The Installation of Airdri SteraSpace Has Been a Positive One
Real people talk to us about their challenges post-lockdown
Bache Post & News ltd – Cheshire
Sub Postmaster – Kevin Elson
There are around 11,500 Post Office branches around the UK, the majority of which are run independently or as a franchise arrangement.
When the government declared Post Offices an “essential service” postmasters had to very quickly initiate safety precautions for their staff and customers using their facilities.
By providing a lifeline for banking services, collecting benefits, bill payments and the transition of letters and parcels they are an important source for keeping the country together had to be on top of their game.
Subpostmaster Kevin Elson and wife Wendy from Bache Post & News in Cheshire went above and beyond expectations regarding the safety and service to the community and have consequently been praised for their commitment during the coronavirus crisis.
The Bache Post Office was a finalist in the Better for Customers category at the Post Office’s We’re Stronger Together’ regional awards for the North West and North Wales region by keeping the branch open throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in Upton.
In March, when more and more people were being instructed to stay home, postmasters were putting themselves at great risk by continuing to provide a service to the public. The coronavirus can remain on surfaces such as cardboard and plastic for a least a day and this carried a lot of unknowns for anyone handling mail and packages, meaning safety measures were required within branches.
“COVID 19 impacted our workspace significantly.” Says Kevin. “Having implemented the 2-metre social distancing rule it was hard to maintain a safe distance from customers and vice versa. It also meant that we could only have one member of staff working on a counter at any given time. COVID 19 severely affected our footfall despite being open throughout the pandemic.”
“Our initial concerns were around maintaining a clean sanitised environment for members of staff when they returned to work. This was initially achieved by supplying hand sanitisers, gloves and masks/visors for staff to use.
“The Post Office also supplied Perspex screens for our open counters to help protect staff but we were required to conduct a risk assessment before our staff could return to work. All areas of the store are still subject to regular cleaning with sanitisation products and with the installation of the Airdri SteraSpace, we added an extra layer of protection for virus and bacteria control, continually circulating clean, purified air 24 hours a day”
“With new regulations continually changing, we’ve redesigned the layout of the store significantly. We’ve removed a number of fixtures in order to maintain the 2-metre ruling. Although government guidelines now state 1 metre plus we decided to stay at 2 metres for the safety of both our staff and customers.
“By removing fixtures, it also enabled us to allow customers to browse whilst maintaining social distancing. Our relationship with our customers has grown stronger throughout the pandemic by extending our home delivery service to include groceries. This has been vital for our most vulnerable customers, ensuring they do not go without. People have been very grateful and for us, it has been all about playing as big a part as possible in the community.”
“Since the SteraSpace units have been installed, we have noticed a significant improvement in the air quality within the building. The staff are more confident working in the store knowing the surfaces are continually being sterilised. I consider the installation of the air purifiers to be a positive move for my business to help reduce the risk of spreading airborne germs and viruses.”
“The next few weeks and months will be a critical period as the country attempts to return to a sense of normality. I see Perspex screens in retail being a way of life now, and additional handwashing second nature, for better personal hygiene and safety. We have learnt a lot this year, which should help us against future viruses.”
Who can use the Airdri SteraSpace?
- Suitable for areas of continuous occupation
- Ideal for gyms, sports arenas, sports halls, waiting rooms, beauty salons, café and other hospitality use.
Benefits of fitting an Airdri SteraSpace:
- Kills harmful viruses and bacteria in the air and on all exposed surfaces 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Circulates fresh clean air
- Breaks down unwanted bacteria
- Attacks odours at their source
- Removes unhealthy microbes from the air
- Makes every room smell freshly cleaned
- Maintains sanitised surfaces
- Stops mould and fungi growth
Tags: Airdri Air Purifiers, Bache Post & News ltd, Sub Postmaster
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