PT&D EVOLVES REGION-SPECIFIC PLANS TO STAY SAFE FROM COVID-19

The Corona virus is often referred to as a ‘novel’ virus with good reason because apart from the manner it infects, the challenges it keeps posing the whole of mankind is vexing and different with the result countries across the global are adopting various methods to combat it. This has posed some serious concerns for a business such as PT&D that is executing projects across various geographies – India, Middle East, Africa, and ASEAN – with some projects even straddling different countries. “We could not depend on a uniform mitigation safety plan,” shares V Ramanathan (VRN), Head – EHS, PT&D IC, shaking his head. “While we did have an over-arching strategy that was common for the entire business, we had to tweak it to suit country specific requirements and conditions so in effect we had to adopt a multi-faceted charter, while always adhering to all the stringent guidelines laid down by the various governments and authorities and our corporate guidelines as well.” 

Several countries have their own unique impediments in their fight against COVID-19 that had to be factored in too. In Tanzania, for instance, Manager – EHS, Edson Thangwana initially faced a serious shortage and non-readiness of Health Institutions to respond and test the virus. “Test kits and PPEs were unavailable due to supply chain constraints,” he complains, apart from having to overcome the barriers of language and cultural diversity. Amidst the hot sands of Saudi Arabia, a strict curfew threw life completely out of gear for both employees and staff and put loads of extra responsibility on the shoulders of Officer – EHS, Joseph Bagalay. “There were issues of changed work timings, difficulties in purchasing food at the stores but perhaps my biggest challenge was to convince the maintenance team for work permits.”

Digital solutions to up the safety ante

As soon as COVID-19 became a clear and present danger, the first step was to form dedicated Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) across projects with members drawn from the Admin, IR and EHS departments to agree upon the SOPs, share them with the employees and workmen, monitor workmen camps, implement services of healthcare, security, sanitation, wellbeing and conduct awareness programmes. 

Once the mitigation plans were in place, implementation and monitoring the precautionary measures became critical; a tough ask too for VRN and his central team as getting data from all the remote corners was difficult. “We developed and implemented a COVID-19 business continuity plan focused on minimising risks to the extent possible and use digital solutions to improve our safety quotient,” he says.

A QR Code based App developed by EHS teams in Malaysia facilitates contact less attendance registration with temperature recording that is uploaded onto the cloud for real-time tracking of workmen and employees. Further, considering the location of the projects and their sensitivity to ‘hot’ zones, the EHS teams initiated on-site tests by roping in local medical teams. “The rapid testing for employees in Philippines and swab test for all workmen and employees across Malaysia projects we organised were both first-of-their-kind in the company,” informs Tarinee Prasad, Sr. Manager (SCM)-ASEAN BU.

Ignorance breeds a lot of fear about the virus especially amongst the workmen and hence one of the primary tasks was to create awareness but to achieve that with a mixed group drawn from different countries, coming from varied backgrounds and speaking different languages was going to be tough, admits Antonios Papadopoulos, Head EHS & Quality – PT&D Middle East BU. “Our EHS teams in the Middle East came up with a novel method by creating awareness parks across all our projects in the Middle East with key visuals highlighting the core messages to effectively convey the do’s and don’ts, precautions to be taken, methods to maintain self-hygiene and the like. At one go, we could brief workmen on the various risks involved and even clarify some of their queries.”

We have implemented the corporate guidelines along with SOPs throughout our projects and offices and so far, our sites have had minimum impact mentions Siseko Wycliff Mdlokolo, Head EHS – PT&D Africa BU. “However, it is a long battle ahead and it is important to be vigilant all through, enhance our screening and monitoring methods, make use of digital interventions wherever possible while taking up works across fronts. In line with our safety mission, we observed the L&T Safety Day with a ‘Stop the Pandemic’ theme, reinforcing our commitment towards creating a safer workplace under the new normal,” he shares.

In Thailand that did not go in for a complete lockdown thereby putting extra pressure on the management and people to remain safe, EHS – Supervisor, Theerawat Haramee mentions the COVID tracker app to help identify the most affected areas in that country.

Across India, the respective BU EHS Heads – PV Kaliyappan, SM Ravi, Aloke Chatterjee and J. Johnson David ensured that the SOPs were implemented in line with the MHA guidelines. Further, the EHS lead team played a key role in the resumption of activities across 145 sites by mobilising around 20,000 plus workmen in a safe manner.

Digital solutions helped eliminate a few risks from some of the vital factory testing certifications. “A large part of the credit for enabling the remote factory tests especially across the ASEAN and Middle East projects goes to the respective Cluster Heads and their project teams who convinced their clients for a first-of-its-kind industry initiative,” highlights Tarinee Prasad.

Banking on other secure interventions

Apart from the mandatory SOPs, EHS teams came up with many timely safety interventions based on specific needs of the sites. Across some projects, select workmen crews were formed to reduce interaction among the workmen and Ramanathan is glad that the ploy paid rich dividends. “Instead of a supervisor telling the workmen to maintain social distancing, we had a workman to convey the message which was more readily accepted by the larger group.” Another step was to allocate different work slots to subcontractors to reduce interaction with L&T employees and workmen.

At the same time, a feel-good factor was created with emphasis on ‘We care for our workmen.’ “Initiatives such as staggered timings to access labour camps, provision for essentials and hygiene kits, engagement of third party services for sanitization, medical screening and pep talks contributed to our larger goal of workmen wellbeing and safety,”
smiles VRN.

Returning to work with increased emphasis on safety

With the Indian government relaxing the lockdown from April 20th, several PT&D sites in the ‘green zones’ prepared to resume operations. “With many of our projects being cross-country in nature, the role of the ERT team was redefined to facilitate works across fronts with the EHS members ensuring 24/7 safety,” points out VRN. 

Apart from rigorous implementation of the already established preventive measures, ‘Back to site’ entailed preemployment screening for all new employees, establishment of separate accommodation within labour camps and guesthouses for the newcomers, additional isolation rooms and washrooms, allocation of different work timings, limited occupancy in vehicles and buses to ensure social distancing, re-scheduling of operations across sites, liaison with social help groups for more testing and continued monitoring of recognized websites (WHO, CDC, etc.) to stay abreast of new knowledge and developments.

For an international flavour, Theerawat Haramee explains that, “In Thailand, all new workmen before resuming site work have to go through a mandatory pre-screening to understand their work movements and check for symptoms. Some are even sent back and sometimes considered after a mandatory 14-day quarantine procedure.”

A ‘Safe to Start’ card is being used for all employees and workmen as they commence their daily tasks which is followed by a detailed pep talk. Virtual monitoring of all tasks enables the project team to plan and prepare a work front charter in line with the new normal conditions.

“We have to stick to our new safety fundamentals to stay safe, overcome this huge threat and yet keep the business ticking,” sums up VRN, highlighting the need to keep performing in this new normal.