Giving front line staff pandemic protection

Keltic Clothing creates face coverings for parking personnel

A Keltic Clothing face covering

A Keltic Clothing face covering

As the coronavirus lockdown eases there will be more situations in which parking staff will be engaging with the public when managing car parks, patrolling the street and running park & ride services. Parking operators are thus seeking face coverings that are both effective and suitable for prolonged use in settings such as car parks, the street and on buses.

As a response to customer enquiries, uniform supplier Keltic Clothing has launched a range of face covering solutions designed to keep front line staff safe when engaging with the public. David Barry, Keltic Clothing director, said the face coverings has been developed in response to feedback from both local authority and private sector parking teams.

“Face coverings can help us protect each other and reduce the spread of the disease if you are suffering from coronavirus, but not showing symptoms,” says David Barry. “It is pretty hard for front line parking staff – people are kind of literally ‘in their face’ at times.”

Besides face coverings, the company is also supplying cleaning sprays that parking staff can use to keep garments and masks disinfected during shifts.

“For the parking market we are offering face coverings, in both disposable and reusable washable varieties, a facemask sanitising spray to be used by staff during the day when they can’t wash the mask, and a garment disinfectant spray, again to be used during the day, as they can’t wash their uniforms until the night.”

Face coverings
Government advice states that a ‘face covering’ is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used as part of medical personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare and other workers, which should be reserved for health and care workers, as well as those working in industrial settings like those exposed to dust hazards.

Keltic Clothing has thus devised a range of face protection that is appropriate for the workplace but does not compete with the needs of the NHS or social care sectors. “Our face covers are non-medical, designed for social distancing as opposed to medical use or in areas of asbestos,” says Barry.

“The anti-viral and anti-bacterial spray, as well as sanitising the mask during use, also provides residual protection from viruses and bacteria for up to four hours after application.”

Workforce protection
The masks come individually bagged in biodegradable bags to avoid cross-contamination when being distributed to colleagues. They are sold in boxes of 20 or 100, and are not available individually.

Keltic also offers advice on how face coverings should be worn. “Before putting on your face mask, clean your hands with soap and water. Cover your mouth and nose with the mask, ensuring no gaps. Avoid touching your mask when using it, and wash your hands if you do,” says Barry.
“When removing your mask, take it off using the sides without touching the front and, if possible, place directly into your washing machine. Re-usable masks should be washed daily.”
During the day Keltic recommends that Sursol facemask sanitising spray be used to keep the coverings cleans. Sursol anti-viral mask spray can be used throughout the day at intervals to kill viruses and bacteria on face covers and visors. It also gives residual germ-killing properties. Keltic sells the spray in a 75ml bottle that can carried in a pocket or equipment pouch.

Sursol’s disinfectant formula is made in the UK and certified to EN1276 and EN14476. It has been developed in a cruelty-free manner and is designed to be safe to use around children and animals as it contains no harmful substances, and does not have a harsh chemical odour.

Keltic Clothing has created a special infection control section on its website:
www.kelticclothing.co.uk/parking-security-uniforms/infection-control/