Luxury carmaker Aston Martin Lagonda, employs 3,000 people across eight sites in the Midlands and South Wales.
James Stephens, Director of Government and External Affairs at Aston Martin, discusses the safer working guidelines introduced to protect the employees and ensure they feel confident about returning to work at its St Athan site.
“So far, around 600 of our staff have returned to work at the South Wales site, but we expect this to increase as we begin opening our other sites.
We accessed and continue to use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for workers we have had to furlough. However, bringing back employees that are able to work, and doing so in the safest way possible has meant we haven’t had to rely on other schemes.
Using a cross functional team, we developed our return to work guidelines by following Public Health Executive (PHE) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines, as well as consulting with our Trade Union.
The health and safety of our employees always comes first, so using the guidance available we have been able to implement a range of safer working practices that our staff returning to work need to adhere to.”
The key principles Aston Martin has introduced are:
- Controlled entry and exits
- PPE equipment provided, with masks worn at all times (in line with company’s risk assessment)
- Sanitiser dispensers available across sites
- Cleaning frequency increased in all areas and across all sites
- Seating areas rearranged to comply to social distancing guidelines
- Meeting rooms closed
- Introduction of staggered start and finish times
- Break times also staggered
- Visuals, daily briefings, and posters to remind employees of social distancing and hand washing
- All but essential travel is not permitted, no visitors, and only agreed contractors on site
Mr Stephens continued: “Adherence to these safety principles is mandatory to protect our staff, their families and their workmates. Anyone not complying may be asked to leave the site and disciplinary measures applied.
“These guidelines introduce consistent measures across all our sites to meet Government recommendations on social distancing.”
The Government has published guidance to support businesses to reopen and for workers to feel confident, safe and empowered to return to work.
If you run a business and would like to know which of the coronavirus support schemes you are eligible for, you can use the business support finder tool. It takes just minutes to complete and will help you easily find support for your business.
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18 comments
Comment by Elaine posted on
Why is The social distancing does not apply when standing side by side only when face-to-face does not make sense to me if 2 m apart is 2 m apart I would say that was in a full circle 2 metres but half a circle any one else feel the same please
Comment by Bryn Davies posted on
Just an add on but why can 4 people lift share in a car for 40 mins then come into work were we are all social distanceing makes a mockery of the social distance rule .
Who the hell thinks these things up
Comment by Will Johnston posted on
Couldn't agree more . How will this stop the spread, Surely anyone car sharing must be making a mockery of social distancing guidelines? Companies must take responsibility for the safety of all employees and address this situation
Comment by Steven pateman posted on
Good work! Let's kick start the economy
Comment by Ritchie posted on
Stop the mot extention and lets get back to work. Work with common sense.
Comment by Rupert posted on
Good to see companies making a return to work possible. Driving the economy forward safely is essential part of getting the UK back on it's feet.
Comment by Steven Edwards posted on
Should be closed down.
Retrain the staff to create something essential like e-bikes.
This infantilist, planet trashing "luxury"product has no place in civilised society or on a planet sliding into the abyss.
Comment by keith buddin posted on
Yes Steven Extinction rebellion will have us using horse and carts soon! Taxes from this company go toward the NHS which you might need to use one day!
Comment by Deepppan posted on
They made a loss last year so do not think the NHS will benefit at all
Comment by Dave Tompson posted on
As soon as it starts raining everybody will be back in their card
Comment by Ollie posted on
You sound like a very boring person
Comment by Tony posted on
It's good to see workers getting back to there jobs and doing them in a safe a manner as possible'
Will be great again when this pandemic passes and life can recover to a near normality, just hope we will be prepared for the the new year if it returns.
Take care people ... stay safe.
Comment by peter wilmot posted on
I am 73, and my wife and I have been self-isolating since before the lockdown started and realise this will be our new normal until a vaccine is found. We have a new granddaughter who we would love to hug but can't.
However, all young people who are not vulnerable to serious systems must go back to work and to school right away, otherwise, there will be nothing left to go back to if they wait any longer!
Comment by Polly Washington posted on
Wonderful to hear workers going back to work country needs to get up and running ASAP
Comment by Fulham on record posted on
Make sure people follow their instincts as indicated by PM Johnson. And remember to sent every body for an eye test to Durham castle
Comment by Grammatically & Factually Correct posted on
Or SEND everyone to Barnard Castle ..... #checkyourfacts
We cannot stop the country forever and with appropriate controls and changes in behaviour the economy must get back to something like normal. What do all you keyboard worriers and warriors want us to do instead ...?!
Comment by Dave posted on
Meanwhile some of their supply chain has been working continually under difficult times and they have been criticised on delivery by the working from home brigade penning emails to everybody to make it look like they have work to do!
Comment by Martin Chadwick posted on
I note that the guidelines are for "safer" working not for "safe" working. What incidence of Coronavirus at the works does the government regard as acceptable?