FMJ.CO.UK INTERVIEWS FOCUS
JUNE 2020 37
In their guide Ready to Reoccupy, Atalian Servest
sets out several di erent options to introduce
people back into the workplace including a pilot
programme with around 10 per cent of a building’s
normal capacity to allow the workplace team to
stress-test new systems and processes; staggered
starts and finishes; increased shi patterns;
di erent teams/ departments working alternate
days; split team working whereby a percentage
of a team work in the o ice on one day, with
their counterparts working from home and then
they switch; and using local o ices or branches
to reduce the need to commute. “This phased
return is likely to be measured, with organisations
using pilots to test the model and then gradually
increasing capacity from 10 per cent to 20 per cent
and onwards until full occupancy is achieved,” says
Rob Legge, Global Group CEO at Atalian Servest.
The physical space will need to change
substantially from the environment that
employees le behind in March. Angela Love,
Director, Active Workplace Solutions is already
seeing clients ordering perspex screens for desks,
for example. How we use o ice space is something
we really need to think carefully about, adds
Rachel Houghton, Managing Director at Business
Moves Group. “Will hotdesking become a
thing of the past? Will we each have our own
desk? If so, how’s that going to impact the
desk-to-employee ratios, and what are the
cost implications? There are no quick fixes
and it’s going to be di erent for di erent
organisations.”
Although face-to-face meetings will resume,
meeting room capacity is likely to be reduced
by up to 50 per cent to maintain social distancing
in smaller rooms. For a period of time, face-to-face
meetings should still be limited, urges Active’s
Love. “Despite being in the same building, if a
meeting needs to be held then this can still be
done virtually. Zoom or Microso Teams makes
this easily achievable.”
Organisations need to decide how they are
going to enforce social distancing measures. Will
the facilities team prepare the building and make
social distancing possible and then leave people to
make their own decisions? Or will they police the
policy and if so, how will how they do this?
CLEANING AND SECURITY
Cleaning will be a particular area of focus because
even a er buildings start to be reoccupied, the
risk of catching COVID-19 will remain significant.
Typically cleaning specifications focused on a
visual standard of cleanliness. Did the space
look clean? Was it free from dirt and debris? Did
it provide a good first impression for the visitor
and employee? Mike Boxall, Managing Director
of benchmarking firm Sitemark, believes that
needs to change and the focus be on an enhanced
hygiene standard. His firm has launched a new
hygiene-focused cleaning specification to help
support organisations respond to the pandemic.
THERMAL-IMAGING BASED SYSTEMS
“This involves identifying all areas of a building
where the risk of contamination to building users
is high –such as common areas, door handles, li s
and stairway railings – and then cleaning them at a
frequency that is appropriate to the area they are
in. Focusing on how hygienic spaces are minimises
the risk of workplace contamination and ensures
everyone remains healthy. It also demonstrates
the employer’s Duty of Care.” The profile and
importance of cleaning teams will be substantially
raised with people wanting to see cleaning teams
around the building.
But Boxall believes that there is only so much a
cleaning team can do. “We need to see improved
behavioural change from building users through
more regular, and longer, handwashing, clear
desks and reduced physical contact with other
people. Cleaning and hygiene generally need to be
taken more seriously.”
The role of security will also change. Darren
Read, Managing Director, Amulet Security
of Churchill Group explains that the firm is
using thermal cameras to identify any raised
temperatures with a view to ensuring symptomatic
individuals are sent o to receive necessary
medical testing and attention.
Thermal cameras is also something that Corps
Security is introducing within its clients. Mike
Bullock, CEO of Corps Security explains that
they are also changing many of their systems
and processes to ensure reduced physical
contact between the front-of-house team
and guests. Where access cards are needed,
these will need to be thorough disinfected
between uses. Where there are scanning
facilities, security o icers must ensure they use
gloves when handling visitors bags. Turnstiles and
gates will need to be wiped down and disinfected
regularly. Reception areas will also need to have
anti-bacterial gel ready for both sta and visitors,
he says. “But the key change, we believe will be the
introduction of thermal imaging cameras which
will allow organisations to protect their people
from the virus while also supporting them to
reopen their buildings and get back to business.”
These thermal-imaging based systems explains
Ashley Zhao, Marketing Manager for Hikvision
UK and Ireland, are: “Designed for the rapid,
contact-free preliminary detection of elevated
skin surface temperatures. By utilising thermal
and conventional lenses and sensors, they can
provide automatic alerts when anyone passing the
camera exhibits a temperature in excess of a preconfigured
range, allowing them to be clinically
measured and assessed.”
CATERING CHANGES
The catering function is also looking to adapt to
the new normal. Phil Roker, Managing Director of
Vacherin, explains that the firm is using its new
app to allocate times in sta restaurants alongside
existing click and collect functionality to reduce
congestion. He also is planning more wrapped/
We need to see improved
behavioural change from building
users through more regular, and
longer, handwashing, clear desks and
reduced physical contact with other
people. Cleaning and hygiene
generally need to be taken
more seriously.”