Global ferrous and non-ferrous metals makers and miners are taking steps to ensure employee safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Voestalpine reviews production SOPs
Voestalpine is reviewing which of its production areas it can either reduce or cease in a bid to keep its employees safe from the pandemic. The Austrian steelmaker has already mandated its non-production staff work remotely, an option it’s exploring for all its group of companies.
In a statement, the company said employees engaged in production, plant maintenance, and other areas critical to operations, will keep working at their respective facilities.
Rusal encourages employees to work from home
Russian aluminum maker Rusal has asked all employees not involved in production to work from home. While production at company facilities will proceed as planned, it has taken precautionary measures to ensure employees are working in non-contaminated environments. Additionally, the company has suspended all employee business trips and asked those already travelling to return immediately.
SIMA urges electronic filing
The Canada Border Services Agency’s Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) administration has requested anybody using SIMA’s services send submissions and documents electronically to curtail unnecessary spread of the virus. The administration has closed its office until further notice and asked anybody with confidential or large documentation to drop it at SIMA’s secure after-hours office drop box. The agency will continue processing documents within two business days, it said in a public statement.
Vale observes 4-week work stoppage in Canada
Vale has suspended operations for four weeks at its Voisey’s Bay mine in Canada to protect the local Nunatsiavut and Innu communities from the COVID-19 outbreak. The region’s remoteness factored into the decision, the miner said in a statement.
Operations at the company’s nickel and cobalt processing plant in Long Harbour will continue normally. The plant’s existing inventory should help maintain normal processing levels during the four-week moratorium. However, the work stoppage at the mine will lower the company’s processing ability during this period.