GIBB Group statement on COVID-19 outbreak
Dear valued Clients, Partners and Suppliers
The GIBB Group of Companies reassures all Clients, Partners and Suppliers that we are taking all necessary precautions to limit the spread of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
We are treating the situation with all the seriousness it demands, and are fully cognisant of the challenges it poses to our families, our communities, the industry and the global economy at large. For this reason, our primary focus at this time is the health and safety of our families, staff, clients and service providers.
In prioritising the well-being of our people, we are adhering to all precautionary measures recommended by President Ramaphosa in his address to the nation on the evening of 15 March 2020 and the guidelines from the Departments of Health and Employment & Labour.
In terms of an appeal by the Department of Employment & Labour, we will be following the prescriptions of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act of 1993 in governing workplaces in relation to COVID–19.
The Department has developed a COVID-19 guideline based on traditional infection prevention and occupational hygiene practices, comprising engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.
We remain open for business. We have introduced a number of measures to ensure that our employees who work from home will have the tools to continue providing our services. However, when dealing with a global pandemic of this nature, it is expected that disruptions to efficient delivery may occur from time to time. You can be assured that we will do everything possible to maintain our continued focus on deliverables.
The GIBB Group of Companies have always followed strict health and safety protocols and trained our teams to keep these principles top of mind when working with our clients, partners and suppliers. We have conducted hazard identification and risk assessments to determine the level of risk exposure and communicated to all staff. Our mitigating measures are being strengthened on a daily basis, as the situation requires.
We encourage everyone to wash their hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitisers for a minimum of 20 seconds; to cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, to do so into a tissue or flexed elbow; to avoid anyone with flu-like symptoms; to minimise physical contact, and to avoid shaking hands.
We are ending all non-essential travel and ramping up remote work and conferencing and insisting that everyone with flu-like symptoms stay at home and seek treatment. As new information about the virus becomes available, we will modify our plans accordingly.
We have also introduced measures to limit face to face meetings and rather use video conferencing facilities for meetings. A number of measures have been introduced for people visiting our offices. These include completing a pre-meeting questionnaire and additional health and safety protocols to comply with when visiting our premises. We kindly request your cooperation in this regard.
As we continue to monitor the ongoing developments, we remain focused on keeping our people safe while we continue to service our clients.
In the case of suspected exposure, we encourage you to contact the South Africa Coronavirus hotline on 080 002 9999.
Kind regards
GIBB Group Management