With much of the population stranded at home, crucial industries such as manufacturing and engineering kept going.
There are very few industries that have not been profoundly affected by COVID-19. The need to socially distance and remain at home to slow the spread has meant many ‘non-vital sectors’ have had to shut down entirely or work remotely where possible.
However, even though many workers have been stranded at home, there are some crucial industries that have continued operating throughout the pandemic due to demand, with some even thriving amid the new challenges.
Despite the pandemic, the demand for crucial services such as manufacturing, engineering, and food processing has not subsided, and in some cases has even skyrocketed.
Increased demand
Notably, manufacturing for sectors such as fashion, home and garden, and gifts saw an uptick, with people stranded at home buying products online to keep themselves occupied, or properly outfitted for important Zoom calls.
Food manufacturing also saw a serious shift, but not necessarily a negative one. Though production of out-of-home consumption products for restaurants fell, production of food products for in-home consumption saw noticeable growth.
Earlier on in the pandemic, some manufacturers producing non-essential items were able to pivot to producing vital pandemic supplies such as masks, hand sanitiser, ventilators and more.
Many breweries and distilleries across the UK, impacted by the temporary closure of restaurants and pubs, were able to utilise their existing infrastructure to produce hand sanitiser, including independent brewery BrewDog.
Several UK manufacturers quickly retooled their production facilities and set to work assisting with the production of ventilators for COVID patients.
For some in the engineering sector, the initial drop in value of output was severe. The capital goods sector, for example, saw a drop of 42% in the initial lockdown, as did the construction sector. However, as restrictions eased, with certain projects allowed to go ahead even during the following lockdown; output has returned to near-normal levels for many areas. Output in new infrastructure projects in November 2020 was in fact 11% higher than the previous year.
As demand for these industries continued or even spiked during the pandemic, those who had been furloughed during the initial lockdown were called back to work.
Workers in sectors such as engineering and manufacturing were far more likely to be furloughed during the first lockdown, with 47% of construction workers and 29% of manufacturing workers on furlough during April 2020. However, as restrictions on these vital industries were lifted, this number quickly plummeted, falling to just 5% for both in September, with many quickly getting back to work.
For some in the engineering sector, the initial drop in value of output was severe. The capital goods sector, for example, saw a drop of 42% in the initial lockdown, as did the construction sector. However, as restrictions eased, with certain projects allowed to go ahead even during the following lockdown, output has returned to near-normal levels for many areas. Output in new infrastructure projects in November 2020 was in fact 11% higher than the previous year.
As demand for these industries continued or even spiked during the pandemic, those who had been furloughed during the initial lockdown were called back to work.
Workers in sectors such as engineering and manufacturing were far more likely to be furloughed during the first lockdown, with 47% of construction workers and 29% of manufacturing workers on furlough during April 2020. However, as restrictions on these vital industries were lifted, this number quickly plummeted, falling to just 5% for both in September, with many quickly getting back to work.
Staying safe
It remains to be seen what impact restrictions will have on injury and fatality at work statistics. Engineering and manufacturing in particular have long been a leading cause of deaths at work due to their inherently risky nature.
Although fewer workers are currently at work, a laser focus on meeting COVID-19 guidelines could potentially lead to a lack of attention to existing risk management measures.
It’s more important than ever that employers and those with a health and safety responsibility ensure workers have all the relevant training, equipment, and systems to do their job safely: whatever their industry.
The right access equipment
At Planet Platforms, we have decades of experience in designing and supplying bespoke, effective access platforms for a range of sectors, including manufacturing, engineering, and production. Our systems are designed to make it safe for workers to access everything from conveyor belts to vehicles, distilleries, and more.
We are more than able to take on unique, specific projects to provide both you and your employees with a sense of confidence in their safety. With no ‘one size fits all’ approach available for these industries, we work closely with our clients to design bespoke systems to do the job right.
All our lightweight, durable and fully approved systems are produced entirely in the UK, ensuring an uninterrupted and efficient design and production process.
By ensuring you have the correct access equipment in place, you can be sure your facility is equipped to tackle any task, with minimal reduction in output, even during these difficult times.
To discuss your access needs with us, or for more information, call us on 0800 0854 161, or complete our online contact form.
