Spanish stainless steelmaker Acerinox has become the first steel company to receive the Spanish Association for Standardisation and Certification’s AENOR certification for its protocols against COVID-19 after assessing various aspects relating to coronavirus risk management at the Acerinox Europa plant. This certification is an external guarantee of the effectiveness of the measures applied by the company and, at the same time, supports that these initiatives meet the guidelines set out by the Spanish Ministry of Health with regard to COVID-19 prevention and hygiene. Acerinox Europa established a plan of preventative measures, including distributing gels, gloves and masks, taking the temperature of every individual that accesses any of its centres, and guaranteeing the compliance of safe distances between individuals. Acerinox Europa has also performed solidarity-based activities to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the region’s most disadvantaged.

The assessment performed by AENOR evaluates aspects such as risk management, occupational health management, the training, information and communications provided, organisational measures (capacity control, distances, screens, etc.), protection (use of personal protective equipment), and good cleaning and hygiene practices, among others.