“As always, the safety of our people is our primary concern, but we also know that without our extraction systems, filters and spares, production lines in very important sectors could suffer disruption – and we need to help keep these vital supplies flowing,” said Tony Lockwood, managing director of BOFA.
“So, we have introduced new working practices for our manufacturing teams in line with Government and World Health Organisation advice to ensure their safety while continuing to deliver vital products to key customers around the world. Most of our office and field-based staff are now working remotely, but we are committed to maintaining the production of core components to support those industries central to the global effort.”
Despite these changes, BOFA is currently managing to adhere to normal lead times for orders for key sectors, but the company is monitoring the situation daily and will keep customers informed of any potential disruption.
“These are challenging times for everyone, but I’d like to thank my colleagues at BOFA for responding in such a positive way in ensuring that we play our part in keeping essential supplies moving,” Lockwood says.
Kevin Bamford, operations director at BOFA, adds: “We continuously monitor WHO, government and Public Health England advice and through our own rigorous risk assessments we have added enhanced measures to safeguard everyone working at BOFA and our supply partners. These have been introduced to address our specific situation - it is very important that every manufacturer undertakes their own risk assessments to implement the steps needed to address their individual circumstances.”
Basic steps, following WHO, Government and Public Health England advice (referring to government websites for regular updates)
- Ensuring employees remain home and or self-isolate if they are sick and follow government guidelines for timescales and symptom information. Keep re-emphasising to avoid unnecessary contact with well employees
- Reminding employees of the importance of hygiene – regular hand washing, provision of hand sanitizer gel at building entrance points and enforce use, posters/signs in washroom facilities
- Regular employee communications – latest instructions, reminders
- Review cleaning routines/schedules and ensure surfaces, door handles etc are regularly sanitised
- Ensure deep clean procedures are in place as regularly as practical, but as a minimum in areas where an employee may have worked if they become ill
- Regularly “police” all areas to ensure compliance – it’s a new behaviour standard so employees will need reminding
Advanced steps
- Stop all external business travel, including salesforce
- Working from home arrangements for as many appropriate functions as possible – regular contact is maintained, common web applications used for meetings/staying in touch
- No visitors to the site, unless absolutely vital. If visitors are received, check individuals are compliant with recent known travel restrictions, if possible check temperature prior to contact with any employees, get them to sign/self-certify compliance
- Check all employees temperatures before entering the site, and ensure social distancing when queuing. Repeat tests half way through shift. Restrict/minimise access points to the site. Try and source non-contact equipment to undertake this task
- Enforce social distancing of 2m, provide visual restrictions or physical barriers where practical e.g queue lines. This may require alternative work patterns or shifts. Restrict multi person car sharing
- Be flexible on some long standing routines eg start/finish times to avoid everyone arriving/exiting at the same time. Automate clocking in routines to prevent multi user touch points.
- Increase cleaning routines and have employees assist by having regular clean down exercises of their work area preferably minimum twice daily
- Following current advice, have facemasks available for any frontline employees that may come into contact with external sources (eg delivery vehicles). This advice may get updated at some point by the WHO to recommend wearing of masks at work/out in public.
