In storage through pandemics past, personal protective equipment emerges on the COVID-19 front line

A cache of more personal protective equipment than Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. could use turned into a windfall for those on the front line in the fight against the coronavirus. But not without a hiccup along the way.

As part of its crisis management plan, Zurich responded to a 2013 outbreak of avian influenza by stocking supplies that included thousands of protective overalls and glasses that could be used to disinfect offices should a pandemic sweep through Switzerland. When that scenario did play out this year in the COVID-19 crisis, the company’s offices were vacated and professionally cleaned.

“Everyone was working from home, so we didn’t need it,” said Christian Maulaz, Head of Operations at the Zurich Development Center and a member of Zurich’s pandemic response team. There was little chance that an infection would arise in empty offices.

That left the question of what to do with all the protective equipment in storage. And one small problem: Would the equipment still be viable after sitting in storage for all those years?

“We had all this equipment but didn’t know if could be used,” explained Bruno Zahner, Security and Safety Officer at Zurich’s Corporate Center. That’s because the expiration dates couldn’t be determined until the cases were opened. And the cases could only be opened in a clean setting where the equipment wouldn’t become contaminated or degrade before use.

Mr. Zahner, who began exploring ways to donate the goods, approached the military. “I heard the Army was using the same equipment that we had in storage. And they told me that as long as the cases had not been opened, equipment of that age could be used regardless of the expiration date.”

The decision to donate the goods was made easier by the fact that Swiss authorities had declared that the need was so great, goods that were past their expiration date could be used, said Mr. Maulaz.

But the Army didn’t need it, Mr. Zahner said. “They said they would take it, but they had a lot of stock. So, with the idea to provide support locally, I turned to the hospitals.”

And Mr. Zahner didn’t have to try for long to find a home for the equipment. Triemli Hospital in Zurich quickly agreed to accept the donation of 2,400 overalls and 1,500 pairs of protective glasses. “They were really pleased and sent over a truck to collect it.”

The donation was two-thirds of the equipment Zurich had stockpiled, some of it prudently left in storage until pandemic supplies can be replenished when they become more readily available.

Zurich has helped health care facilities in other parts of the world as well, donating face masks in Portugal and France, and financial support in Italy and Spain. In Malaysia, funds were donated to build respirators.

And equipment and funds aren’t the only donations. The company traditionally hands out chocolate bunnies to its Zurich-based employees during the Easter season. This year those treats were given to local health care workers.