The Automotive Industry Development Center (AIDC) has compiled a Standard Operations Procedure (SOP) in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 as a global pandemic after which President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster in South Africa. The SOP therefore provides required protocols for staff members, Automotive Supplier Park (ASP) tenants, contractors and visitors to all AIDC sites.

Response Team

The AIDC has established a response team comprising of representatives from Executive Management, the Union, ASP Tenants, Human Resources, Facilities Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Finance and Information and Communication Technology as well as Communications. The team is responsible for:

  • Monitoring the situation presented by the pandemic
  • Establishing the risks
  • Developing mitigation plans
  • Advising senior management
  • Maintaining good communication with all AIDC stakeholders
  • Corresponding with health care givers
  • Preparing and distributing information
  • Ensuring that site managers apply the SOP

Protocols

Protocols have been developed to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus at AIDC sites. The protocols are as follows:

Cleaning and Hygiene

  • All cleaning and security staff must wear  gloves
  • Surfaces will be sanitized appropriately in relation to the frequency at thich they are used. These include reception tables, podiums, bathrooms, toilet roll holders, taps, coffee tables, offices desks, or handles
  • Automatic hand sanitizer dispensers to be installed at all entrances, reception areas, offices and other strategic areas
  • Automatic hand sanitizer dispensers will be placed at all reception areas, offices and other strategic
  • It will be compulsory for all people entering the premises to use sanitizers

Precautionary Measures for guests at meetings and events at all AIDC sites

  • Attedees are advised to consult with the World Health Organisation’s “Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19” with special reference to the sections on travel, meetings and events
  • Hosts must compile or allow the AIDC to compile a list of names and contact details of all attendees. These must the stored securely for 30 days and may be shared with health authorities
  • Venues will be set up with minimum of 1m space between each guest where possible
  • AIDC may implement “temperature screening” of all guests
  • The COVID -19 questionnaires is placed at all reception areas of AIDC sites
  • The Coronavirus must be discussed during safety briefing at the beginning of meetings or events.

Testing for COVID-19

The SOP prescribes that individuals test for the Coronavirus if they fall within the criteria below:

  • Presenting a severe acute respiratory illness, with fever or history of fever and cough with pneumonia or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (based on clinical/ X-ray findings) that require one to be admitted to hospital
  • Have a documented travel history to Wuhan, Hubei Province in China, Mainland China, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Iran, Hong Kong, Italy, Vietnam and Taiwan, USA. The list is updated daily on daily:  http://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/covid-19/daily-updates-of-countries
  • Have had close physical contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19.

Communications

The Communications manager is responsible for all official communication regarding the Coronavirus. Communication on the Coronavirus is based on official information. Information is obtained from government messaging, the World Health Organisation and the National Council of Communicable Diseases. Information specific to the AIDC is obtained from the Response Team.  Email, notice boards, electronic screens and the bulk short-message-system (sms) are used as communication platforms.

President  Ramaphosa said  “Fellow South Africans, This is the most definitive Thuma Mina moment for our country. I have great trust that our people will respond positively to this call to common action…This epidemic will pass. But it is up to us to determine how long it will last, how damaging it will be, and how long it will take our economy and our country to recover. It is true that we are facing a grave emergency. But if we act together, if we act now, and if we act decisively, we will overcome it.”

The AIDC is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all staff members, tenants, contractors and visitors to all AIDC sites.  By applying the SOP we are confident that were following  the  best methods to  prevent  the spread of the Coronavirus.

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