COVID-19: Enhanced Safety Procedures (Century House)

Following on from Martin’s Friday Update, I am pleased to inform you all of the additional measures being implemented to improve our pre-existing enhanced safety and cleaning procedures, to continue to ensure your safety whilst at Century House.

Whilst these measures mainly apply to the office premises I have sent this to you all so that you are fully informed and aware for when visiting the office, if usually based on site. Many of these procedures are already in action on your sites as part of your exceptional efforts to keep them as safe working environments for your team and our wider supply chain.

Temperature testing has now been implemented at Reception for anyone working within or visiting the office premises and Katie will monitor this each day. Whilst she has been issued with a protective visor the general consensus is for individuals to do this themselves, sanitising their hands after use, so that we can maintain social distancing during this procedure. As Martin mentioned, if anyone has a raised temperature above 38C you will be respectfully asked to work from home until the point this returns to normal and requested to monitor yourself for any other symptoms. As one of the main symptoms of COVID-19 it is imperative that we follow this new protocol as a simple and yet effective measure to avoid the onward spread of the virus.

Additional signage has also been placed throughout the building to remind everyone of the continued need for regular handwashing as one of the simplest and best ways to ensure your safety throughout the day and once again avoid any spread of infection to others, so please do continue to do so or alternatively use the hand sanitiser provided in each kitchen.

Communal and ‘high-touch’ areas such as photocopiers are deemed as higher-risk zones and in response to this antibacterial wipes have been placed at every photocopier. Please do take a moment to use these to wipe down these areas after prolonged use, or as you see appropriate. These can also be used to wipe down your desk areas during the day if this offers further comfort.

You may have already noticed that our cleaners will now be present every day, likely around midday, to carry out additional cleaning to the toilets and kitchens as well as wiping down door handles and the stairwell handrails. This is in addition to their full cleaning regime which will continue to be carried out each evening.

I do hope you will agree that the above additional measures should greatly improve office hygiene and cleanliness and go some way to offer further reassurance for your own peace of mind. Many of these actions are as a direct response to the staff survey which highlighted a number of areas for improvement. It is incredibly positive to see the prompt response by the Directors to the concerns raised which have been listened to and implemented.

If you do have any ongoing concerns or further suggestions please do let me know.

In the meantime, and as always, please do stay alert and avoid unnecessary risks in order to stay safe and well.