Sliders UK: Assess, adapt and overcome HD 1080p

Assess, adapt and overcome.
As the Government recently announced the relaxation of some Covid restrictions, I spoke with Nigel Francis, Sliders UK’s Health and Safety Director, about the challenges Sliders has faced and the ongoing plans to stay safe and succeed with our business.
How has Sliders UK adapted its working environment to comply with Government guidelines?
‘If we go back to June last year, the end of the first lockdown and when we decided we were going to begin to bring some people back to work. I spent two weeks prior to the Government guidelines coming out assessing all potential options. I looked at how we could adapt our premises in order for it to be safe to bring people back to work. This then also led to completely re-laying out the factory and offices. All the workstations, machinery and walkways were moved around so everybody could work two metres apart from each other. Arranging ample amounts of sanitiser, liaising with our cleaning company to increase and adapt their routines. The Governments guidelines also meant we put into place one-way systems, adapted the routes in and out of the toilet facilities, reduced the canteen capacity by 75% and split breaks for the teams in order to reduce congestion.’
What did you find was the biggest challenge and how did we overcome it?
‘The biggest challenge was getting the procedures written, designed and put in place. We received notice that we could bring people back at the beginning of June, however it took some time for the Government guidelines to be released. This meant we had to devise our own policy without any guidance. This was achieved by using common sense and existing knowledge of infection control to put new procedures in place. When the Government gave out their guidelines, around the same week people were returning to the factory, we then matched them to the Government policy and procedures. Thankfully, every area was vigorously considered, and we were well prepared. There were very little further adaptions required to comply with the Government guidelines.’
What reaction have you received from offering the new test and trace, we offer testing to our staff scheme?
‘A very good reaction, we’ve had a very positive response. People have really got on board with it and see it as a way of increasing reassurance and everybody I speak with feels they are working together in a safe environment. Even though we have very good restrictions and measures in place, we have had at least two conversations with the Health & Safety Executive and both times we’ve scored very highly. A few months prior to the introduction of self-testing lateral flow kits, we had introduced a non-mandatory policy of wearing facemasks in offices, parts of the factory and in confined corridors etc. This was something we didn’t have to do, but we did to give people more confidence and reassurance that it is safe to work in the factory and offices.’
What’s next best practice for Sliders UK as the country begins to relax restrictions?
‘Not to take our eye off the ball. We have been very successful in the measures that we’ve put in place in the last twelve months. After two lockdowns and two spikes in the pandemic, we are very keen not to relax too much. We have still got the potential, according to the Government, of further upsurges later in the year. We have been many times steps ahead and it would be foolish to take steps backwards, so continuing to keep watch on the local news, local guidelines and the wider national state is vital. If it is necessary to bring back the use of masks, then we will do so.
Hand in hand, we have a responsibility to keep all staff safe and in employment. We have received record numbers of orders and the demand is increasing still. We’ve implemented additional production evening shifts, which is helping to alleviate the uprise in product demand, especially the increased interest in our Ultimate Collection Composite Doors. The additional shifts also means that people have even more space to work safely. It’s been a real assistance to bring in the night shift and a positive thing to do.
The next best practice for us is to continue as we have done in the last twelve months and try to stay one step ahead of the virus.’
www.sliders-uk.com