Lifestyle SuperSpar’s shift system allows the store to remain open despite positive Covid-19 test

A split-shift system implemented by Lifestyle SuperSpar is said to have earned it’s worth after preventing the possible infection of numerous employees at the store.

Owing to the system allowing for three separate shifts, assigned shift groups do not come into contact with each other.

Worst-case-scenarios faced by many businesses could see them close their doors if an employee becomes infected with coronavirus however, this was recently avoided owing.

On April 28, a supplier employee had finished his shift at the store and later discovered that he had earlier come into contact with an infected person.

According to Lifestyle SuperSpar, the employee was on April 29 got tested and committed himself to self-isolation – the employee has since April 28 not returned to work.

Test results revealed that he had contracted the virus and management were alerted of this on May 2.

“We have very strict protocols in place at Lifestyle SuperSpar,” said store manager, Brad Buchanan.

“None of the staff within each of the three shifts come into contact with each other in any way. The supplier merchandisers were also allocated to the split shifts, in this way ensuring that each team is truly a separate unit. We even go so far as to ensure that we use separate service providers to transport staff on different shifts.”

Multiserve, a sanitisation company,  performed another deep clean of the store on May 2.

“All equipment, machinery, floors and displays receive a rapid fog application to ensure complete coverage. All chemicals are 100 percent food-safe and SABS certified,” said Buchanan.

According to Buchanan, the whole of Shift B have gone for testing and will follow the stipulated course of action of the Health Department.

“Shift A have opened the store today (Sunday) with none of the members of this team having been in contact with anyone in Shift B since April 20,” he said.

“Once test results for Shift B are received, health protocol will be followed and no impacted employees will return to work until they are permitted to do so as per the Health Department and National Institute for Communicable Diseases.”

Store management will now split the remaining day shift further in the coming days, a possibility being to supplement the staff complement with staff members from the TOPS store in Lifestyle Centre, which has been closed since the beginning of lockdown.

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