Published in mar 18 2020 - 13:13
Since January 30th, when the World Health Organization declared the Novel Coronavirus (later denominated covid-19) outbreak an international public health emergency, Santos Port Authority (SPA) has been acting on risk prevention to Port of Santos users. The very next day, January 31st, SPA activated the Port of Santos Contingency Plan, designed to deal with crisis situations. SPA reiterates that is following all of the public health authorities’ determinations, not only in the prevention of covid-19 but also in relation to other public health threats. Health and safety of employees are a priority of the managers and, with the already implemented measures, SPA seeks to protect its staff, clients and partners of eventual contagion risks. Find below a summary of the implemented measures (in chronological order):
- Creation of an interdisciplinar group of SPA professionals to act in line with the public health authorities’ determinations in the prevention of covid-19;
- Production of pamphlets and posters, in three languages – Portuguese, English and Mandarin –, with information about the disease and prevention methods;
- Installment of alcohol gel dispensers in over 60 points of the Port;
- Purchase of specific individual protection equipment for staff that may need to go on board of a vessel carrying a suspect case;
- Simulated exercise for the arrival of ships carrying crew members with suspected contamination;
- Determination of home office for employees arriving from abroad, as well as suspension, for indeterminate time, of travels on assignment;
- Access to the primary zone limited strictly to quay workers;
- Prohibition of reunions, capacitations, technical visits and other unessential activities, giving preference to teleconferences;
- Determination of non-presential berthing meeting (web-based);
- Possibility of home office for staff in high risk group (over 60, and bearers of cronic illnesses) or with other specific necessities (parents whose children’s classes have been canceled, for instance);
- New measures may be taken at any time, in accordance to demands from the competent health authorities.