Re Gas Safety Check & no PPE/safety precautions

[Hulahoop32]

We had our gas safety check today - which is fine, I know they’re essential. However I tried to stay in the front room while he was in the kitchen and he kept coming in even though there was no reason to.
He didn’t have a mask or gloves, didn’t wash his hands. At the end I had to sign on his phone which made me uncomfortable but I felt awkward saying no.
Midway through he asked to use the toilet. Again you can’t really say no right? I said okay but instantly regretted it. It’s more surfaces he’s touched - sinks, towels etc. We have carpets throughout the house and I’ve read that coronavirus can spread on shoes so should I now be looking for a way to clean the carpet or is it too much? I have young children in the house and the youngest touches the floors and carpets a lot. Am I over thinking it?

Yes you could have said "No" to anyone using your toilet.

The guy is an idiot.

I would contact his company in writing and tell them that their workers aren't taking Covid-19 health and safety precautions seriously.

It's a two way thing. I work for a company who do gas safety checks and I also have them in my house doing work.

They are not wearing masks but they are keeping a distance and working in a part of my house that is currently uninhabited. Many of our clients are insisting masks are worn. Gloves are trickier. It's difficult to work with them on sometimes and hand washing is better protection.

Re: toilets. I have a downstairs toilet I have designated as a workmen's toilet. I have removed the hand towel and bought a roll of disposable blue paper towel instead and provided a bin with a lid on. I have packs of anti virus wipes, liquid soap and hand sanitiser. Our workers carry hand sanitiser with them. They also routinely have plastic shoe covers. I ask all visitors to wash their hands on arrival.

To be honest I wish I’d thought to remove towels etc but I didn’t expect him to ask to use it, I was caught off guard a little. I’m definitely going to complain, just worried as to what to do now I’m terms of the carpets as I can clean surfaces but carpets are going to be tricky. I’m worried I’ll walk stuff through the rest of the house now to be honest.

FFS

@GinDaddyRedux can you elaborate beyond “ffs”?

your carpets are fine. Just clean over any surfaces he touched. You could have asked him to wash his hands and opened windows to let fresh air in

@dementedpixie I wish I had done, I just assumed all tradespeople had guidelines they would follow and I suppose I’m not very authoritative in asking people to do stuff, oh usually deals with this sort of thing but he was at work today

Guidelines are very woolly. Its all should rather than must and where possible.

Spray the carpets with Dettol antibac spray, wash down any surfaces, blitz the bathroom.

It certainly wouldnt hurt to raise your concerns with the company but complain seems a bit strong. You could have asked him to remove shoes, not use loo or you to not sign if you weren't happy.

Why was he popping into the front room if he didnt need too ?

The same happened to me at the beginning of lockdown. I rent and agreed to the gas check as I was sure they would adhere to precautions.
He walked in no mask, gloves in from goodness knows when, and immediately asked for the loo. I sad no because if I’d had friends in the garden at that point we were not supposed to let them use the loo. I’ve never been asked to go upstairs to change the thermostat up there before, he asked me to do this and I said no because I needed to keep an eye on him.
I did raise a complaint because up until that point my home had been my secure bubble and I felt that he had no respect for the pandemic or the precautions he should have been taking in someone’s house.

Why was he popping into the front room if he didnt need too ?

Because he is an idiot who clearly thinks he's immune to Covid and passing it on to anyone vulnerable in his household and workplace.