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Energoatom separates plant personnel for protection against COVID-19

Thursday, 26 March 2020

Energoatom yesterday announced the introduction of measures to protect its key workers from exposure to COVID-19. They are being housed in separate rooms within specially appointed hotels, where all the necessary measures for disinfection and medical monitoring are being carried out, the Ukrainian nuclear power plant operator said.

Energoatom separates plant personnel for protection against COVID-19 — Ukraine has introduced a series of measures to protect its plant workers (Image: Energoatom)

The measures also include "isolated passage" to and from their work stations that avoids contact with their colleagues. In addition, their transportation to industrial sites now takes place on a separate route to other staff.

The workers have been provided with personal protective equipment, have constant medical monitoring of their health, both at work and in the living accommodation, the company said, adding that it has also stepped up its "disinfection regime" at industrial and office premises, food units, checkpoints and also of its transport vehicles.

All of its meetings are being conducted remotely, using intercom and Skype, and it has introduced "electronic document management". It has also prohibited its personnel from travelling to other parts of the country and overseas.

The measures follow a decision taken by the city councils of Enerhodar, Varash, Yuzhnoukrainsk and Netishyn to restrict the entry of unauthorised persons into the territory of so-called "satellite cities" where nuclear power plants are located. The emergency services are now operating the entry points of its facilities, the company added.

Ukraine has 15 nuclear power units - at Zaporozhe, Rovno, South Ukraine and Khmelnitsky - and all are operated by state-run Energoatom. They include 13 VVER-1000s and two VVER-440s with a total capacity of 13,835 MWe.