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Government sets out social distancing rules for repairs and construction workers during pandemic
New government guidance has set out how individuals, including tradespeople and construction workers, can maintain social distancing measures in the workplace.
Tradespeople are advised that they can still carry out essential repairs and maintenance in people’s homes, provided they have no symptoms of coronavirus.
Workers are instructed to wash their hands regularly and stay at least two meters away from any household members.
No work is to be carried out in households which are isolating due to exhibiting symptoms of the virus, unless the work is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, for example emergency plumbing.
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The carrying out of repairs has become a major issue for housing associations during the coronavirus crisis, with some fearing that even essential repairs may grind to a halt if the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) cannot be sourced.
The new government guidance also states that work can continue on construction sites, as long as workers are able to adhere to the social distancing guidelines.
Workers are again advised to wash their hands regularly and maintain a two-meter distance from other staff members.
In addition, employers are told to minimise face-to-face contact between workers. Where face-to-face contact is essential, it should be kept to a maximum of 15 minutes.
The guidance reads: “Where it is not possible to follow the social distancing guidelines in full in relation to a particular activity, you should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the site to continue to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission.”
The advice being issued by the UK government differs to that being issued by the Scottish government, which states that all non-essential projects, including housebuilding, should be put on pause.
