Repco supports ‘the contactless workshop’

David Storey of Auto Super Shoppe Albany in Auckland says that it’s been a challenging five weeks. “But my team and I are now well rested and we have had time to put together a winning strategy, which will hopefully make this another profitable year,” David said. “We are all excited about the opportunities in front of us, the key will be that we all get back to business safely and carefully.”

Seeing the need of businesses like these, Repco is getting in behind businesses that want to support motorists as more vehicles return to our roads.

Repco has come up with a package of products that gives workshops the tools they need to ramp up protection against the spread of any viruses while getting back to business.

The company has taken out ads setting out the advice for a ‘contactless workshop’ and listing products that will help them operate in that kind of environment.

General manager Louise Sixton says Repco decided it might be useful to include advice scanned and collated from global sources for workshops wanting to trade with higher levels of physical separation, as part of its contactlessworkshop package.

“We want to help the motor industry be prepared as people get back into their cars. And this approach gives workshops a checklist that will enable them to set up a higher level of protection quickly,” she says.

Repco’s ad sets out the advice from a number of industry sources in the three main phases in which staff come into contact with each other, with customers, and their vehicles.

The first suggestion is that on arrival, customers should immediately see clear signage showing the workshop is addressing social distancing. It could ask people to wait in their cars. Staff might wear gloves when handling forms that customers will fill in. Workshops could also consider offering a pickup and drop-off service to minimize the number of people coming into the workshop area. Products for use in this phase include Repco Waterless Hand Cleaner and Simple Green Antibacterial Cleaner.

In the workshop or when picking up a car, the ad suggests the main contact points — handles, switches, levers, handbrake, mirror, and of course, keys — be cleaned before and after staff work on the vehicle. Other tips include using disposable seat covers and offering air-con cleaning and a hygiene valet at an additional cost. In the workshop, clean common areas regularly and keep 1m between staff. Check battery health, as lack of use may find some batteries out. Suitable products include disposable TGC nitrile gloves, disposable seat covers, Lubegard Kool-It Evaporator & Heater Foam Cleaner and Redarc’s SBC battery chargers.

In a Level 3 work environment, social distancing can be maintained by assigning work areas, and if drop-off is not chosen, marking a line in front of the counter, maintaining 2m distance, avoiding all cash payments, regular cleaning of counters and equipment, and having the car running outside for customer collection will all make a big difference. Putting a focus on having the car looking and smelling clean at pick-up is likely to win points and, of course, the best protection for everyone is frequent hand-washing!

For more information, contact your local Repco branch.