College manufactured safety visors helping keep communities protected

Safety visors manufactured by Fife College have been playing a supporting role in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus.

Face shields and clips, created using state-of-the-art 3D printers in modified engineering labs, have been distributed to hundreds of front-line clinical and care staff in hospitals, health centres and care homes across the region and further afield.

NHS, Fife Council and Forth View Practice in Bo’ness have all taken delivery of the equipment which was produced by a small team comprising of an engineering lecturer and engineering technician at the College’s Glenrothes Campus.

Work is also underway to produce a batch for support and core staff of Link Living, a social care organisation and registered charity working throughout Fife to provide support to vulnerable people.

Perth Royal Infirmary were one of a number of NHS sites to receive the visors. Helen Addley, Senior Charge Nurse in Ward 6 at the Infirmary, said: “Huge thank you to those who made the visors which were given into the ward areas.

“They are of excellent quality and all staff members on the ward who have used them have all commented on how good they were – so thank you again. We are so fortunate to have so many different people contributing to help during these awful uncertain times.”

Another organisation to benefit from the visors were St. Clair Veterinary Group in Kirkcaldy.

Sylvia Robertson, Practice Manager at St. Clair Veterinary Group in Kirkcaldy, said: “It has been a massive help to the surgery receiving the face shields and greatly appreciated by all the staff. The quality of the face shields is excellent – a huge thank you to everyone involved for helping us stay safe.”

The production of the visors follows the College’s donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to local healthcare providers.

Hundreds of PPE items were gathered up from across the College’s campuses including face masks, gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser. The much-needed items were then delivered to NHS Fife and Fife Council.

Nicky Inglis, Faculty Director for Engineering, Science, Technology and Built Environment at Fife College, said: “It’s great to hear our visors are helping out in the continued fight against coronavirus in our local communities and further afield.

“We are proud to play a small part in supporting our valuable front-line health and social care workers as they continue their brave work to keep us all safe and protect the most vulnerable. Their amazing efforts our hugely appreciated by all of us at the College.”