ONE of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is by washing our hands often with soap and water, or if that is not an option, by using hand sanitiser.
And because right now everyone is being extra vigilant about keeping our hands squeaky-clean, hand sanitiser is in short supply.
To help, Rio Tinto teams around the world are doing everything from donating it to making their own.
Here are three reasons why:
- When it makes its own, it leaves more for others.
Six of Rio’s sites in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States have already made around 7000 litres.
By making its own, the company can make sure it has enough to keep its employees’ hands germ-free, and also free up supplies for other people in our communities.
- Rio Tinto’s chemists love getting their hands dirty (or clean, in this case).
By day, the in-house chemists – like Devin at the Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania, Australia – are busy turning alumina into aluminium or finding cleaner, greener ways to produce aluminium and copper.
In their off hours, they are lending their expertise to making hand sanitiser, using ingredients available onsite.
And not just any recipe is used – the homemade hand sanitiser is made to strict World Health Organization and relevant local government specifications (including the US Food and Drug Administration and Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration).
- Because everyone’s in this together.
Rio is actively supporting local government efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. And where it can, this includes donating hand sanitiser (and also masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment) to medical teams, paramedics and hospitals.
