Teck Resources Ltd. is implementing extensive preventative measures across its offices and operations in order to safeguard the health of its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, while continuing to operate safely and responsibly maintain employment and economic activity, the company stated March 17.

All Teck corporate offices have been closed and remote work implemented for all employees able to do so.

Other measures being put into place at Teck’s operations include:

•  Reducing or eliminating in person meetings and other large gatherings;
•  Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols, including frequent disinfecting of employee buses and work areas;
•  Promoting personal preventative measures, such as frequent handwashing;
•  Screening all contractors and external visitors to site for risk factors and symptoms;
•  Increasing social distancing practices at site, such as reducing the number of passengers on buses; separating groups of employees at work; cancelling large group meetings; changing meetings from in-person to electronic, e.g. holding crew meetings by radio.

•  Requiring employees who show symptoms or are in close contact with someone with symptoms to stay home from work;
•  Requiring employees returning from travel outside of Canada to self-isolate;
•  Reducing the number of on-site staff as much as possible; implementing work from home where feasible;
•  Working on expanding sick leave coverage for affected employees.

“Teck’s operating sites are very large, employees are widely distributed and typically do not work together in large groups. We are further abiding by direction from public health authorities to restrict gatherings of people and maintain social distancing,” the company noted in a news release.

“We are focused on continuing to ensure the health and safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate, while maintaining employment to the extent possible through this evolving challenge,” said Robin Sheremeta, Senior Vice President, Coal.

“We are implementing extensive protocols in response to COVID-19 to safeguard our employees and support community efforts to limit transmission,” said Shehzad Bharmal, Vice President, North America Operations, Base Metals.

“We are working closely with Teck management to support the preventative measures being implemented to protect the health and safety of our membership and maintain safe employment,” said Stephen Hunt, Director of United Steelworkers (USW) District 3.

The company said it will continue to adapt its response as necessary as this situation continues to evolve, with primary focus being the health and safety its employees.

e-KNOW file photo

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