COVID-19: Onet teams mobilized to secure ITER activities
The town of Saint-Paul-lez-Durance is home to one of the world's largest scientific projects today, ITER, on a 180-hectare site. Present on the site through its Cleaning & Services, Security, Technology & Hospitality activities, the Onet Group has done everything in its power to maintain high standards during the health crisis. Here's a closer look at what Onet Propreté & Services teams have been doing over the past few weeks, adapting to the situation and working safely in the PF COIL building in particular.
PF COIL: CONTINUING OUR MISSIONS WHILE ADAPTING TO NEW MEASURES
Since 2015, Onet Cleaning and Associated Services teams have been providing cleaning services in the PF COIL building, as well as "logistical" monitoring (checking ventilation alarms, electrical points, etc.). This facility is the assembly building for the largest poloidal field coils (up to 24m in diameter and 400 tonnes). It houses, among other things, production areas and activities for winding and coiling the ring magnets that will maintain the magnetic field during fusion. These coils must contain the power of the plasma and keep it suspended away from the walls. The building covers some 55,000m², including a workshop, offices, control room and sanitary facilities.
During the containment, on-site activities did not stop and expectations were very precise. Onet Propreté & Services teams had to adapt and structure themselves quickly to meet the new demands. For example, new disinfection frequencies were introduced: every 2 hours in certain areas such as circulation zones, washrooms and refectories, and for other areas, such as offices, which did not require the presence of staff during confinement, preventive disinfection took place at the beginning of the confinement. In washrooms, cloth hand towels have been replaced by paper ones, and hydroalcoholic gel dispensers have been installed in the PF COIL building.
Employee health and protection are also the agency's leitmotiv, and on this sensitive site, priority was given from the outset to team PPE.
For the "logistical surveillance" section, a new rule has been introduced: only one person in the "control room", in order to respect the physical distancing measures.
RECRUIT AND TRAIN
The Onet Cleaning and Associated Services agency had to reorganize its teams on site to compensate for the shortage of personnel caused by the health crisis. Teams working on closed sites were mobilized for ITER, and new employees were recruited. Practical and theoretical training was provided for each new recruit. In groups of 3, within the Onet agency, a QSE coordinator taught the agency's QSE policy, on-site rules and instructions, and how to wear PPE. For staff recruited for disinfection work, specific modules were set up to raise awareness of disinfection procedures, based on the COVID-19 Guide drafted by the Group and deployed in all Onet branches.
On the PF COIL site, a team leader was able to remind people of all the rules, show them around the premises and put into practice the use of wipes and virucides at all points of contact.
This unprecedented situation also demonstrated everyone's commitment, both personally and professionally. " Going through this period of the Covid pandemic with my team was a very enriching experience in human terms. I'd like to thank all our staff for their commitment, dedication, solidarity and efficiency. Despite the extra workload and stress, their work has been impeccable, as has their team spirit. I really do have a great team. Magali Lacroix, Onet Team Leader.
A SUCCESS STORY HONORED BY THE CUSTOMER
In an article published in the "Flash ITER", the ITER teams highlighted the work accomplished and the adaptability of Onet employees. " On this building, we worked closely with our direct and final customer to adapt to their demands, expectations and changes, and to reassure their employees who are still working there, as well as those who will soon be taking over.
All our teams have made a major contribution to these results, sometimes in areas where they were novices, by raising awareness of barrier gestures, protective actions, COVID19 operating procedures, etc. ", emphasizes Cynthia Erguy, Branch Manager at Onet Cleaning and Associated Services in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance.
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