RESPONSE TO COVID-19 – 19th MAY UPDATE
We are gradually introducing staff back into the workplace. Our priority is to ensure that all our employees are protected, kept safe and that we minimise the risk of the spread of infection.
As the COVID-19 pandemic develops all businesses have had to adapt to safeguard the health of its staff, suppliers and customers. We’ve listened to the advice given by the Government and acted accordingly to ensure that we provide a safe environment for our team and that they’re kept up to date with all current advice from Public Health England.
The steps we are currently taking are listed below and we’ll continue to review and develop our approach in line with recommendations.
Social distancing – All employees must, wherever possible, social distance at all times. If they are carrying out an operation which doesn’t allow this then face masks and visors will be issued to maximise employee safety and minimise the risk of transmission. Break times may be staggered and these are the only times that the canteen will be available to individuals. The only cooking/ reheating and beverage making will take place in the welfare facilities provided by Vista.
Hand Washing – All employees are asked to regularly wash their hands. As a minimum all staff will need to wash their hands prior to starting work and before going for lunch/break or on return to site after leaving the premises. Hand sanitiser has been placed around both the office and factory. Signs have been placed around the site reminding everyone to wash their hands for 20 seconds and to avoid touching their face.
Temperature checks – All employees required to have their temperature taken via a non-contact thermometer before starting work. If in the event that their temperature is above the Government guidelines of 37.8 degrees Celsius they will be asked to leave the site with immediate effect.
Site cleaning – We’ve increased the frequency of both office and factory cleaning. Handles, handrails, telephones, keyboards, eating and social areas will be wiped down, and all the operators panel on all machinery, FLT steering wheels, pump and pallet trucks, drinks machine panel surface once a day by dedicated staff that have been appointed on a rota. Detergent and cloths are available and must be used whenever you finish an operation or leave the machine you were working on.
Site access – All access to the site will be via the main gate only.
Office staff – Where possible office staff work from home. Those in the offices must maintain a minimum distance of 2m from each other and follow the hand washing guidelines.
Use of telephones – All employees are asked to ensure they make people aware if they use a company telephone/mobile other than the one they’re issued with so correct cleaning of the device can take place for its intended user.
Production staff – All production staff will self-distance at their workstation and maintain a minimum distance of 2m from each other and follow the hand washing guidelines.
Travel – Non-essential business travel has been postponed. This does not include deliveries which will continue as normal.
Delivery staff – Delivery staff have been asked leave documents on the un manned delivery counter and remain in their cabs.
In addition to the steps taken to safeguard the health of our staff we have also taken steps to safeguard the health of our business and ensure that customers continue to receive the best possible levels of service. These include: –
Increasing stock levels – We’re increasing the levels of stock
Staff training – Cross training production staff so that they can operate other machines
Seamless service – We are using market leading remote working software to ensure seamless service
The Vista Group is an extremely robust business and our team will pull together to continue to deliver on product quality, customer service and maintain our competitive prices.