Hi tech system protects workers and shows way forward, says distributor Taylor UK
Foodservice equipment manufacturers are going to have to adapt to the new world of safety issues, post Covid-19. ISA, which makes refrigerated display cases, is leading the way with a high-end solution called SWAT (Systems Workers Advance Tracing), which has allowed the Italian manufacturer to start to bring its workforce back into operation.
ISA products are distributed in Britain by Taylor UK. “The management team at ISA has a history of left-field designs and strategies, so I guess it’s no surprise that they are ahead of the curve here, too,” says Taylor UK’s marketing manager David Rees. “What’s brilliant about the SWAT system is that the workers in the manufacturing facility say they feel safe – and I imagine they are delighted to be back at work.”
SWAT works by monitoring workers’ positions, using an app and a tracker that clips on their clothing. If they get too close to each other the device vibrates and sends an alert to a central computer.
Using the restroom presents obvious potential difficulties in terms of social distancing. Here SWAT uses a traffic light system that shows green if a worker can enter and red if they need to wait their turn.
Additional safety measures at the ISA factory include the wearing of face masks and separation of work stations by dividers.
“If manufacturers want to stay in business, they will have to modify work patterns and bring in new safety procedures,” says Rees. “Technology like SWAT is going to be a huge bonus as we adapt in order to survive.”