Sasol Limited Integrated Report 2021 - Book - Page 30
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Our response to COVID-19
Response
COVID-19 uncertainty continues across the world,
with new waves of the virus affecting many countries
in particular those where vaccination rates are still
low. We constantly assess various scenarios that could
potentially threaten operational and business continuity
and partner with and support our stakeholders in an
effort to flatten the infection rate curve.
Our COVID-19 framework guides our responses as well as work to reduce
our risk exposure. We continue to prioritise the health and safety of our
employees, fenceline communities and customers while ensuring that
effective business continuity plans are in place so that we can operate
and meet the needs of our customers.
In 2020, we launched an integrated response to COVID-19 that prioritised
activities to ensure the stability and safety of our operational facilities,
the continuity of service providers and secure working from home
arrangements. We established a group-wide COVID-19 response team,
representing a number of functions, and mandated it to oversee and
coordinate our various undertakings in support of our many stakeholders.
As cases of the highly infectious COVID-19 continue to spike and then
recede as the virus mutates, the extraordinary measures put in place
to contain infection rates and avoid a human catastrophe have to
remain in place.
EMPLOYEES AND ORGANISED LABOUR
Through various controls, we aim to provide a safe work environment and
mitigate the risk of the spread of the virus in our offices and facilities.
We continue to encourage those employees who can work from home to do
so and closely monitor the number of employees present at our operational
sites, where special hygiene measures are in place and work schedules are
designed to support social distancing. Through various campaigns, including
regular CEO webcasts, we take a moment to reflect on the lives lost to COVID-19.
Furthermore, we encourage employees to make use of the wellbeing and
medical support services we offer.
We have several COVID-19 workplace risk assessments. These are implemented
in line with the hierarchy of controls, policies and procedures prescribed in
terms of relevant regulations. Using enabling technologies, we implement
‘contact tracing’ across all operations when a positive case is identified. This
allows for an effective and speedy response to infections among our people.
Special measures are in place to support our vulnerable employees, who may
carry a higher COVID-19 risk. We provide regular up-to-date information to
relevant trade unions regarding our plans and control measures.
Sasol endorses the benefits of COVID-19 vaccinations and encourages
employees to be vaccinated. Furthermore, we recognise the voluntary and
prioritised basis on which vaccines are being administered.
We issue regular communications to employees to create awareness
of the booking details and hotline so that individuals who are registered
on the government’s Electronic Vaccination Data System can schedule
their vaccinations.
At 30 June 2021
Recovery
rate
97,1%
+
4 379
cases
+
4 253
recoveries
63
deaths
GOVERNMENTS AND REGULATORS
In South Africa, our partnerships include work with the national Department
of Basic Education, the provincial Departments of Health, the local district
command councils, local municipalities, as well as local chambers of
commerce. We take part in the Business for South Africa initiative to address
COVID-19-specific challenges, in supporting collaborative efforts with other
businesses, government, trade unions and society – leveraging each other’s
expertise, resources and capabilities.
We support government-led vaccination initiatives and our medical centres
in Sasolburg and Secunda have been accredited as vaccination centres to
bolster the process.
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Sasol Integrated Report 2021
We assisted the South African Department of Science and Innovation and
Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Department of Defence
and the private sector by donating 10 000 litres of methanol and 600 kg
of hydrogen monthly to be used at Pretoria’s 1 Military Hospital as primary
power source.
Given the impact of the macroeconomics and COVID-19 pandemic on business,
we engaged constructively with SARS and made detailed submissions to secure
tax relief provided for by the Disaster Management Tax Relief Bill.