British production lines fell silent on March 18 and the vast majority of JCB’s 6,500 UK employees have been furloughed since April. Today JCB has confirmed that low levels of production are resuming – with a far-reaching package of safety measures introduced to fully protect employees. These include:
- Employees to self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms before leaving home
- Temperature checks overseen by medical staff for every employee arriving for work
- Issuing of surgical masks to office and shop floor employees
- Provision of visors for shop floor employees for extra protection
- Introduction of thermal imaging cameras at UK plants later this month
- Widespread provision of hand sanitiser
- Clearly-marked walkways and a reduction in office desks to maximise social distancing
- Closure of canteen facilities and vending machines and suspension of car sharing schemes
- Disabling of lavatory hand dryers in favour of paper towels
- Working from home for employees where at all possible