Up To Speed Training | Just be prepared: COVID-19 Contingency Planning

Up To Speed is taking all precaution in the spread of Covid-19

Unavoidable and prevalent across the news over recent weeks is the reported outbreak and continued spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

The virus is a ‘new’ illness that can affect the lungs and airways and is reported to have emerged from the Wuhan region of China.

The symptoms of coronavirus are:

• a cough
• a high temperature
• shortness of breath

Please note, these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.

The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.

The Coronavirus, due to widespread publicity is easy to be afraid of, and the reported mortality rates of the virus can certainly cause panic.

Certainly, any virus that can be fatal requires widespread public knowledge and education for preventative measures.

For some context on the cases, Worldometers reports:

• 100,162 cases reported worldwide
• 3,406 deaths due to the virus
• 55,812 fully recovered individuals in the 59,218 closed COVID-19 cases
• 34,666 of the 40,9444 active cases are ‘in mild condition’

It has also been reported across the media that the vast majority of people who have died from the virus are over 70 in age and have pre-existing health conditions.

These statistics perhaps aren’t as out of control as some media would have us believe.

But, with that said, there is no denying that we should be doing all we can to slow down and stop the spread of this potentially fatal virus and protect those most vulnerable from its onset and effects.

With that in mind, it’s important that we are all taking the correct steps.

Below is information on the measures and preventive action Up to Speed Training & Assessment Ltd are implementing in accordance with the guidance from Public Health England, with regard to Coronavirus in places of education:

• All employees and subcontractors have been briefed on the advice given by Public Health England
• Risk Assessmentshave been updated and will be under constant review
• Information has been provided to all employees, subcontractors and visitors to the centre, on the importance of preventative hygiene and the extra steps to take such as increased hand washing
• Employees and subcontractors have also been advised of the sensible precaution not to shake hands – and to not be offended if somebody refuses to shake hands
• Disposable wipes have been made available to employees and subcontractors at the Centre, so that commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks) can be wiped down regularly
• Informative posters have been displayed at various locations around the Training Centre

CLICK HERE OR THE IMAGE BELOW FOR THE POSTER

• An informative video, available on Up To Speed’s YouTube channel Coronavirus Awareness Video, is playing on a continuous loop in the communal area at the Centre
• During training course introductions, all trainers reiterate the above preventative guidance information to all learners and make them aware of where they will find the posters and video within the Centre
• Regular checks on Public Health England guidance will be undertaken and any changes and/or updates implemented
• Communication of any such cases encountered will be passed immediately to customers for their own safety planning, and also to Up To Speed employees and subcontractors who may have come into contact with the individual
• Additionally, in the event of an outbreak in the area where the Training Centre is located, or upon information that a previous visitor has contracted the virus, Up To Speed has agreed on the following contingency plans:

1) A watchful eye kept over staff and learners to ensure that should anyone start showing symptoms, action aligned with the necessary guidance is taken.

2) Deep cleans across all areas of the Training Centre.

3) Review of cleaning spec throughout the Centre, extra time to be taken on touch points such as handles, doors, desks, counters, handrails, telephones, card payment machines, tables and chairs, taps, switches, sides/work surfaces, photocopiers, water coolers.

Adam Mills, Up To Speed Director told us:

“Whilst we are certainly not urging anybody to panic, we are all aware of the potential damage that further spreading of the Coronavirus could cause – especially to those most vulnerable with existing medical conditions and in particular, respiratory problems.

“As a company, we want to make sure that we have our contingency plans in place early and take as many preventative measures as possible. The old mantra is ‘prevention is better than cure’ and that’s the approach we have to what has been a big story across the world over the last couple of weeks.

“As a leading provider of training and education within the highways sector, we feel it’s important to share our attitude and approach to COVID-19 to help and assist others with steps that can be taken to greatly help with prevention.”