A-Gas operations director Rob Parker said that the business was challenging itself not to be complacent. He explained: “The staff have responded amazingly to the new measures. Temperature testing is not flawless but it does give us another red flag to highlight when something is wrong.
“If a high temperature is recorded on arrival for work then there is a cooling off period but if after a second test the high temperature is sustained then the member of staff is advised to return home and is asked to seek medical help.”
Earlier in the year A-Gas introduced enhanced cleaning regimes and sanitisation across all its sites and offices around the world. There has been an increased use of PPE, improved communications across a range of different online platforms and the setting up of Covid-19 response teams. Staff are also spread out to ensure that there is clear distancing between different groups of workers.
Back office staff are encouraged to work from home but for those who do have to be onsite split shift patterns have been introduced. Rob Parker said that there was evidence in the industry that the virus could be caught from surfaces, as well as from airborne person-to-person sources. Keeping staff well distanced and working in the same group is a way of preventing this. So far no one has caught the virus while working onsite at A-Gas in Portbury.
Mask wearing is mandatory for A-Gas staff working onsite and for A-Gas Rapid Recovery engineers when completing recovery jobs at customer locations. Mr Parker added: “We have learned from other A-Gas teams across the world and the experiences of other gas suppliers in the industry and have adapted our practices to reduce onsite and offsite risks.”
Refrigerants supplied by A-Gas have been critical in keeping the country running during the crisis. From delivery trucks restocking stores nationwide, to home delivery vehicles fulfilling customer orders, to cooling the food cabinets and storage facilities in supermarkets and convenience stores, these refrigerants have been preserving the safety of food, ensuring quality and preventing waste.
Efficient, disease-free air conditioning and ventilation is also vital across the health service, in care facilities and on public transport.