Factories and building sites reveal new look with screens to protect workers, one-way walking and ban on communal loos

FACTORIES and building sites have revealed new measures to protect workers as Britain's coronavirus lockdown eases.

One-way walking, a ban on communal loos and plastic protective shields are among the steps firms are taking to safeguard staff.

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Last night, Boris Johnson urged factory and construction workers to go back to work as the PM addressed the nation with his three-step roadmap to recovery.

But with fears social distancing measures will be hard to enforce in many workplaces, companies have installed signs reminding workers to stay two metres apart.

Extra washing facilities, hand sanitiser and the closure of canteens are also being rolled out.

Nidec Control Techniques, an electronics firm in Newtown, Mid Wales which employs 250 people, has installed 53 wash stations.

PLASTIC SHIELDS

Anyone visiting the units must place a cone outside the door to make sure only one person at a time goes in, with the door opened by foot from inside with a pedal.

The company has installed moveable plastic shields to protect workers, and a new one-way system so staff stay two-metres apart on the factory floor.

Operations director Huw Mills told the BBC: "There is no people passing each other which would breach the two-meter rule.

"You will not bump into anybody."

Speaking about the moveable screens, Mr Mills added: "This is something that our engineers have innovated, something that we're using.

"In a manufacturing space you do need to get up and close and personal with people.

"Our engineering team knocked up a mobile screen on wheels."

It comes as Covid-19 deaths in the UK rose to 32,065 after 210 more deaths were recorded today, the lowest daily rise in six weeks.

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During Britain's virus lockdown, Nidec Control Techniques had shut down production for three weeks, but has now reopened.

One worker said: "Sometimes you do have to think about it, because you see someone, and you... get into a conversation, and then you think, oh wait, step back.

"We're doing the best we can. Usually there's four people on a line, but it's just two of us so we're just trying to keep the pace and carry on.

Another said: "You're here, you're here for eight hours and you're working, so it takes your mind off it.

"It's only when you get home you see the news again.

"Sitting at home for weeks on end is boring, you get lethargic, here you're active again, and it's nice to meet your friends again."

Sitting at home for weeks on end is boring, you get lethargic, here you're active again, and it's nice to meet your friends again

Factory worker

Nidec Control Techniquesn president Anthony Pickering said: "Our facilities are as safe as we could possibly get it. If we find other ways we will obviously look at them.

"But this is the unknown, there's no textbook telling you what to do.

"We've had to figure this out as we go along."

Speaking last night,the PM insisted the government wants to ensure everyone is "safe at work" with new guidance for employers to make workplaces COVID-secure.

He said: "We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work."

Last week, a survey revealed three-quarters of building sites across England and Wales have reopened, according to Build UK.

The trade body said 73 per cent of sites were back up and running.

One firm, Weston Homes, which has reopened sites across London, has said construction staff, delivery drivers and site visitors will be required to thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water and on all sites.

The building firm has also created bespoke wash stations for site staff, with sinks containing an independent water supply and hand sanitiser.

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