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Government guidance for working in people's homes:

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2. 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.
 
I'm with you @Andy78 , this advice that working in peoples homes wasn't in the original guidance as far as I can remember and it is vague.

They use the example of repair and maintenance which could be argued should be done to keep things safe, but my concern is that this will be used as a blunt instrument when it comes to people claiming financial support for their business.
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I've been trying to get through to the business help lines this morning to try and get some clarity on whether the example should be taken literally, i.e. only repairs and maintenance, or whether we're allowed to carry on business as usual. But, unsurprisingly it's nearly impossible to speak to someone and when I did, they had technical difficulties and he couldn't hear me. 30 minutes on hold.
 
Problem is we are constantly getting mixed messages! especially on what is deemed as "essential work". The government is trying to balance stopping the spread of the virus and at the same time saving the economy from collapse.
If the government force all "non essential" industry to cease then there will be many companies that will not survive. Help to pay wages and loans to companies is fine but all this money will have to be paid back. People may find themselves without a job when this crisis is over which means more strain on the economy to pay benefits which has now been spent on supporting the crisis already.
A comment was made earlier that management are isolating themselves and expecting the workforce to continue as normal. Well this might be the case with some companies, but I'm risking my own health to keep my company afloat while my staff stay at home with 80% pay. I'm doing this so my staff will have a job to come back to when this is all over.
So for those of you who are lucky enough to be able to stay at home then you should do so, to keep away from those that have little choice but to try and continue best as possible. If people had actually followed the initial guidelines regarding socialising then maybe we wouldn't be in this mess!

The main aim is to limit the spread of the virus, especially to the vulnerable. Things will probably get worse before they get better (looking at other countries) it might be that a more strict lock down is implemented. Lets hope and remain positive that the current measures are enough.
 
Problem is we are constantly getting mixed messages! especially on what is deemed as "essential work". The government is trying to balance stopping the spread of the virus and at the same time saving the economy from collapse.
If the government force all "non essential" industry to cease then there will be many companies that will not survive. Help to pay wages and loans to companies is fine but all this money will have to be paid back. People may find themselves without a job when this crisis is over which means more strain on the economy to pay benefits which has now been spent on supporting the crisis already.
A comment was made earlier that management are isolating themselves and expecting the workforce to continue as normal. Well this might be the case with some companies, but I'm risking my own health to keep my company afloat while my staff stay at home with 80% pay. I'm doing this so my staff will have a job to come back to when this is all over.
So for those of you who are lucky enough to be able to stay at home then you should do so, to keep away from those that have little choice but to try and continue best as possible. If people had actually followed the initial guidelines regarding socialising then maybe we wouldn't be in this mess!

The main aim is to limit the spread of the virus, especially to the vulnerable. Things will probably get worse before they get better (looking at other countries) it might be that a more strict lock down is implemented. Lets hope and remain positive that the current measures are enough.
i was referring the directors and senior management of the large house building firms @Intoelectrics, I’m sure you knew that really, good luck to you continuing with work ?
 
i was referring the directors and senior management of the large house building firms @Intoelectrics, I’m sure you knew that really, good luck to you continuing with work ?
Yes, sorry... I'm just like many folk very frustrated and concerned, not only for people's health but also for their livelihood.

I'm sure their will be plenty of unscrupulous, greedy selfish people who will make a s**t load of money from this crisis with no concern for anyone else
 
Yes, sorry... I'm just like many folk very frustrated and concerned, not only for people's health but also for their livelihood.

I'm sure their will be plenty of unscrupulous, greedy selfish people who will make a s**t load of money from this crisis with no concern for anyone else
No need for apology mate, I can imagine the pressure you are under and good man for being conscious of your employees health, the industry needs more people like you ?
 
Had an update from Stroma (so presumably the NAPIT advice will be the same):



The Government announcement on Monday 23rd March 2020 where Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated "people should only leave their homes to go to work where it is absolutely necessary" has since developed and we would like to provide clarity to our members on the recent government updates since this as detailed below.

We are closely following the government guidelines and will be providing you with regular updates on how COVID-19 will affect you and your business. Please be aware of the advice shared on other platforms, particularly social media at this time and be rest assured that we will be keeping you up to date with the most current government information availa
The current guidance as of today does appear to be to go out and work if you can’t work from home, and if that work is in a customer’s property take great care over social distancing.

The government has released information on "work carried out in people homes", see below:

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 2 metre distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety. See guidance on social distancing here

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.

Visit the government website here for details


It's went from "people should only leave their homes to go to work where it is absolutely necessary" (Boris' speech, transcripts available in various places) to "people should only leave their homes to go to work where this absolutely cannot be done at home" (written guidance from .gov.uk released a few minutes later). If you view the transcript of the speech and the written guidance side by side, they are identical in pretty much all respects apart from this one.

Basically, in his address to the nation, he fluffed his lines.

Whether he did this on purpose, with the best of intentions, just to try to get as many people off the streets (and tube) as possible, I don't know.

I love(!) the way there's still some ambiguity. So if the person(s) in the house is/are in isolation, or in a category where they are shielded from exposure due to underlying health conditions, there are only very limited circumstances you can (if willing) enter their home to do work ("to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household"). But they draw a distinction between this situation, and "tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance." So if the first example is clearly an emergency, then what is the second?

Stroma, as you can imagine, are entirely quiet on this regard. They state (above):

"The current guidance as of today does appear to be to go out and work if you can’t work from home, and if that work is in a customer’s property take great care over social distancing."


So they (Stroma) make no distinction on the type of work you're doing (except, of course, for work in the houses of those self-isolating or shielded), they present the government words and leave those difficult decisions up to us.

I'm sure more and more details and more nuanced advice will come out in the days that follow.

For now, I'm pausing (as I have the luxury of enough savings to do so). I've posted the following on my website and facebook page:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

We're all trying to keep others safe, and to stay safe ourselves.


(1) Electricity can be dangerous, but is also essential. If you need work doing urgently during the COVID-19 period, get in touch. I will undertake essential work, and take precautions (social distancing, wipe-down etc).


(2) Electricity can be dangerous: do not try fixing things, or changing things, yourself. "Simple jobs" can escalate to emergencies, or result in putting yourself and others at risk, if you don't have the right test gear, experience, knowledge, and a box of random electrical bits and bobs.


(3) If you're thinking of getting some work done, I'll be very happy to discuss with you and advise, with a view to booking you in once this all blows over.


Stay safe, folks :)
 
I don't get all this ambiguity stuff. The guidance is clear, might not want tradespersons want to hear, and I respect the fact its going to cause hardship, but it is what it is.
The guidance says, "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."
 
The guidance says, "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."
I know, some people think that’s ambiguous.
 
I know, some people think that’s ambiguous.

So how do you interpret it?

And to be clear... the written guidance changed.

I've attached the PDFs. One was released soon after the announcement on Monday. The other includes the part about working in peoples home.
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The announcement from NAPIT is identical to the Stroma one and is basically a copy and paste of the written guidance from government.
 

Attachments

  • Full_guidance_on_staying_at_home_and_away_from_others.pdf
    67.2 KB · Views: 4
  • Full_guidance_on_staying_at_home_and_away_from_others__1_.pdf
    71.4 KB · Views: 5
I know, some people think that’s ambiguous.
Pop quiz (anyone can join in!). Assuming you can maintain 2m from the client all the time in their home, you're feeling well, client not in isolation or shielded (ie someone who must remain indoors at all times)..

(1) Which of the following jobs would be permitted according to the government written advice?

... and (2) (optional): which would you be currently willing to do at the moment?

(a) client wants a (working) 2G socket swapping for a nice brushed steel one
(b) client wants a (working) 2G socket swapping for one with USB outlets
(c) client wants some power running to their shed
(d) client has 6x old CLF GU10 spotlights in their kitchen, 4 of them work, would like the lot changing for LED integral fittings
(e) client reports bathroom light not working (probably pull cord)
(f) client reports broken socket (the only one on that side of the kitchen)
(g) client reports funny plastic smell from shower, and it's a bit melty
(h) client reports no power, "the main trip's gone."
(i) client reports "every time I touch this metal light switch, I get a shock."
 
(1) In my opinion based on the current government guidance you are allowed to do all of them.

(2) Which ones I think we should be allowed to do (which ones I would do)...

(a) No, not safety issue
(b) No, not safety issue
(c) No, not safety issue
(d) No, not safety issue
(e) Yes, quick job, in and out in under an hour
(f) Yes IF it was just the faceplate not working, if it was say a ring fault I'd probably just downgrade the MCB and leave it at that
(g) If they had other facilities, no, I'd advise not to use it, if not I'd go and sort it
(h) Unknown, would chat over the phone about it and take it from there
(i) Yes, potential death trap
 
So how do you interpret it?

And to be clear... the written guidance changed.

I've attached the PDFs. One was released soon after the announcement on Monday. The other includes the part about working in peoples home.
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The announcement from NAPIT is identical to the Stroma one and is basically a copy and paste of the written guidance from government.

You can’t carry on as you previously have; you can fix things (with the caveat) not install new things.
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Pop quiz (anyone can join in!). Assuming you can maintain 2m from the client all the time in their home, you're feeling well, client not in isolation or shielded (ie someone who must remain indoors at all times)..

(1) Which of the following jobs would be permitted according to the government written advice?

... and (2) (optional): which would you be currently willing to do at the moment?

(a) client wants a (working) 2G socket swapping for a nice brushed steel one
(b) client wants a (working) 2G socket swapping for one with USB outlets
(c) client wants some power running to their shed
(d) client has 6x old CLF GU10 spotlights in their kitchen, 4 of them work, would like the lot changing for LED integral fittings
(e) client reports bathroom light not working (probably pull cord)
(f) client reports broken socket (the only one on that side of the kitchen)
(g) client reports funny plastic smell from shower, and it's a bit melty
(h) client reports no power, "the main trip's gone."
(i) client reports "every time I touch this metal light switch, I get a shock."
I refer my Honorable member to #36.
 
You can’t carry on as you previously have; you can fix things (with the caveat) not install new things.

But that isn't what the guidance says. If you take away the example, which is only an example (and is open to interpretation as Dave pointed out earlier) and you strip off the parts about distancing etc. which are common sense, the guidance says simply that...

"Work carried out in people's home can continue"

As such, we are not being told to shut down which could be used to bludgeon us when it comes to trying to access financial help... "You weren't told to stop, so you should have carried on." I can see it happening already. And that in my opinion places us in an absolute dilemma.

I don't want to work and risk spreading it, but right now the guidance is I can work and the possibility that my choice to be sensible and stay at home unless it's an emergency concerns me from the point of view of trying to keep the business going if I get denied help because I elected to stop working.

That I think is all we're saying. I don't think any of us want to work and risk spreading this.
 
But that isn't what the guidance says. If you take away the example, which is only an example (and is open to interpretation as Dave pointed out earlier) and you strip off the parts about distancing etc. which are common sense, the guidance says simply that...

"Work carried out in people's home can continue"

As such, we are not being told to shut down which could be used to bludgeon us when it comes to trying to access financial help... "You weren't told to stop, so you should have carried on." I can see it happening already. And that in my opinion places us in an absolute dilemma.

I don't want to work and risk spreading it, but right now the guidance is I can work and the possibility that my choice to be sensible and stay at home unless it's an emergency concerns me from the point of view of trying to keep the business going if I get denied help because I elected to stop working.

That I think is all we're saying. I don't think any of us want to work and risk spreading this.

Sorry, I know your livelihood (and survival) is at stake, but you know the answer really. Guidance is clear.
 
I closed my business down 2 weeks ago.

I have attended one emergency call out for a fried rcd In that time. I didn’t charge any extra, in fact I was happy to get out of the house I charged standard hourly rates rather than emergency call out rates.

I know the guidance says i can continue, but I have decided to do the right thing.

980 deaths yesterday tells me I’ve done the right thing.

how many more deaths before everyone sits up and listens and does the right thing.

everyone must follow there own consciences rather than just the governments advice.
 

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