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INNOVATION 8 www.thefis.org INNOVATION IN THE We highlight some of the products and services coming to light as a response toCovid-19 shielding. The Halo Shield The Halo Shield Face Visor was created by Tony Baccarini at the start of the Covid-19 outbreak to help keep workers on site, while offering greater protection than some of the other PPE available at that time. Now he’s looking to get Government backing for its distribution throughout the sector. The visor is made from TPU material that is flexible and offers microbial resistance advantages, a high resistance to tearing, good resistance to abrasion and anti-fogging attributes. Unlike most rigid visors, the Covid-19 virus cannot live on the surface of the Halo Shield, which can be washed and reused time and time again. Tony’s company was carrying out off-site pre- fabrication work for Mace when the Covid-19 virus first became of national concern and the main contractor ran into difficulties keeping fit- out workers on site. Tony, who describes himself as “more of a creator than a businessman” looked at how to create a PPE solution that would protect those in the construction sector more than existing disposable solutions, that were less cost- effective. He came up with the first prototype for the Halo Shield i n early March. The visor is coupled with a snood that pulls up, and can be attached to hard helmets or baseball caps, making it suitable for health sector and education sector use, as well as construction. Having originally considered a rigid visor, which could be attached to baseball caps, he soon rejected this idea and instead looked at what existing materials were on the market that offered better virus resistance and more wearer flexibility. Having come across “a raincap-like” product, he saw the chance to adapt this into a more effective safeguarding product, ostensibly for the construction sector but also for other industries, and trialled it with existing clients, including a demolition firm. “I found there was a bit of movement so I incorporated suction and Velcro adjustments and it worked perfectly,” said Tony. “The latest version includes a hook underneath and a toggle at the back so you can pull it into a secure position. It won’t move once you’ve tightened it,” he said. The Halo Shield is not restrictive to work in so can be worn throughout the day, he said. Tony has written to Saffron Walden Tory MP Kemi Badenoch to suggest that the Government now considers supplying those in the construction sector with the visors and shouldering some of the cost. Tony says he’s been appalled by some of the fees charged for PPE handed out to those working on the Nightingales, and says he is not concerned with profiting from the venture. For him, it’s more about providing protection and enabling people to get back on site safely. The MP has forwarded the suggestion to the Construction Minister and it is under review. “The Government could help our industry massively by handing these out in liaison with industry councils and membership organisations like FIS,” he said. “It means, potentially, you could get more people back on site quickly. For example, Mace has to get 50,000 workers back by October.” www.haloshield.co.uk Window film supplier produces PPE for care sector Supplier of protective glass windowfilms, Protective Film Solutions, has donatedmore than 5,500pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals, care homes and other medical facilities across the country, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Innormal times, thecompany distributesprotectiveglassfilms for officespaces and retailers, as well as anti-fogfilmfor freezers. At thestart of lockdown, Protective FilmSolutions converted its manufacturing facility, andhas beenproducinganddistributing vital protectivevisors for key workers freeof chargesince. Recipients of the visors include the coronavirus wards of Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn, as well as Heydeys Care and Support (Cumbria), 360HC Home Care (Wakefield) and Benllech Dental Surgery (Anglesey). The films usually used for protecting freezers and windows have been repurposed to create face shields which cover the eyes, nose and mouth. The visors have a sturdy plastic headband to keep the visor in place, and an elasticated back to ensure a tight fight. Fabric masks can then be worn underneath. www.protectivefilmsolutions.com