Tradesmen tier 2/3

[minipilling]

I've searched and searched online but can't find any concrete info - can non-emergency tradesmen come to the house (distancing and masks used obviously) in tier 2 or 3? Have a bathroom renovation scheduled in two weeks, don't mind if it gets postponed but it would be nice to know!

@JellyBabiesSaveLives

Char - that fact that the people doing the work in your home have decided not to come is not terribly relevant to a question about the new Tier 2 rules, is it?

Of course it is. Risk assessments are conducted based on the level of risk. Tier 2 and 3 mean there is higher risk out there which means risk assessments have to be amended to reflect this. I would say it is very relevant. People are not just deciding not to turn up, there will be thorough risk assessments taking place. It's insulting to contractors for people like you to think they just don't want to turn up. I work for the NHS, individuals risk assessments are now being reviewed now we have moved to tier 2. I'm sure in all sectors risk assessment are being reviewed now that we have further restrictions being imposed on us.

Also just to add I think the council are being very strict about repairs, whereas the contractors themselves are not which is obvious why.

I'm in London so go into Tier 2 tomorrow, I have an electrician booked for next week to do some non-essential work, he will be coming as normal. He's booked up for weeks in advance so I won't be rescheduling unless he asks to.

Char2015 I think any decent contractor will be risk assesssing. If that RA goes beyond the admittedly very vague guidance from the govt that’s fair enough. Totally up to that tradesperson/contractor. I know an electrician who would not do any work in inhabited houses over the first lockdown, due to shielding a family member. Other electricians did work, with added protections in place, including requiring completely cleared surfaces, no householder in the room at all and any conversations about the work to be done outside with distancing and masks.
There has never been a ban on having a contractor in your home. ‘In case of emergency only’ is an added protection by some and was never the law, or guidance.

@Saucery

Char2015 I think any decent contractor will be risk assesssing. If that RA goes beyond the admittedly very vague guidance from the govt that’s fair enough. Totally up to that tradesperson/contractor. I know an electrician who would not do any work in inhabited houses over the first lockdown, due to shielding a family member. Other electricians did work, with added protections in place, including requiring completely cleared surfaces, no householder in the room at all and any conversations about the work to be done outside with distancing and masks. There has never been a ban on having a contractor in your home. ‘In case of emergency only’ is an added protection by some and was never the law, or guidance.

Oh I agree, I think all contractors will be doing their risk assessments very thoroughly. What I mean is LAs during lockdown only arranged for emergency works whereas I think contractors, if you went to them directly, were doing non-emergency too.

Come to think of it, our gas engineers emailed at the start of lockdown to say they were only doing emergencies. So no new gas fires, but if your heating / hot water went off they would come out. Extra precautions a sign of a conscientious company- I’d be wary of anyone who said it was business as usual tbh!

Yes, I had non emergency tradesman round throughout lockdown, they have to earn a living. Keep apart and the risk is minimal.

We said emergency only at the start of lockdown as it was very difficult to get hold of PPE & people were nervous. Plus there was furlough.

Now we are doing almost anything. PPE is avsilable . We’ve had time to get H & S people to give advice/do risk assessments and provide training on new procedures.