Five ways Aport puts safety first during a laboratory relocation
26/06/2020 / General help and advice / posted by Matt Cocken
During any laboratory relocation, health and safety is a top priority.
And with the added risks the UK is facing from COVID 19, keeping everyone safe during a move is even more critical than usual. This week is World Wellbeing Week so Aport’s health and safety specialist Matthew Cocken explains what measures we are taking to protect our staff, customers and the general public.
- Limiting numbers in vehicles
Social distancing can be a challenge when travelling to and from different sites. This is why Aport is limiting the number of people travelling in a commercial vehicle to a maximum of two to allow space between the occupants. We also ensure that the passenger is always in the seat furthest away from the driver.
- Regular deep cleans
All our vehicles are thoroughly cleaned after every single use to reduce the infection risk. This includes fully disinfecting the entire vehicle and washing out the cargo area.
- Extra precautions
All our drivers are wearing face masks and gloves while using company vehicles to minimise the risk of spreading COVID 19. All drivers and passengers are also issued with their own personal hand sanitiser to use whenever necessary. We also ask all our crews to wear masks and gloves while on site to keep both our customers and staff safe. Aport teams use 360-degree antiviral face coverings provided by SciSure, to provide maximum protection for our staff and customers alike.
- Clear communication
Open and effective communication at all times is important for the health and safety of everyone involved in a laboratory removals project. When our crews arrive on site, they check for any potential risks due to the systems and operations in place and immediately report any concerns. We actively encourage all our staff to continually look out for potential risks at all stages of the relocation process, communicating all possible problems and suggesting improvements where appropriate.
- Extensive training
All our relocation crews are trained to the highest possible standards in manual handling techniques. For the protection of everyone on site, all carrying and lifting must be done by our staff and we cannot accept any offers of help from our clients or their staff. At Aport, we are committed to the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of all our employees and do everything we can to make sure their knowledge and skills are up to date. This plays a vital role in ensuring all health and safety regulations are adhered to at all times.