Due to COVID-19, Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, experienced a sudden need for global scale cleaning, disinfection guidance and method development to keep its global operations running – all of which were deemed essential.

The science-based company provides a range of instruments, equipment, consumables and services, many of which are critical for supporting the global pandemic response. One of the first priorities for Ramboll’s Health Science experts was to quickly develop a tool kit for site leaders to ensure the safety of employees.

This included guidance for PPE use, contact tracing, risk assessment, field service activities, and self-screening procedures.

Thermo Fisher is successfully keeping all of its sites operating, including those that produce COVID-19 test kits, sample collection products and lab chemicals and provide services for therapy and vaccine development manufacturing.

Robert H. Fetter, Thermo Fisher Vice President, Risk Management says, “As an essential industry, when the pandemic was unfolding we had to quickly develop COVID-19 protocols to ensure the continuity of our operations. Our partnership with Ramboll’s health science experts enabled us to establish robust, science-based procedures and processes that have minimized the impact to our businesses.”

The company also developed new products including hand sanitizer and surface disinfects and our experts reviewed current North American and EU Member State derogations and summarized requirements. We also support near-term submissions and full registration and authorization applications.

Our guidance is based on tracking and reviewing the latest science and regulatory developments. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we are still in close contact with Thermo Fisher and participate in weekly calls.

A science-based approach

Ramboll’s health science specialists helped a global manufacturing client ensure business continuity throughout the Covid-19 outbreak, by reviewing the latest data to provide reliable scientific guidance on workplace exposure and contamination.

The global packaging manufacturer has high-speed production plants around the world that operate all year round. With the Covid-19 outbreak, the demand for their product increased.

However, the company needed a scientific review of available information and guidance, to maintain safe operations.

Ramboll’s guidance was applied by the company to develop contingency plans and mitigate risks of exposure at the production plants.

The information package included guidance on how to minimize risk of exposure between workers through air and via contact surfaces, Covid-19 survival temperatures and methods of cleaning, use of PPE, and health screening and testing options.

The Equator Principles, the framework used by financial institutions to ensure large development projects have properly considered environmental and social impacts, has published a Covid-19 specific Guidance Note, developed by Ramboll. 

The business impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are far reaching and have material implications on financing and ensuring that the environmental and social requirements of the Equator Principles continue to be met. The user friendly Covid-19 Guidance Note gives practical guidance to Equator Principle Finance Institutions (EPFIs) and borrowers alike.

COVID-19 can impact the lenders’ ability to undertake robust due diligence as well as a borrower’s ability to fulfil its commitments to lenders, and brings borrowers new challenges in managing the health, safety and welfare of the workforce and local communities in compliance with Equator Principles.

Guidance on managing COVID-19 has been rapidly evolving but predominantly focused on managing risks within the workforce and in communities, with less help available for managing environmental and social compliance assurance. The Equator Principles Association (EPA) therefore sought to develop a succinct and user-friendly guidance note for lenders and borrowers.

The EPA convened a Steering Committee of Equator Principles Finance Institutions which engaged Ramboll to produce the Guidance Note. Ramboll conducted interviews with a variety of sector stakeholders including borrowers, lenders, legal advisers and other health, safety, environmental and social (HSES) consultants, and developed key issues and good practice responses for discussion and agreement with the Steering Committee.

From here we developed the Guidance Note in a way that clearly distinguished guidance aimed at lenders and borrowers. The note gives practical advice, including good practice checklists, and highlighted scenarios that could pose specific compliance risks so that lenders may adopt a risk-based approach to understanding the impacts of COVID-19 across their project finance portfolio. The Guidance Note is publicly available on the EPA website and has been sent to all 105 Equator Principle Finance Institutions.

“A range of guidance is now publicly available on methods to manage COVID-19 risks in communities and in the workplace. The EPA Guidance Note has been designed to act as a summary source of good practice for managing community/workplace COVID-19 risks and also to provide practical advice to lenders on managing the indirect compliance risks posed by the pandemic.”, comments Jon Hancox, author of the Guidance Note and Principal at Ramboll.

Commenting on Ramboll’s involvement Philippa Spence, UK Managing Principal of Ramboll’s Environment & Health practice, said “From a business perspective COVID-19 has presented so many challenges, I hope this practical and easy-to-use guidance helps financial institutions and borrowers alike navigate through these difficult times. We were delighted to undertake this important piece of work with the EP Association and hope this is reflective of our standing as a thought leader within the finance sector."

A science-based approach

Ramboll’s experts helped a global technology company develop a science-based strategy for safe and compliant re-opening and operations, to protect employees returning to work after Covid-19 lockdown.

The company needed a proactive plan to mitigate the risk of workplace exposure, minimize employer liability and ensure compliance with the evolving regulations related to Covid-19 – in the +30 countries where they operate.

To find the ideal solution for the client, Ramboll’s global team of experts assessed regulatory and practical requirements for employee testing and setting up laboratory facilities, incorporating the latest scientific studies and standards.

The company now has a consistent development framework to protect their employees and mitigate risks.