IDS’ MRO and PPE vending machines provide a fast and easy transaction experience to allow employees in manufacturing and food processing facilities to access critical PPE supplies.
COVID-19 continues to pose a threat across the globe. As an employer, it is your duty to provide your employees with a safe and sanitary work environment. This may include implementing new procedures within your manufacturing or food processing plant in order to keep employees safe and reduce the spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, among employees and their families.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended social distancing among people in the United States, keeping at least six feet away from people. In some manufacturing and processing plants, however, it may be difficult to completely social distance yourself from other coworkers. Many times, employees in these facilities are standing shoulder-to-shoulder on assembly or process lines. In fact, some employees are only able to stand six inches apart. Despite these close working environments, there are actions that can be taken in order to control the potential spread of infectious diseases.
As measures are being put in place by manufacturing and food processing companies to encourage social distancing when possible, it is important to provide critical PPE supplies, such as face masks, gloves, face shields and safety glasses. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lifespan of the Cronoavirus can vary based don different surfaces and can last anywhere from 30 minutes to three days.
- Airborne: 30 minutes to 3 hours
- Cardboard: 24 hours
- Stainless Steel: 2 days
- Plastic: 3 days
Food processing and manufacturing facilities have proven to be a hot spot for COVID-19. As of May 5, over 7,500 workers in food processing plants alone have been confirmed sick with COVID-19, with at least 37 people dying. While some plants had previously temporarily closed in order to limit the spread of the virus, President Donald Trump has recently that food processing facilities remain open in order to ensure the adequate availability of food for the American people.
In order for manufacturing facilities and food processing plants to remain open, these facilities must take proper steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Intelligent Dispensing Solutions provides controlled dispensing solutions to ensure that employees are equipped with the proper PPE equipment to limit exposure risks to infectious diseases. Vend Safety is a contactless solution that allows employees to gain access to the tools and supplies they need in order to remain healthy and continue to perform their jobs.
As an employer, Vend Safety provides your employees with safe and controlled access to not only perform their jobs, but also to ensure that they are remaining safe while at work. With about 3% of total workers in meat processing facilities having been tested positive for COVID-19, keeping your employees safe is essential in order to continue to operate at full capacity.
With Vend Safety, you can control your inventory and give your employees access to supplies such as face masks, tools and gloves. These tools and supplies are essential for your employees to complete their jobs, but also to keep them safe. For example, N95 face masks are designed to block 95% of very small particles, such as those floating around in manufacturing facilities.
Vend Safety provides real-time data and reporting capability through its proprietary iQ Technology software. iQ Technology allows administrators to track who accessed what item(s), when they accessed the item(s) and the quantity of the item they accessed. This chain of custody is critical when identifying and mitigating risks in a crisis situation, as well as is useful on an inventory management basis during normal operating circumstances.
Determine how and when an employee accesses an item with Vend Safety. For example, in order for an employee to access a safety mask, they must first swipe their employee ID card. Then, their item will be dispensed to them and it will be detailed for you on a report from iQ Technology. Additionally, it can be set up in such a way that employees must enter a PIN number or even through biometrics. This set of safety precautions not only saves you money through controlled inventory management, but it also ensures that your employees are kept safe from COVID-19 within their workplace.
With iQ Technology, employers have the ability to control inventory, so employees are only taking what is absolutely necessary. This eliminates employees hoarding gloves or going through too many face masks in one day. It saves you money with inventory control.
If COVID-19 finds its way into your facility, you can prove that your employees were given easy access to PPE equipment, even if the employee claims that they did not. Plus, Vend Safety allows you to track where the inventory is going, so it can even be said whether or not the specific employee did gain access to supplies using Vend Safety.
COVID-19 continues to be a threat across the world and within many workplaces, including manufacturing facilities. Because of this, it is crucial that tools and supplies are being passed through as few people as possible. Utilizing a solution, such as Vend Safety, will protect essential employees and their families from COVID-19, as well as help you manage your inventory.
Keeping your employees and their families safe during this time should continue to be your number one priority, as they are your most critical asset. Vend Safety can help you come up with a plan to keep business operational by providing a solution that increases productivity, reduces the shrinkage of tools and supplies and keeps your employees safe and healthy.
For more information on Vend Safety and other dispensing equipment, contact 1-877-771-4446.
