Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Update: May 2022

As we progress through ‘living with COVID’ and we approach the spring/summer months, the company is now reducing its COVID protocols for the time being.

Site – The use of masks and hand sanitiser, whilst still being recommended, will become optional with immediate effect. If a customer’s site requires the use of any PPE, such as masks, this must be adhered to. If working within close contact with another person, masks must be worn.

Office – The use of masks and hand sanitiser, whilst still being recommended, will become optional with immediate effect. If working on the same PC – for example training – masks must be worn. Windows should still be open for ventilation.

Public Transport – Whilst we are aware public transport must be used on occasions, the company policy remains to avoid this where possible. If public transport is to be used, a member of management must be informed (for clearance) and a PP2 mask must be worn whilst on public transport.

Whilst we have relaxed these protocols, we are keeping a close eye on infection rates. As we approach the winter months, or if there are further variants that emerge, we may need to bring further health and safety protocols back into place.

Update: July 2021

As directed by the PM Boris Johnson on Monday the 5th July (effective Monday the 19th July), the remaining controls in place to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 will be relaxed.

Mindful that we have a duty of care to our staff we will be taking a more measured approach to the relaxation of the controls developed during the pandemic.

In line with the guidance, we will be making some changes to our office based staffing arrangements. Those who wish to continue their homeworking arrangements will be supported in doing so (until infection rates are minimal), however we will encourage staff to attend the office at least once or twice a week.

All staff will be encouraged to continue the use of face masks on public transport and within smaller enclosed locations; these recommendations will be mandatory whilst staff are carrying out their duties for work.

Update: January 2021

In compliance with the movement from T4 to T5 (lockdown) as directed by the PM Boris Johnson on Monday the 4th January (effective early Wednesday 6th January), we are following the guidance provided (National lockdown: Stay at Home - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) which confirms that we are allowed to continue operating and will therefore be providing a full, normal service, as our customers have become accustomed to in these abnormal times.

In line with the guidance, we have made changes to our office based staffing by further reducing the numbers of those who will work in our offices. All homeworking staff are able to provide a full range of services remotely including using their desk phones. Customers should not notice any difference. Field staff are experienced in working under these restrictions and they continue to operate under keyworker status providing an essential service.

Update: November 2020

On Saturday the 31st October PM Boris Johnson announced a one month lockdown (New National Restrictions from 5 November) starting Thursday the 5th November until the 2nd of December. The government issued guidance specific to businesses and it would appear that the core activities of our business are deemed an essential service (for instance people who work in critical national infrastructure, construction or manufacturing). We further have confirmation from some of our public sector customers that those involved with the delivery of specific works services are Key Workers and will continue to operate in the lockdown month. Our office based support staff operate from facilities that are Covid-secure. Those who are able to work from home will continue to do so. We aim to remain fully operational during this new control period. Our staff are experienced in operating in these controlled environments and we believe our controls and processes are robust enough to protect them during these times.

As recommended, we publish our internal Risk Assessment (RA062) latest revision V1.6.

Update: August 2020

Three months have elapsed since the Government encouraged a return to new normal working environments. We are pleased to announce that we are operating normally, although the way in which we do this has changed significantly.

Our office facilities are Covid-secure and staffed at less than 50% occupancy. Those who were able to work from home have continued to do so and those who were shielding have been redeployed in home working roles.

We would like to thank our customers for their support during the worst of the pandemic and our staff who have carried out their duties as key workers, in a safe and diligent manner.

We are mindful that this virus infection event is not over but we are confident that we can continue to provide a robust service to our customers and keep our staff safe.

Update: Monday the 11th May 2020

Subsequent to PM Boris Johnson's address on Sunday the 10th May and the Government's guidance paper published on the 11 May, Impulse Engineering Limited will take the following steps in consultation with our staff and customers, placing their welfare and safety together with anybody who could be affected by what we do in the highest of our priorities.

As of Tuesday the 12 May 2020, we will make arrangements to increase our staffing level within our office subject to the recommended safety distancing and other safety measures.
Maintain home working where appropriate and possible
Continue to travel alone in vehicles and only use public transport as a last resort
Call back selected staff from furlough to meet the increasing demands of our customer base as they increase in line with a resumption of business.
Publish our internal (RA062) Risk Assessment (latest revision V1.3) as recommended
Focus ToolBox talks on giving additional advice and information on company PPE requirements
Ensure more than sufficient PPE is available to staff in order to comply with RAMS (risk assessments and method statements)
Produce additional specific method statements to support identified work activities
Engage with customers to understand and comply with their specific requirements

Update: Friday the 24th April 2020

Following the latest instructions from HMG, Impulse Engineering Limited has taken the following steps in consultation with our staff and with their best interests, safety and welfare being placed first.

As of 24th April 2020, we have advised our key workers of their right to obtain a COVID-19 test if they are showing signs and/or symptoms of the virus and the company will assist in arranging this test if required.
Our staff are working on updated risk assessments and methods of working to ensure social distancing is in place and procedures to reduce the risk as far as practicable of contracting the virus, whilst continuing to provide crucial support to our customers life safety systems.
All non-essential staff have been requested to work from home where possible. Some support staff who are eligible for the Staff Retention Scheme have be furloughed.
We have limited members of staff in the office to respond to and continue to arrange planned & reactive calls made to us. Please be patient if you call us and preferably leave this method for responses of an urgent nature.
We will retain one senior member of staff in the office to oversee the operation and provide direction & escalation where appropriate.
Please continue (by email) to contact your normal point of assistance for ongoing project updates (you will be notified by email "out of office" if that person is unavailable and directed to someone who will assist. Alternatively contact mail@impulse-eng.com.
Our dedicated field staff will continue to be available to respond to reactive calls and continue planned works to life safety and critical asset protection systems & equipment where safe & appropriate.
We have accounts staff supporting the business, however it may be that some responses will be slightly delayed as the department is not manned every day.

The directors are of the opinion that the company qualifies to continue operations and that our staff qualify as key workers (as defined in the DfE definition and letters of appointment we have received from our clients as direct and tier one suppliers).

Update: Monday the 23rd March 2020

All non-essential staff have been requested to work from home where possible or may be eligible for the Staff Retention Scheme and will be furloughed.
We will retain one member of staff in the office to respond to and continue to arrange planned & reactive calls made to us. Please be patient if you call us and preferably leave this method for responses of an urgent nature.
We will retain one senior member of staff in the office to oversee the operation and provide direction & escalation where appropriate.
Please continue (by email) to contact your normal point of assistance for ongoing project updates (you will be notified by email "out of office" if that person is unavailable and directed to someone who will assist. Alternatively contact mail@impulse-eng.com.
A reduced number of field staff will continue to be available to respond to reactive calls and continue planned works to life safety and critical asset protection systems & equipment where safe & appropriate.
It is clear that our accounts staff who would not normally work remotely will assume this role but it is inevitable that some responses will be delayed whilst these new procedures settle in and maybe delivered by fewer staff.

The directors are of the opinion that the company qualifies to continue operation and that some of our staff qualify as key workers (as defined in the DfE definition). We believe that this definition will become clear as time moves on and will we update our position accordingly.

Update: Tuesday the 17th March 2020

Impulse Engineering Limited has taken steps to reduce the risk of various levels of exposure to the coronavirus, not only to keep our staff safe, but also to ensure business continuity.

The directors are committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to ensure our continued operation through these unprecedented times. At this time (17 March) we are 100% operational and believe that we have the controls, resources and staff commitment to remain operational at a sufficient level to support our customers life safety, personal & critical asset protection systems. We have already seen a reduction in our overseas projects & travel, we foresee a reduction in construction and some project works due to customer or government restrictions. This will free staff to assist in planned and reactive works as its highly likely that some of our staff will contract the virus.

Current mandated precautions based upon available information and a risk assessed approach : -

This may change as the advice and severity develops

Hand sanitiser use on all entry points to our building has become mandatory. Notices are in place to remind all staff
Reminders and encouragement to all staff on hand washing (and doing it thoroughly)
No visitors, unless of a business critical nature will be accepted into our facilities
All meetings (wherever possible) will be kept to a minimum or completed via voice / video conference call
Site visits / surveys (for supervisory staff) will be kept to a minimum and risk assessed for COVID-19
Our external cleaning company has been asked to suspend cleaning at this time; moving to unoccupied times with enhanced methods
Twice daily sanitisation of shared hard surfaces, desks, telephones and IT equipment is being undertaken by our own staffGoods In/Out: Stores staff signing for delivered equipment are required to wear gloves. These gloves will be immediately disposed of once used
All deliveries, including post will be directed to one entrance
Half of our office based staff have been re-allocated to home working using our existing remote VPN & collaborative applications
Essential & service desk staff have been re-allocated desks to ensure 2metres separation
Engineer / field staff access to our offices is booked in advance
No two engineers will be admitted into the building at one time unless already working together
Apprentices have been allocated to an engineer to limit exposure both for the apprentice and engineers they are working with
Engineers working together on site will be restricted to limit exposure
Engineers have been issued with barrier gloves & hand sanitiser as part of their PPE
The use of public transport is being restricted and emphasis on use at non-rush hour times.
The use of taxis & company vehicles in London is being encouraged
Our engineers are being deployed using a time shifted approach to reduce contact with others
We are risk assessing deployment of our engineers and restricting or avoiding works in public areas; moving these to quiet times if required

We are closely monitoring advice from:

UK Government
Public Health England
The WHO (World Health Organisation)
The FCO (Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Drum Cussac
Media outlets

We will update these precautions based on new information.

At present we do not foresee any change to the services we are providing and will advise if this changes; priority will always been given to contract, urgent /critical reactive requests on life safety systems followed by systems that protect the security of people and assets.