While the COVID-19 pandemic is raging in our communities, Lebeau Vitres d’autos, an industry leader in windshield repair and replacement as well as camera recalibration, is pleased to announce the launch of its new vehicle disinfection service, which is now offered with all windshield replacement and repair and recalibration.

Developed and implemented to respond to the realities of the pandemic, this service is part of a rigorous health action plan implemented in service centres.

“The extraordinary context we are currently living in has pushed us to go beyond the call of duty in order to protect our employees and customers. Designated as priority services, Lebeau Vitres d’autos service centres have taken full measure of their responsibility by multiplying preventive health measures before, during and after each of their interventions. I am very proud of our teams who have done a phenomenal job of maintaining our services and raising our standards with agility and caring,” said Sylvie Leduc, Vice-President, Brand Management and Customer Promise, Belron Canada, parent company of Lebeau Vitres d’autos.

A new disinfection service

Carried out in a systematic and standardized manner by all Lebeau Vitres d’autos technicians, the brand new vehicle disinfection service is part of the unique quality and safety philosophy that characterizes Belron’s windshield repair, replacement and recalibration services: “The Belron Way of Fitting”.

The service includes a disinfection cycle before the technician’s intervention, and another once the work is completed to remove 99.9% of contaminants that may have become embedded in the main contact surfaces.

A total of 30 contact points on the vehicle are carefully treated, 10 on the outside (handles, side windows, rear trunk button, etc.) and 20 on the inside (steering wheel, dashboard controls, seat belts, glove compartment, etc.).

As a responsible company operating in such a critical period for our society, this new disinfection service allows us to reiterate our commitment to making our service centres a safer environment for both our employees and our customers.

— Sylvie Leduc, VP Brand Management and Customer Promise, Belron Canada

The disinfectant products used for this service are completely safe for the health of the technicians and the customers, and do not represent any danger to the materials of the vehicle.

Rigorous protection principles in service centres

Always with the aim of protecting employees and customers, the customer path has been carefully studied and work guides have been created for service centre employees, whether they are customer service agents or technicians.

Five main principles have been implemented to guide service centre activities while ensuring a safe work environment for all.

• Principle 1 – Validation of employee health status: At the beginning of each shift, employees are evaluated to ensure that they do not show any symptoms of VIDOC-19. Enhanced hygiene measures have also been adopted, including systematic hand washing several times a day.
• Principle 2 – Limit Employee Interaction: Travel between service centres is minimized, with an emphasis on telephone conversations.
• Principle 3 – Maintain a two-metre distance: Every effort is made to maintain a two-arm or two-metre distance between clients and/or colleagues. Meal times and delivery processes have also been reviewed to optimize distance. Stickers have been placed on the floors to indicate the acceptable distance in line.
• Principle 4 – Limit tool sharing, clean equipment and optimize personal protection: Gloves are required at all times and reminders have been posted in designated areas for employees. Tools and equipment are assigned, when possible, within the team, and all common equipment must be disinfected regularly.
• Principle 5 – Facilitate visits and interactions with clients: All customer interactions are non-contact. Upon the customer’s arrival, car keys are immediately deposited in a box and disinfected. Required documents are shared electronically, and cash payment is now suspended. Waiting time at the service centre is now limited, and a windshield can be used as a protective sign at the customer service counter.

Increased protection for technicians

Technicians must also follow an additional security protocol of their own, without any interaction or physical presence of the customer. They have four main principles to respect:

• Principle 1 – Ensure Personal Protection: Wearing goggles and frequent changes of protective nitrile gloves are recommended.
• Principle 2 – Maintain a clean work environment: Tools and work surfaces must be clean and frequently cleaned.
• Principle 3 – Maintain safety protocol when working on a vehicle: Areas and surfaces in frequent contact with the vehicle should be cleaned and treated with great care. Protective covers have even been provided for the seats and steering wheel of the vehicle when the technician intervenes.
• Principle 4 – Limiting unnecessary contact: All unnecessary contact and manoeuvres are avoided in this way, in the best interest of the health of customers and employees.

“Every interaction with customers and every intervention on a vehicle is carried out according to strict health standards, without ever neglecting the quality of our work. Health and safety in our service centres is more than ever our priority. This is our commitment, without compromise,” concluded Ms. Leduc.