Rio Tinto increases COVID-19 screening measures at Perth Airport
18 April 2020 - 9:02AM
Business Wire
Rio Tinto has introduced further measures to help combat the
spread of COVID-19 in Western Australia following the start of
rapid screening trials at Perth Airport.
Alongside screening controls at airports including
questionnaires and temperature screening, a range of other controls
have already been introduced across Rio Tinto operations in the
Pilbara region to help minimise transmission risk. This includes
social distancing on planes, buses, camps and in light-vehicles,
reduced people on site via a roster change and stronger controls on
access to sites.
Rio Tinto is now increasing screening measures by introducing a
trial of COVID-19 rapid screening at Perth Airport and at the
company’s nearby Operations Centre. This will form part of an
enhanced five-layer screening process designed to keep the
community and the company’s workforce safe. This includes:
- A health questionnaire - employees will be asked a series of
questions a day prior to traveling to screen for potential
exposures to COVID-19, consistent with government restrictions on
intra-state travel.
- A face-to-face assessment with a nurse at Perth Airport.
- Thermal screening – the employee’s temperature is taken via
electronic thermometer.
- Rapid screening - enables the quick identification of people
who may be at increased risk of having a viral illness prior to
coming to site.
- This requires a small blood sample taken via a finger pinprick
to detect viral related antibodies in the individual’s blood.
- This screening process is not a test for COVID-19. The
detection of any viral-related antibodies requires the individual
to self-isolate as a precaution and seek prompt testing at an
approved clinic.
- Those cleared will receive an access band allowing them to
board their flight.
Trained medical staff will perform the COVID-19 screening
process with oversight by Rio Tinto’s occupational physician. There
will also be oversight of the comprehensive research into the
COVID-19 screening outcomes. The new measures reflect Rio Tinto’s
health and safety obligations under applicable Australian
legislation.
The intent is for anyone working on Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore
operations to undergo screening including all FIFO employees and
contractors returning to work. Essential staff at Rio Tinto’s
Operations Centre will also be subject to rapid screening.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury said, “Our
number one priority through this period is to protect the health of
our employees and communities where we operate. We believe the
introduction of rapid screening adds another layer of control to
help prevent the transmission of the virus in WA.
“We are very confident in the veracity of our screening process
which we strongly believe is an important tool to reduce risk for
our communities and our people. This not only allows us to continue
operating safely, which is important for the more than 12,000
people we employ, but it also enables us to continue making a
strong contribution to the State’s economy.”
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