Nirovision survey reveals pessimism on chances of a fast rebound
The Australian warehousing and logistics sector are the least optimistic sector when it comes to returning to a pre-Covid level of normality with 20 per cent believing it will take two years or more, according to a new survey released today by Nirovision.
The Covid-19 and the Australian Industrial Workplace survey conducted late this year shows 42 per cent or almost half of respondents hope for a return in one to two years, and 31 per cent between 6 months and a year.
Almost all (92 per cent) of sector respondents have Covid-19 response plans, but little more than a third of them (35 per cent) conduct regular temperature measurements of employees as part of that plan – 67 per cent of those who measure temperatures only check these once a day, mainly through a thermal gun (89 per cent).
The survey finds that a Covid-19 outbreak would have either a significant or very significant impact on the operations of 81 per cent of businesses.
The provision of hand sanitiser/wipes (69 per cent), social distancing in the workplace (58 per cent) and logging of visitors (58 per cent) are the most implemented procedures to combat a potential Covid-19 outbreak amongst those surveyed.
“While warehouses and logistics companies expect the longest delay to a return to normal operations, the mining, construction, and medical services sectors expect to return to a ‘new normal’ fastest,” according to Nirovision.
“This directly correlates to their investment level in technology to protect against Covid-19, with medical services the largest investor followed by mining, construction, and manufacturing.”
Read about the NHVR safety survey findings, here
Nearly two-thirds of respondents (65 per cent) indicated their workplaces have invested in technology to assist against the pandemic, with temperature screening technologies (53 per cent), facial recognition temperature screening technology (47 per cent) the most common technologies followed by remote working/distance learning (24 per cent), robot/drone deliveries (24 per cent), and access control technology (24 per cent).
Sixty-five per cent of companies indicated that their workplace would be very likely to invest in facial recognition temperature screening technology specifically to help prevent potential Covid-19 outbreaks.
“While businesses have been exploring advanced automated technology to increase access control, security and safety of staff and assets, the Covid-19 pandemic escalated this investment as indeed it escalated other forms of digital transformation,” Nirovision CEO Jimmy Lee says.
“While the immediate impact of Covid is lessening, industrial businesses are keen to continue to protect their operations as they do not have the option of remote working.
“It’s essential that we keep Australia open for business not just through this pandemic but against second waves and other potential dangers.”
Nirovision states that the Covid-19 and the Australian Industrial Workplace study was commissioned by itself and independently facilitated by Taverner Research.
The study is based on responses from 201 Australian essential workplaces and was fielded between September 25-October 8.
Sectors included manufacturing, supermarkets, construction, hospitals, warehouse & logistics facilities, food distribution, aged care, food premises, venues, and mining companies.
Nirovision is an Australian workplace health and safety solution provider.