Blackburn CEO’s Covid-19 workplace testing call

Published Tuesday 20 April 2021 at 16:21

A business employing over 250 staff says signing up to workplace Covid-19 testing is “a win-win”.

Ciceley Commercials, a Mercedes Benz Commercial vehicle franchise operator based in Blackburn with other sites in Manchester, Bolton, Carlisle and Dumfries is now encouraging other businesses to follow to help reassure their workforces – and customers.

Ciceley Commercials supplies vehicles, trucks and vans to both public sector services like police, ambulance and councils, as well as private companies such as Tesco, Sainsburys, Argos, AO and Iceland.

Colin Briggs, CEO of Ciceley Commercials, said:

When the pandemic hit, it was relatively straight forward to protect our office staff. We installed protective screens within days and implemented social distancing.

However, our technicians can’t work socially distanced. We need three operators to take engines out of trucks safely and we were classed as an essential service because we were helping to keep supermarket delivery vehicles and ambulances on the road.

Colin said during the first lockdown, he split the technicians into three teams on a rota basis, sanitising before every shift change. During the second lockdown the company bought lateral flow tests and tested the entire workforce daily.

He said:

We ran this between November and February – but it became very expensive.

We were getting through hundreds of lateral flow tests (LFT) a week to ensure people could work together. If anyone tested positive, they were sent to get an official government PCR test and that saved a potential minefield for the business.

I heard on the grapevine that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council were offering test kits to businesses so I contacted them. Within days we received the LFT test kits, PPE like masks and gloves, and on-site training and advice free of charge. Now we test our staff twice a week and report the figures via an app. It has become the norm.

The customers who still need to get their vehicles serviced or repaired feel comfortable bringing their vehicles in, the staff feel reassured, and the business is able to continue.

It’s a win-win situation for everyone. It costs you nothing – just a small amount of your time.

Colin added:

I have looked after my staff as much as possible – and they have reciprocated. Everyone wants to be able to work. They all understand that they have their part to play in keeping the workplace safe.

I think this virus is going to be around for quite a while and this type of testing will become mainstream. This is the way we can protect our workforce.

Blackburn with Darwen businesses are being encouraged to sign up to participate in regular, free testing to help protect their employees and stop the spread of the virus.

The local testing team will not only provide delivered lateral flow kits and PPE but are also available to support with on-site training and advice on setting up workplace testing.

Martin Eden, Director of Place, Environment and Operations at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, praised the company for helping to protect their employees and stop the spread of the virus:

Ciceley Commercials are an excellent example of the impact SMART rapid testing can have on a workforce – not only are positive cases of the virus identified at the earliest opportunity, it also reduces anxiety among employees and customers.

Council supported rapid testing has enabled them to run their businesses with minimal disruption during challenging times for everyone.

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