COVID-19 Member Guidance

The government have implemented further guidance on the COVID-19 situation as of 8:30pm on Monday 23rd March 2020.

Prime Minister Johnson has categorically stated that “the Coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced for decades” adding, that “without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope.”

As part of his statement (20:30hrs 23/3/20), the government have implemented the following measures:

STAY AT HOME

– Only go to outside for food, health reasons or essential work.
– Stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people.
– Wash your hands as soon as you get home.

ESSENTIAL WORK

The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation is in no place to interpret what ‘essential work’ actually means without cast iron clarification from the government, however our view is this:

It is essential, especially where we are being told to stay at home, that households have functioning services:
– Heat
– Light
– Power
– Drinking Water
– Washing facilities
– Cooking facilities
– An environment without health & safety risk

Essential work would not involve the aesthetic completion of a project – tiling, decorating etc.

We have a duty of care over the consumers we serve to ensure that these basic services are present, as without them it is almost certain that additional suffering may occur.

IF ESSENTIAL WORK IS REQUIRED:

In the event you deem unfinished work to be essential, you should follow government advice on social distancing and remember the generic advice previously provided:
We advise our members to contact customers on a daily basis, before entering their property, to confirm that:

– no one in the property has been positively tested for COVID-19;
– no one in the property is self-isolating; and
– no one is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Work should not start or continue in the event COVID-19 is present or suspected to be present.

If indeed you, or any of your team or subcontractors are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you should self-isolate in accordance with NHS guidance. Projects should be suspended, and guidance sought from the NHS website on when it’s safe to resume.

In addition to that, and on the condition that you are safe to return:

– You should limit contact with the customer and their householders;
– Ensure that you retain the 2 metre (6ft) social distancing when in the home; and
– Request that you are left alone to complete essential work.
– If you need to speak with them, use the phone and request that they do not make physical contact / respect the 2m social distancing.