them• Enhanced the frequency of deep cleanings of our fac ilities• Created documented protocols in managing COVID-19, inclusive of handling

sick employees• Encouraged social distancing and reduced face-to-fa ce interactions• Implemented temperature screening for all areas, an d more strictly controls

who enters the premises• Provided face masks, bottles of alcohol-based sanit izer to employees and

provided transportation home for employees working after curfew• Developed a new sanitizing product for commercial us e; and donated a

sizeable amount to priority institutions

DDL continues to monitor the situation closely and remain aware of updates posted by relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Public Health and WHO. We will continue to implement appropriate measures in an attempt to effectively mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 in our workplace.

THANK YOUAny questions or comments?