Published May 30, 2020, 10:00 PM By Myrna M.
Velasco
As Metro
Manila transitions to general community quarantine (GCQ) tomorrow, the
Department of Energy (DOE) has issued protocols that its attached agencies and
industry players would adhere to in the envisioned “new normal” in the energy
sector.
Through an
Administrative Order (AO) issued by the department, it prescribed several
parameters on how energy companies could gradually reopen or ramp up their
operations after the more than two months of disruption because of the
coronavirus pandemic.
Energy
Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has directed the agency’s Task Force on Energy
Resiliency (TFER) as the implementing body of the “new normal” protocols;
primarily ensuring the compliance of all attached agencies and the industry
players.
As noted by
the energy chief, “it is imperative for the energy industry to observe a strict
COVID-19 response protocol,” as he emphasized that “protecting the occupational
health and safety of our employees is central to the unimpeded delivery of
energy goods and services.”
He added “as
back-liners during this pandemic, we must remain healthy to keep providing
vital energy to all our front liners.”
The general
framework of COVID- 19 health safety protocols for the energy sector delves
with: Prevention; detection; isolation; treatment; reintegration and the need
for the energy entities to adopt with the ‘new normal’ pace of the industry.
Cusi said
simulation planning in the sector went as far as visualizing a scenario wherein
there is coronavirus contagion in a power plant – hence, the intended
approaches shall be how to detect that and then isolation of the affected
employees must be planned; and how they can eventually be treated.
But better
than having coronavirus infection, the best advice for the companies and energy
agencies is still on prevention of possible infection.
Reintegration
of employees shall include those that are of “clean bill of health”; and in
cases that COVID infection comes off, the return-to-work of those affected must
be handled well to prevent discrimination as what has been happening to former
patients – chiefly those who recovered from the plague of the virus infection.
For many
energy companies, their managements have been instituting COVID testing before
they allow the return of their employees to work, especially when Metro Manila
would already be mollified into a “general community quarantine” status. Some
firms even extended testing privileges to the families of their employees –
especially their human resources who are needed in critical operations of their
companies.
Many offices
of energy companies had also been reconfigured to ensure social distancing
convention in the workplace; some firms are enforcing continuous “work from
home” arrangement to minimize exposure of their employees especially those who
are classified to be in the “vulnerable” segment; and there is also mandatory
wearing of masks; constant temperature checks as well as other health and
safety measures being set in place.
No comments:
Post a Comment