Birmingham Airport in the UK has introduced a free of charge rapid testing service for all its on-site employees to support the national drive to identify any positive cases of the virus in the workplace. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to protect both customers and staff from COVID-19 and compliments the airport’s onsite passenger testing service, delivered by ExpressTest – a paid for service for those needing to prove a negative PCR or antigen COVID test and relevant ‘fit to fly’ certification.
Solihull Council has been enlisted to train airport personnel to set up and carry out quality assured testing. The airport has created a booking platform and dedicated testing centres for staff to carry out regular testing whilst working on site.
“Birmingham Airport is crucial to the region’s air transport needs, and as we prepare to restart the operation, testing will play an incredibly important role in our collective recovery,” said Al Titterington, the Airport’s Terminal Operations Director.
The aim of the lateral flow testing service is to detect workers that may be carrying the virus but who are asymptomatic. Results are sent directly tot he employee from the NHS Test and Trace service within 30 minutes of taking the test.
“By offering lateral flow tests to all who work at the airport, we can increase the chances of finding asymptomatic cases to protect our passengers, employees and partners and create the right conditions and reassurance to serve customers once restrictions are eased,” added Titterington.
With the airport preparing to welcome back employees and passengers once it is safe to gradually ease travel restrictions, significant changes to its infrastructure have already been made to create a COVID-secure environment, in line with Government guidance. This includes the provision of hand sanitiser units throughout the site, perspex screens at customer touchpoints, social distancing markers and signage and an enhanced cleaning regime, using safe, anti-viral, mist treatment. It is also mandatory to wear a face covering in airport buildings and buses.
“It’s great to see workplace testing being rolled out by the airport,” said Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council. “The airport is a key economic asset within Solihull and so it is important to support this as national restrictions begin to ease… As we start carefully on the road to reopening, it’s important that businesses and workplaces encourage testing for their employees to identify positive cases quickly.”
