During the COVID-19 pandemic, our core values at Eldorado have become more meaningful to us than ever before. In particular, our value of Collaboration is shaping our response in protecting our people while maintaining our operations, business continuity and production for the benefit of all our stakeholders.
Safety is at the heart of everything we do and having everybody return home safely every day is our goal. COVID-19 now presents new health challenges and considerations across our global sites and in response we’ve implemented operating controls to ensure the well-being of employees who have continued to work at our operations.
However, we’re encouraging employees, where possible, to work remotely from home. Employees with high risk people in their homes or who are high-risk themselves (those over age 65 and with pre-existing health conditions) are also asked to remain at home.
Employees who can continue their work at our operations are provided with education on virus symptoms, transmission and precautionary measures, and with training in new protocols & procedures.
Eldorado Gold’s Chief Executive, George Burns, spoke of his gratitude in the way employees have been adjusting to the changes required at our operations. “I recognize the ongoing and considerable efforts all of our global teams have had in managing our business during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Our overarching priority each and every day is keeping our people safe. I’ve witnessed a huge amount of collaboration across Eldorado, as we’ve put in place new protocols that mitigate the risk to our people and prevent the spread of the virus,” he said. “I’d like to express my deep appreciation to our teams for looking out for one another and maintaining business continuity during these unprecedented times.”
Before their work-day begins, employees are under strict instruction to stay at home if they feel unwell with symptoms such as sore throat/dry cough, high temperature or difficulty breathing. When arriving at work, employees are pre-screened with temperature checks at entrances to sites or offices. Delivery personnel are also pre-screened. Isolation procedures and facilities are in place should someone not meet screening criteria or if they become ill at work.
Additional measures such as physical distancing of 2 metres are in place, including on transport to, from and around site. Hand-washing stations have been increased and masks, gloves and goggles/face shields have been provided. Areas are sanitized with routine cleaning of surfaces both above and below ground.
Other measures to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 such as halting travel between our sites and postponing any corporate travel are in effect. We’re liaising closely with governments and regulators to aid business continuity and ensure Eldorado can support economic development in the countries that we operate in. We also have contingency plans in place to protect people, the environment and our assets should our operational capacity become impacted by workforce conditions or regulatory environment.
That’s what Collaboration means to us at Eldorado Gold. We succeed together.