Why are domestic builders carrying on completely as normal?

[pinbinpin]

We're in a T4 area, cases going up etc etc. Everyone is getting on with the boring restrictions, none of the neighbours appeared to have anyone round over xmas and NY etc.

My immediate neighbours are building an extension - 3 different vans/vehicles turned up today, each with 5/6 people in them, different contractors, no one wearing masks. All of them yelling at the tops of their voices all day and blowing smoke right underneath my office window. All of them using one portaloo.

I know people are allowed to work but shouldn't there be some restrictions on building work like everywhere else? Shouldn't they be taking some covid precautions? If I went into my office in London when we were in T3 I wasn't allowed in the building without a mask and hand sanitising. Same at all the GPs/hospitals I've visited over the period. Everyone had to sit apart with chairs/desks removed in between. Two of them are young builders mates, look about 17, it really doesn't seem like a "covid-safe" workplace for them. Are the rules really just "carry on as you were lads" for builders and tradespeople?

@nicky7654

No work equals no money so no money no rent/mortgage paid then no home!!!!! Not everyone is able to be furloughed. You.must remember there are thousands upon thousands of people losing their homes because of the restrictions and lack of financial help!!

Indeed, but in lots of other industries, they have to follow the rules, such as hairdressers, pubs, cafes, private tutors, etc. Not sure why self employed tradesmen think they're exempt nor why the local authorities are turning a blind eye.

@Branleuse

if you cant work from home, you can still go to work as normal. Therefore builders are carrying on as normal.

But it's still a workplace and subject to having to follow covid precautions like any other workplace.

Builders aren’t usually in enclosed spaces. If they work in an uninhabited dwelling they should be wearing masks. I have had a few workmen in our house carrying out essential repairs and all bar one wore a mask - the one that didn’t was taken off the job by her boss who was livid, as was I.

Because people need to earn a living and a full wage and get on with life as usual instead of being locked in letting life slip away for a virus that most people survive ffs

It's all very well you whinging about people moaning whilst you continue to earn a living from the comfort of your own home office. They dont need to wear masks because they are outside. Building works need to continue it's one of the areas helping to keep the economy moving.

Builders also don’t interact with a wide range of people who are difficult to track & trace, as pubs and beauty salons are. They see a small group of contacts - their team and their customer.

You sound really nosey. Maybe focus on yourself instead of whats happening to your Neighbor's.

I think the point is not why are they working as obviously they can't work from home, but why are they not wearing masks. They could all wear masks, especially if they are travelling in the same van. Where I live (not the UK) everyone must wear a mask at all times in public. And the UK wonders why cases are going up.
But then the UK seems to think that masks don't apply to them.

You have seen one example of one building site not operating (in your view) in a covid safe way. So thanks for making a sweeping generalisation about a whole industry that does not have the luxury of working from home

If we are going into T5 I hope this will be addressed.

Nice to know that you are actively wishing people out of a job.

Whether or not work is 'essential' is irrelevant if you are not in the category that has been told to close.

If you can work from home, you should.

If you cannot work from home, you should go to work, including if your work is in other people's homes (cleaners, builders, nannies etc).

You are only required to stop work if you work in a category that has specifically been told to do so. This does not include builders.

I think the problem is that it's difficult to ascertain what is essential and what isn't. I don't think anyone would argue that fixing a leaking roof, broken boiler or blown electrics is essential and trades need to be permitted to continue working to be able to address those sorts of issues.

Having new wifi/sockets installed in a corner of my house as my new 'home office'? Probably not essential, but has enabled me to WFH far more efficiently. Neighbours spending the cash they've saved over lockdown on new garden lighting? Not essential at all, but where do you draw the line?

@Em777

I’m with you OP. I don’t know why this sector gets special treatment. Our neighbours two doors down had a crew working on a backyard office, shouting and coughing all day long.

I don’t consider building work something that is necessary at a time like this. We haven’t had any tradespeople in our home since the pandemic began.

I work in this industry (albeit a desk job) there may be multiple reasons such as expiration of planning permissions that mean they cant just 'wait' until a non disclosed time in the future. Whilst it is not 'necessary' as deemed by you, unfortunately our systems and legal frameworks don't account for pandemics

I don't think they should be allowed to work.

Also plenty of other self employed people are prohibited from working, what makes construction different?
Exactly this. Why can someone have their cleaner in, or have extensions built and whatnot. Not essential.
I am a therapist, my clients are mainly those with cancer and the profoundly disabled. I also work with 2 medical clinics where work is referred to me as part of treatment or rehabilitation plans - yet I am not allowed to work. People in chronic pain, unable to go about their lives which are restricted. They are forced to try and use the NHS, putting more strain on it. I say try, because none of them are getting any help right now. I wear full PPE, I've done courses in infection control and whatnot, yet I'm legally not allowed to work right now. With zero income I am desperate. Where is the logic?

@pinbinpin

Oh that's ok then, as long as the people making all the money are safe, that's fine.

Let's not worry about the two 17 year old lads or the other workers, or the vulnerable people in the areas they are coming into / going back to. Or the covid ward in the local hospital a couple of streets away.

Bizarre what we find acceptable when, as a PP said, someone is making money.

Honestly, I think a lot of it comes back to macho culture. My dad was a house painter and he believed any physical illness could be overcome with mental fortitude.

I see the COVID marshals are in force in your area op.

My god stop the world I want to get off - people working trying to earn a living!

Construction and other outdoor work, if COVID-Secure, can take place under all tiers.

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/construction-and-other-outdoor-work

@Timeforredwine if they’re on big sites then there absolutely should be procedures in place, implemented and monitored by the site manager. The HSE are doing regular spot inspections of covid procedures at the moment- implications of failure could be quite serious. If your relatives aren’t happy then I’d suggest escalating their concerns or whistle blowing, although I appreciate that this can be difficult when they need to earn an income.

Because they're men, doing manly jobs, in a male-dominated industry, so special rules apply to them.

A bit like how football is carrying on while other not truly non-contact sports are banned.

Also perhaps because they'd tell their Union to do one if it tried to influence the government into closing building sites?

If you google "covid" and "construction", you'll find there are government guidelines on how to work safely in the construction industry. I suspect that good employers - of any size - are complying with these, and bad ones aren't, but there are definite rules, as there are for every industry/type of workplace.

my DH is a self employed construction worker we would literally be living in the back of his van by now if he hadn't been allowed to work since March. People are doing what ever they can whenever they can to support themselves during this horrendous time.
It seems, thankfully, that plenty of others feel that construction is essential as he has lots of jobs lined up. The self employed building trade literally can't afford to turn down work, they rely mainly on word of mouth and recommendations for future jobs. They don't have the luxury of sick pay or holiday pay they work when work is available. Wind your neck in and let people earn whilst they can.

I have no issues with building work being carried out, we had someone in today to measure up for some new windows that will be fitted shortly.

Their practices possibly unsafe, but there is probably a little embellishment of the truth so can't comment on that.

OP it is fine to be pissed off at building work, just own that rather than making out that you are concerned for their safety.

It's a strange one I definitely agree op! My husband is in a trade and obviously can't work from home , but work-life has pretty much carried on as normal for him. His job entails going inside several different houses per day , he brings his own masks/hand sanitizer with him but 9/10 times people seems to get almost mad at him and tell him there's no need for the mask
Not one job has been cancelled so far ,people seem to have no issue with the jobs going ahead as usual and no one has requested extra precautions. My husband is understandably nervous but what can we do ? He has to go to work and we cannot survive on the government covid payment. I also think that if he refuses to work he wouldn't be entitled to it . We are in Ireland btw.

Not denying there should be restriction but im regularly on site and its is near impossible to communicate with drills and machinery going on in the background and masks on. Lots of installation work cannot be done at a two meter distance so i can see why in the end some sites do a temperature check and leave it at that..not condoning it though!

Because people need to pay their bills, feed themselves and their children? What a fucking stupid question.