Although it may seem as though things have gone back to “normal”, during this period of time we must all remain vigilant about how we work. We may be out of lockdown in the UK, with tradesmen starting to return to customer sites, but how do you stay safe and also reassure your customers that you are able to work safely in their premises?
The main way of spreading COVID-19 is through close contact with an infected person. Surfaces and belongings can also be contaminated with COVID-19, when people who are infected cough or sneeze near them or if they touch them.
You should always check with your customer if they have any vulnerable people, anyone self isolating or anyone displaying symptoms of COVID in their household before arriving on site, if the work isn’t an emergency then you may want to reschedule any work until after any period of self isolation has ended.
Always take your own supply of anti bacterial hand wash and wipes and make sure that you clean all surfaces that you come into contact with, including door handles. Whilst working, observe the latest guidance on social distancing and ask your customer to remain outside of the room that you are working in to minimise any contact.
Creating a guide for your customers detailing how you are working during this period will reassure them that you are remaining vigilant about how you work on site. If you are an employer, you have a legal duty to consult workers on health and safety matters. You can do this by listening and talking to them about the work they do and how you will manage the risks from COVID-19.
Remember: Failure to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and put in place sufficient control measures to manage the risk may be considered a breach of health and safety law. Read our Guide to Conducting Risk Assessments at Work here.
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