STRONGER TOGETHER RESPONSIBILITY IN TIMES OF CRISIS

March 2020 brought us all to a situation that very few could have anticipated. The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in Romania brought the main challenges we faced throughout this year, both each of us, on a personal level, as well as the entire business environment. Throughout this period, we had to make quick decisions and adapt to the changing daily context, all the while trying to continue our activity in a novel way.

Thus, our main concern during this time was to continue our activity, while maintaining the health and safety of all our colleagues, as well as of our customers, suppliers, and partners. We took all the safety measures internally, while also supporting the local communities to help mitigate the extremely large impact that the spread of COVID-19 has had on key areas such as health, education, and the Romanian economy. To reduce the risks, during this period, we took several specific measures based on the recommendations of the public health authorities. Thus, the first measures taken were:

– canceling business trips in and out of the country – developing instructions on how to act for colleagues returning from risk countries or areas or who come into contact with persons in such situations; instructions on how to act if you come into contact with COVID-19-positive persons; also, the entire team was informed about these aspects, but also about the hygienic-sanitary rules and distancing norms – cancelling meetings with more than three persons, for a duration of more than 15 minutes; avoiding in person meetings and using remote communication – encouraging work from home, where possible – prioritizing the procurement of masks, gloves, disinfectants, and other necessary supplies for all workplaces – regular disinfection in all premises by specialized companies – reducing the number of people working on the same shift or changing working hours – developing instructions on the access of third-party workers or trucks and own/ third-party machinery on the premises – preparing intructions with reference to the current situation, so that all staff are trained and know the measures to be considered – developing preemptive emergency plan for all operations, in the event of temporary shutdown of the activity, and setting out actions and steps to be followed – support from the human resources department for all colleagues, on to / from work commute – additional disinfection of outdoor spaces – distribution of additional protective masks, to be worn both during working hours and commute

At the same time, we also focused on the areas that needed support the most during this period: the medical system, the education system and the vulnerable people who were unable to travel.

Thus, in March 2020, we joined the common efforts to support the hospitals, as well as doctors and nurses in the counties of Neamt, Hunedoara and Dâmbovița, where our cement plants operate. In partnership with the Volunteer for Life Association, we offered the Neamt County Hospital four equipped, furnished, and disinfected medical containers, so that patient screening is done outside the actual perimeter of the hospital. We supported the Emergency Fund initiated by the Association for Community Relations with the amount of €124,000, used to purchase six intensive care beds and a vital function monitor for the Targoviste County Hospital, and a high-performance device, which detects 18 viruses and 4 bacteria for the Deva County Emergency Hospital. We also supported the efforts of the Pucioasa City Hall in the fight against COVID-19 with a financial contribution of €5,000 and two medical containers for the ER and psychiatric ward of the Pucioasa City Hospital, used for patient screening. In addition, at the request of the Neamt County Hospital, three more medical containers and an access ramp were installed, so that COVID-positive patients are transported to therapy units using separated and dedicated circuits.

To facilitate children’s access to online classes, within the Edu2023 project we offered 272 internet-connected tablets to students of the ”Mihai Viteazul” Secondary School Pucioasa, Secondary School no. 4 Pucioasa, ”Diaconu Coresi” Secondary School Fieni (Dâmboviţa County) and schools in Baita, Soimus (Hunedoara County), Bicaz and Tasca (Neamt County). The beneficiaries were students whose families could not afford to purchase the necessary technology and were selected following social inquiries carried out by school leaders. At the same time, at the start of the new school year in September, following consultation with local representatives during Elder’s Council, one of the most urgent needs identified was the students’ sanitary protection during school attendance. Thus, we supported the schools in the project by providing 150,000 masks and 300 liters of professional disinfectants. The supplies, intended to support compliance with measures to prevent and combat the spread of the virus, were manufactured in Romania, in Zalau (masks) and Cluj-Napoca (disinfectants).

We supported those in need, contributing €5,000 to the Cumpărături la ușa ta project, a Geeks for Democracy Association initiative, which entailed home delivery of staple food packages for the elderly or mobility-impaired people. The funding was used to set up a call center, provide sanitary protection materials for food-delivery volunteers, and organize the first logistics center.

Although this unprecedented crisis is far from over and its effects cannot yet be fully measured, we ended 2020 confident that we will continue to make the best decisions, based on our belief that we are stronger together.