Advice Update 03/04/2020

Further to our previous advice regarding members carrying out essential work in customers households, if they’ve lost viewing of the PSB’s or lost internet service, the Ministry of Housing, communities and Local Government have stated:

Work carried out in people’s homes

Work carried out in people’s homes, for example by tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms.

Again, it will be important to ensure that Public Health England guidelines, including maintaining a two-metre distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety.

No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repairs, and where the tradesperson is willing to do so. In such cases, Public Health England can provide advice to tradespeople and households.

No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.

We continue to believe that some domestic work could be considered critical, but also that the decision whether to undertake such work is up to each and every member and their own circumstances, we don’t believe there is a blanket right or wrong answer to such a complex situation, unless of course the Government’s advice or instructions change again.  We also believe that no one should be forced to work in the current situation.  If you, or your staff, do continue to work in the domestic environment, then the advice of Public Health England, Hand Washing rules and taking the correct PPE precautions remain vital.

The position for our members who work in the commercial sector remains complicated too, but the Government Advice on outdoor sites remains the same – they can stay open as long as you can maintain the 2m distancing rule.  Again we believe it’s up to every member to decide whether it is safe to undertake each and every job, and to carry out a risk assessment to be confident that it is, or whether to be undertaking work at all. Again, there is not one universal rule that meets all circumstances.  We do also continue to have full confidence in our members ability to make the right judgements at the right time.