4 minute read
Zimmer Biomet
An initiative to help children return to school safely involved practical advice and safety resources for principals, and child-friendly signage
leading medical devices
Amanufacturer, with stateof-the-art manufacturing facilities in Shannon and Oranmore, Galway, Zimmer Biomet’s motto is ‘Made as if Intended for my Family.’ This ethos fi ltered through when the impact of COVID-19 began to be felt and the company wanted to create a positive impact in the community in which they operate. The resulting initiative, named ‘Hop on Board’, involved not just the Zimmer Biomet employees, but also included a signifi cant input from one of the team’s children. The broader impact of it was to protect the health and safety of all their children and families, and those of the wider community, as schools prepared to welcome children back on the premises safely after lockdown closures.
General Manager Claude Costelloe states, “We had three priorities as a business: the fi rst one was to ensure our team members and their families were kept safe;our second priority was to ensure that we protect the livelihoods of all our team members; and our third priority was to ensure that we did something for the community.” BEST PRACTICES The ‘Hop on Board’ project helped schools to replicate the rigorous standards of hygiene and safety that are so crucial a part of day-today operations in a medical devices manufacturing facility, but translated the communication and implementation of it into a child-friendly manner.
As part of the Mid-West Lean Network, Zimmer Biomet is a leading proponent of Continuous Improvement in the region. “During the COVID-19 pandemic there were no opportunities to host or attend industry knowledge sharing events,” Costelloe recalls. “We decided to share pandemic best practices with local schools. This was the fi rst time we looked to share our knowledge outside of industry and instead looked to liaise with the Public Sector.”
The genesis of the idea was to share with local schools the best practices already put in place in the factory, to support its workers stay safe in the workplace, assisting the schools to prepare to receive students back on the premises.
SITE VISIT In July 2020, Zimmer Biomet hosted an information and discussion event for principals, featuring practical advice and safety resources, aligned and compliant with the Irish Government’s COVID-19 guidelines. To prepare for the event, the company’s CSR committee
ZIMMER BIOMET
liaised with schools in the region and schools participating in Junior Achievers Programme.
In total, 12 school principals attended an overview slide presentation, delivered by staff , before touring the company’s Shannon manufacturing plant to see the preventative measures in place. They were then briefed as to how these measures might be adapted and implemented within the school environment and provided with a Back to School COVID-19 Safety Pack containing hand sanitiser and signage.
To give one example of the feedback received, after attending the site visit, Patrice Hayes, Principal, St. Aidan’s N.S., Shannon said, “This session has helped paint the picture, provide reassurance and importantly instil a strong, positive sense of ‘can do.’ With the proper equipment, policies, signage, clear communication, coupled with the support of our teachers, parents and the local community, we are confi dent that we can and will be welcoming all of our 260 pupils back on the 31st August.”
EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION During conversations with the principals who visited the site it became apparent that not all schools had the necessary support to install the signage, dispensers and complete the visual management required. An opportunity arose to help, and Zimmer Biomet team members volunteered time and expertise to help install COVID-19 Safety Packs at local schools, including those attended by Zimmer Biomet team members’ children. The biggest employee participation in the event was visiting the individual schools and helping with the logistics; in some cases team members returned to their alma maters.
“We looked at supplying schools with Government signage but the illustrations were not child-friendly,” says Costelloe. “The daughter of a Zimmer Biomet team member, Sadhbh O’Donovan designed the signage, a hopscotch illustration with the logo and phrase ‘Hop on Board’. Sadhbh’ s signage is now displayed in playgrounds, halls and classrooms throughout the region.” The simple instructions, with Irish translations, and child-friendly illustrations create a welcoming and easy-to-understand guide for the children entering schools.
The initiative was highlighted in a segment on the RTE Six One News, which led to a huge amount of interest nationwide, and schools the length and breadth of the country, from Mayo to Waterford, got in touch to signal their interest in participating.
After receiving abundant positive feedback from schools in the locality about the initiative, it prompted the extension of the programme beyond the fi rst tranche of 12 schools. In total Zimmer Biomet was able to support the re-opening of 28 schools in the region and over 40 primary schools nationally, as well as the Children’s Ark School (based in University Hospital Limerick, it caters for the educational needs of children during their hospital stay).
