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Overcoming Times of Crisis

Be Smart, Stay Safe

CREATECONSULT
Overcoming Times of Crisis

In times of crisis, it becomes clear just how stable the social and economic framework really is. A by-the-book approach is hardly applicable at this time, and the house of cards threatens to collapse. Right now, dynamic action, limitless creativity and maximum flexibility form the pillars that both strengthen and support companies.

In the media, buzzwords are everywhere: stock market crash, panic-buying, home office, hygiene regulations, short-time work, lockdown, emergency plan, quarantine and countless others. But what can we as a company do to ensure that neither our employees nor our customers are exposed to any danger? What can we as a company contribute to flattening the infection curve? What can we as a company do to counteract the impending recession?

We at kothes respond with the following keywords: calmness, attentiveness, preparedness.

Especially in times of crisis, it's important that we all keep a cool head, avoid panic and try to protect our "normal" everyday life a little. None of us knows what's still to come, but nevertheless we don't want to become discouraged. We want to prepare ourselves in the best possible way. And we'd like to help you a little bit, so that you too can protect yourself and your employees; customers, suppliers and families during the current crisis period, but also prepare for similar future situations.

For this purpose, we've prepared the draft structure of a Crisis Manual, which you're welcome to adapt individually to your situation and populate with your specific content:

1. Introduction

2. General Administrative Issues
 2.1 Update Contact Details of Employees
 2.2 Creating an Emergency Contact List
 2.3 Personnel Management
  2.3.1 Dealing with Continued Payment of Wages
  2.3.2 Dealing with Childcare
  2.3.3 Dealing with a Family Quarantine Case
  2.4 Instruction Plan for Hygiene Measures

3. Basic Hygiene Measures
 3.1 Personal Hygiene
  3.2.1 Correct Hand Washing
  3.2.2 Hygiene Etiquette
 3.2 Building Hygiene
  3.2.1 Measures in the Canteen
  3.2.2 Measures on Time-Recording Systems
  3.2.3 Measures for Highly-Frequented Corridors
  3.2.4 Measures in WCs
 3.3 Production Hygiene
  3.3.1 Measures in Machine Control
  3.3.2 Measures in the Production Plant
  3.3.3 Measures during Commissioning
  3.3.4 Measures during Repair and Maintenance
  3.3.5 Measures during Disassembly and Disposal
 3.4 Logistics Hygiene
  3.4.1 Measures in Material Procurement
  3.4.2 Measures in Shipping
  3.4.3 Measures in Delivery
 3.5 Reporting Infections and Further Procedure
  3.5.1 Reporting Infected Personnel
  3.5.2 Reporting Infected Customers
  3.5.3 Reporting Infected Suppliers
  3.5.4 Initiate and Implement Quarantine at the Company
  3.5.5 Initiate and Implement Disinfection of Premises

4. Risk Assessment
 4.1 Classification of Regular Meetings
 4.2 Classification of On-Site Research
 4.3 Classification of Sales Calls
 4.4 Classification of Travel to-and-from the Workplace and Dates
 4.5 Classification of the Risk of Infection in the Workplace, at the Customer and at the Supplier

5. Risk Minimisation Measures
 5.1 Dealing with Meetings
 5.2 Dealing with On-Site Research
 5.3 Dealing with Sales Calls
 5.4 Dealing with Travel to-and-from the Workplace and Meetings
 5.5 Dealing with the Risk of Infection in the Workplace, at the Customer and at the Supplier
 5.6 Working from a Home Office

Annex

a) Cleaning and Disinfection Plan

b) Information Sheet for Instructions and Training

c) Risk Assessment Template

d) Template for Recording Time Management for Disinfection

    i) Assembly Points in the Building

    ii) Machinery

    iii) Material

    iv) Overview of Communicable Diseases and Pathogens

Each company is set up individually and affected individually by this situation. However, what's currently omnipresent and affects everyone is the appropriate way of dealing with each other and an appropriate behavioural etiquette. We'd be happy to provide you with a text-free manual on the subject of "Hygiene Life Cycle", which you can download, print out, and attach and display at assembly points within your company (refer to the pdf file, available for free download, at the end of this article).

With this in mind: keep calm, stay attentive and prepare with us. We can only overcome this crisis if we all work together carefully. Stay healthy!

If you have any questions about current or future projects, planned delivery times or other topics of interest, don't hesitate to contact us.

Kristin Eckard
Author:
Blog post Kristin Eckard