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?

I am having some building work done and had to move out (can’t really live in a house with no roof or electricity!). If my builders were forced to stop work, it would have dire financial and practical implications for me.

Everyone likes to get all morally superior and say that it is our business because it's having consequences for all of us and yet no one is doing anything except moaning on MN.

So tell us OP. What are you doing about it if you're so concerned? Have you gone out and spoken to the builders and asked them why they aren't following safety measures? Have you called the building company? Spoken to your neighbours? Or are you just looking for something to whinge about and feel superior about as you sit comfortably in your safe home office?

Unusual to have 5/6 in a van mist hold about 3 although some hold more but for one exfenstion be surprised vans if 5/6
But they will share vans same as bin men etc
If working outside wouldn't necessarily have a mask on , maybe they have inside

I work in an office and nobody wears a mask as 2 m apart etc
I have done couple temp jobs and been that way in both places

@donewithitalltodayandxmas

I work in an office and nobody wears a mask as 2 m apart etc I have done couple temp jobs and been that way in both places

Do you have the windows open all day? Do you never get within 2m even going to the loo or walking past the others? If the windows aren't open, aren't you all breathing each others' air?

Also, why are masks mandatory in shops but not offices or schools, where people are together for hours and hours? Makes no sense whatsoever.

@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.

Well we have because we had a water leak in our loft, about 3 days into the first lockdown. Funnily enough, we didn't want to be without water, hot water and heating for the duration.

There is no risk attached to having jobs done in the house, and certainly not in the garden.

We also had a radiator replaced, a garden office built, electricity put out to it, and pest controllers in to have a look at a possible rat problem. All of which we considered necessary. All of which contributed to the economy. And nobody got ill.

Can I also state my dh works in a related to trades job , he has to attend different houses every day
He wears a mask etc but the homeowners do not so whilst he is protecting them , he is not protected
Yes he trys to maintain 2m plus and ideally people should be in another room but they often won't

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun yes my point , no to windows open all day
And also if you get up aa same time as someone else you can be caught less than 2 m
But no one wears a mask as we have screens
So I don't think its safe really but I have to work and pay bills

I too don't understand why construction is allowed, or at least there aren't tighter guidelines/rules.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/949536/NationalLockdownGuidance.pdf

Tradespeople allowed to continue working

There is quite a bit of guidance from the government, CLC (construction leadership council) and CITB (construction industry training board) as well as other construction membership bodies on how to maintain a CV19 safe and operational site at the moment. Some people are better at following it than others just like the general guidance from government for the rest of us.
Bigger sites tend to have signed up to contracts or memberships that require them to put in place more measures, they also have the resources to do so.
Individual trades on a small domestic site are more likely to rely on some assistance or coordination from a client, main contractor or professional leading the build.

@Oblomov20

I too don't understand why construction is allowed, or at least there aren't tighter guidelines/rules.

There are plenty of guidelines - if you think an individual business or tradesman is breaking them, then report if you wish.

Construction is continuing because it's not really an industry that can be halted. People still need work doing to their homes, repairs done and people will always need to move house for work etc.

I doubt you'd be very happy if you ended up with a hole in your roof or something and couldn't get it fixed for over a year because the construction industry was shut down.

@donewithitalltodayandxmas

Can I also state my dh works in a related to trades job , he has to attend different houses every day He wears a mask etc but the homeowners do not so whilst he is protecting them , he is not protected Yes he trys to maintain 2m plus and ideally people should be in another room but they often won't

And conversely some tradesmen won't wear masks/gloves etc and won't stay away from the homeowners.

My vulnerable MIL needed a British Gas engineer when her boiler broke down. When we phoned to organise it, we told them she was vulnerable/elderly and they promised the engineer would be "covid safe" with mask and gloves, wouldn't use her bathroom and would stay in the kitchen whilst she stayed in the lounge. He did none of those things. First thing he did was ask to use the loo, no mask, no gloves, and when he'd finished, he marched into her living room to tell her he'd done. You'd really expect better from so-called professionals like British Gas.

We had virgin internet installed last June so we could work from home (needed faster internet). The guy who turned up didn't even have any masks nor gloves with him (or so he said). When we presented some to him, he was all huffing and puffing, saying he didn't have covid, never been anywhere etc. Again, that was despite virgin clearly stating on their website that their engineers would wear masks and comply with covid precautions.

I’ve had a very good experience with every trade we’ve used. Refuse to let them on site if they won’t comply.

Your neighbours had 15-18 workmen turn up to work on their extention in one day? Shouldn't take them long then eh?

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion in fairness our builder would have 15 people on site now, but he said it’s not covid safe. They did have 13 the other day and he decided to send some home. If it’s a big build, they need the people!