Busan Port Authority, All-Out Effort to Prevent COVID-19 Spread... Personnel Dispersed in Separate Spaces

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] As the crisis alert level for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has been raised to the 'severe' stage and community spread is rapidly increasing, Busan Port Authority (BPA) has decided to take proactive emergency response measures to maintain the functions of Busan Port and ensure the continuity of the institution's operations.

First, starting from the 26th, BPA will secure separate office spaces apart from the headquarters and disperse and allocate personnel by department to prevent the suspension of Busan Port operations due to a possible workplace closure and to protect employees from community infections. In the event of confirmed cases, BPA aims to operate Busan Port without any gaps by separately managing alternative personnel and resources.

To this end, BPA has designated the head of the Management Headquarters as the person in charge at a separate office space within the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal, where 39 personnel, about 20% of the headquarters staff, will work. The New Port Business Office will also disperse some personnel to separate spaces. Additionally, at BPA headquarters, all entrants must wear masks and pass through the first floor equipped with a thermal imaging camera to gain access. External visitors and clients can only hold meetings and conduct business in the first-floor auditorium and other designated areas.

The cafeteria is also operated by pre-assigning meal times by department to minimize contact among employees. Disinfection at the headquarters has been increased from once to twice a week, and hand sanitizers have been placed throughout the building to enhance hygiene.

Furthermore, flexible work arrangements such as allowing employees vulnerable to infection?including those with underlying conditions, pregnant women, and caregivers of infants and young children?to work from home up to three days a week, promoting the use of annual leave, and granting special leave will be actively implemented.

BPA has requested that operators of each terminal at Busan Port check the current status and emergency measures related to COVID-19 and review contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Nam Ki-chan, President of BPA, stated, "As Busan Port is a key facility of our country, all employees will take responsibility and do their best to ensure that it does not stop under any circumstances, including COVID-19."