Ascent has made available its COVID-19 risk assessment to all employees and others within our facilities, demonstrating that the company fully conforms to Government guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19.
The Government guidance falls into five distinct categories: requiring a respective risk assessment, with the results communicated; clear cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures in place; facilitating home working where feasible; maintaining social distancing on site; and a management process to mitigate the transmission risk.
The risk assessments, performed by a cross-functional team and under the direction of Ascent’s Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Manager, highlighted the need for modifications within Ascent’s training and central office facilities. This allows two-metre distance between workers where practicable, and one-way movement paths and traffic flows were facility design allows. Additional signage in all washrooms across facilities continually reinforces the need to undertake more frequent hand washing and in addition, the provision of hand sanitiser stations/dispensers have been made available to support optimal cleansing protocols.
Within Ascent controlled facilities, face coverings are now available, while Ascent will maintain a work from home policy for those who are able to.
The robust measures will ensure Ascent staff stay as safe as practicable at all times. There is also an enhanced cleaning routine and clear guidance to the workforce on limiting the risk of infection on areas such as room capacities, facility access and travel.
In relevant work areas where distancing is more challenging, plastic partitions – designed and manufactured by Babcock International – now offer segregation between colleagues in addition to control measures limiting capacity and distanced seating.
There are also new measures to control the population density within facilities at any one time with all entry and exit points reviewed and reconfigured to disperse the volume of people where possible.