Staffordshire businesses encouraged to take advantage of the free CO2 Monitor Loan Scheme

Oscar Young, Assistant Manager, D&C Mobile Welding Engineers Ltd

A Staffordshire business who has benefitted from borrowing a carbon dioxide monitor to improve ventilation within their workplace, is urging others to take advantage of the free scheme.

D&C Mobile Welding Engineers Ltd borrowed a carbon dioxide (CO₂) monitor for two weeks, as part of the Staffordshire County Council initiative.

D&C are a leading company in the manufacture of batching plants - a large concrete mixing machine, and have made machines for the Hinkley Point C Nuclear Plant and HS2.

The free scheme offers businesses the opportunity to assess the air quality in their workplaces to identify areas that may need action, with the aim of improving ventilation and air flow.

Oscar Young, Assistant Manager, highlighted the reassurance it has given to their employees and the need to keep levels low:

“The monitor was simple to use and helped us identify which rooms had high CO₂ levels. From this, we put measures in place, such as opening windows at the start of the day, that have now become a part of our staff’s normal routine.

We use the HSE guidance, in the prevention of the spread of Covid. The monitoring was important to us in order to keep the CO₂ levels low, We want to keep our staff and their families safe from Covid or flu symptoms, because this could have a major effect on our business.

Our staff have felt safer since using the monitors, knowing there is less risk of catching Covid or flu.”

Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Integrated Care, Paul Northcott, said:

“Monitoring air quality is especially important during the colder months, when respiratory infections spread more easily. The portable monitors offer an easy and convenient solution for businesses to help make sure they have the right measures in place to minimise potential disruption to work.

Ventilation is important in how we manage viruses like Covid and flu, and I would encourage businesses to take advantage of this free scheme to help keep their workplaces safe.”

Any business borrowing a CO₂ monitor from the County Council will not need to hand over any data they have collected from testing, and can follow HSE guidance if further guidance is required.