A Bay of Plenty-based firm is welcoming other businesses to reach out for advice after implementing Rapid Antigen Testing within their company.

Rapid Antigen Testing, often abbreviated to RAT, has been adopted by global mānuka honey brand, Comvita since early January and now, with Omicron present in the community and New Zealand entering the red traffic light setting, they say refreshing safety protocols has been a boost for their workforce and business.

The Paengaroa-based company decided to introduce RAT after reviewing their 'already strong” protocols on Covid-19 safety in early January, says Comvita's head of safety and sustainability, Heather Johnston.

She says that the decision was made to introduce RAT as soon as businesses were first able to access them, after other alternatives, such as temperature checks, were considered.

'After speaking with the team we saw there was a real opportunity for us to trial out the Rapid Antigen Testing,” says Heather.

'You remember at Christmas, with Auckland coming out of the red setting, we knew there was going to be a potential risk for higher contamination with people connecting from being on holiday.

'We wanted to provide our teams the confidence that when they returned to their workplace it would be as safe a place to be as possible.”

After staff were initially tested upon their return from the Christmas break, the company now adopt a surveillance testing policy.

Comvita's head of safety and sustainability, Heather Johnston. Supplied photo.

That policy is activated by the risk in the community and Heather confirms that moving into the red setting results in an increase in frequency of testing.

Heather says the testing has provided confidence among the workforce and the community.

'It has given us a higher level of reassurance that we are doing as much as we can to look after our people and our community and whānau.”

As well as protecting staff and their family members, Heather says there are also bonuses from a business perspective.

'We can respond really quickly ahead of it, before somebody comes in and starts work, and therefore we can keep moving,” says Heather.

'All our businesses have been balancing safety and business. Early detection is great for us so we can be right ahead of it and respond quickly.

'Then the impact on our team and operations is as minimal as possible.”

This week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern outlined updates to the way RAT is used in work settings and an increase in orders of RAT kits over the next five weeks.

Whilst PCR testing remains the Government preference, utilising RAT as part of a test to return to work policy across the nation appears to be on its way.

Comvita want to share their experience with other businesses to prepare them for the next stage of dealing with Covid-19 in New Zealand workplaces.

'We are happy to share our story with any other businesses who are considering RAT testing,” says Heather.

'It does not need to be hard and complex. Keeping it simple is key. We are definitely here if any other businesses want to reach out and discuss what worked and what didn't.

'We are all learning but every little bit counts and makes us collectively a little bit stronger.”