Our number one priority continues to be the safety of our colleagues and the communities in which we operate. Additionally, we remain committed to doing everything as safely as possible to maintain operational continuity and minimise any service or supply disruptions to our customers.
We will keep our customers as informed as we can and we will update our operational status weekly, or more frequently if required, as the situation develops both in the United Kingdom and worldwide.
Current operational status – fully operational
We have not experienced any impact on resource, infrastructure or logistics. Both Omega Plastics and Signal Plastics continue to be fully operational across all tooling, moulding and assembly services. There are no changes to our normal opening hours and no reduction in our production capacity. Neither business has experienced any supply chain impact by the current position in Italy, regions of China or regions of South Korea.
Current travel and visitors’ policies – restricted travel or visitors
Since January, we have been asking all contractors or visitors to our sites to complete a questionnaire before attending the site and similarly asking the same of customers or suppliers before we visit them. Consistent with World Health Organisation (WHO) and UK government guidance if any potential visitors to our sites have visited an impacted area, they are expected not to attend any of our facilities for 14 days from leaving the area.
We have stopped any business travel outside of the United Kingdom and have also restricted attendance at trade conferences, shows or other business events.
Wherever possible or appropriate, we are now aiming to reduce business travel or restrict visitors to our two facilities unless they are deemed to be business critical and have the approval of our Coronavirus contingency planning committee (see below). Instead, where possible we will use calls or video conferencing to continue to run our business as normal. All contractors or visitors to our sites will be asked to wash their hands-on arrival. In addition, we would ask any contractors or visitors with any fever, cold or flu symptoms, not to attend the site as they will be refused entry. We will keep this position under review.
We have also put in place sensible measures in relation to deliveries or collections from either site to ensure any drivers remain in their cabs as much as is practicable to reduce contact with our colleagues. No driver will be permitted onto either site.
Notification of confirmed Coronavirus cases
Where possible, we will let our customers and suppliers know if one of our colleagues who has been in recent direct contact with their employees is confirmed with the Coronavirus virus. Similarly, we would ask our customers or suppliers that if they have an employee confirmed with the Coronavirus who has previously been in recent direct contact with a colleague at OPG, that wherever possible,
they inform their OPG representative immediately. This will allow us to make a risk assessment to make sure any appropriate measures are taken to protect any individuals involved in our respective teams or communities.
Contingency planning
We have a Coronavirus contingency planning committee comprising five executive directors (Group Managing Director, Group Finance Director, Senior Technical Director, Group Operations Director and Group Commercial Director). We also involve other colleagues across our HR, health and safety, operations, commercial or finance functions in our planning activities, where relevant.
The committee meets twice weekly, or more frequently as required, to review the position and ensure our businesses can be as prepared as possible for any possible risks or disruption.
We are monitoring WHO and UK government guidance. Since January, we have been briefing our colleagues each week to keep them informed and seek to put in place sensible protection in relation to travel and attendance at work. We have also taken steps to follow WHO guidance on prevention by putting in place additional hand washing gels at both of our sites.
We continue to talk with customers and suppliers to understand their preparations and identify any areas of risk or potential disruption. We continue to monitor our supply chain, both generally and in relation to direct or indirect supply from affected areas. We are also reviewing where possible and proportionate the potential to hold additional critical items of material or packaging stock to seek to prevent or reduce disruption in our supply.
Questions
If you have any additional queries, please do not hesitate to contact your OPG representative or any member of our contingency planning committee or to get in touch by clicking here.
Craig Swinhoe
Group Managing Director
