Cotswold Outdoors, one of the largest retailers of outdoor and active wear and equipment contacted HMF with a problem they needed addressing at their warehouse in Kemble.
Due to Covid-19 crisis all of the clients shops were closed in response to the governments announced ‘lockdown’ on Tuesday 23rd March. Their business lifeline was then the online supply from their mail order warehouse.
The issue however was that all their packing benches meant operatives faced each other across the desks at a distance below the 2.0m social distancing rule implemented throughout the nation.
The packing benches were originally installed by HMF in a previous fit out and were formed within a rack supported mezzanine.
The client needed a screen erected between the two facing staff that didn’t involve moving the shared lighting and still giving the staff an open non-claustrophobic feeling .
HMF reacted by sourcing some 5mm perspex clear sheeting and some fixing batten and sent a team to build a prototype screen in one of the packing stations.
With restrictions on deliveries the HMF team drove to two suppliers and collected the materials needed
On approval of the prototype, HMF within 2 working days had returned and installed 16 screens enabling Cotswold Outdoors to continue to dispatch goods and protect their warehouse operatives who could sensibly work with the separation screens in place and all built without disrupting works nor involving need for electrical lighting re-working and re-positioning. The screens were rigid, secure and easily cleanable meeting the required brief.
HMF were pleased to assist a loyal customer and keep Cotswold Outdoors mail order business functioning and play a key part in enabling social distance safe working for their staff.
