Coronavirus

The company requires that anyone who meets one of the following criteria should not come to work:

Has a high temperature or a new persistent cough

• Is a vulnerable person (by virtue of their age, underlying health condition, clinical condition or are pregnant)
• Is living with someone in self-isolation or a vulnerable person.

Procedure if Someone Falls Ill

If a worker develops a high temperature or a persistent cough while at work, they should

• Return home immediately
• Avoid touching anything
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and put it in a bin, or if they do not have tissues, cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow. They must then follow the guidance on self-isolation and not return to work until their period of self-isolation has been completed.

Procedure to return to work

If a worker is to return to work, they must read and sign the 'fit to work confirmation' stating they have none of the symptoms described above or have undertaken the relevant self-isolation periods.

Wherever possible, the company will endeavour to ensure workers travel to site alone. The company will provide both hand washing / sanitising facilities and disposable gloves and standard cleaning products for vehicles to be regularly cleaned.

The company requires from workers that:

• The vehicle should be cleaned daily using gloves and standard cleaning products, with particular emphasis on handles and other areas where passengers may touch surfaces by the driver.
• The driver to wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water or hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available before entering and after getting out of the vehicle.
• If it is not possible for the company to provide individual transport for workers, they may be requested to use their own vehicles to travel to and from work. If using your own vehicle, the procedures listed above should be followed.
• If the company has no other alternative but to request workers to share a vehicle, then the company requires from workers that:
• Share with the same individuals and with the minimum number of people at any one time.
• Wherever possible maintain a distance of two metres and avoid touching their faces.
• Maintain good ventilation (i.e. keeping the windows open) and face away from each other during the journey.
• Wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water or hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available before entering and after getting out of the vehicle.
• The vehicle should be cleaned daily using gloves and standard cleaning products, with particular emphasis on handles and other areas where passengers may touch surfaces by the driver.

The company will endeavour to reduce the number of people in attendance at site and in the office wherever possible.

The company will provide both hand washing / sanitising facilities and disposable gloves and standard cleaning products for regular clean of work areas and items. The company will also provide disposable hand towels and suitable and sufficient rubbish bins for regular removal and disposal of waste.

All workers will be required to adhere to the following:

• A distance of 2 metres should be maintained between workers, wherever possible.
• All workers to wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water when entering and leaving the site.
• All workers to wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water before eating or drinking and after eating or drinking.
• All workers to wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water before and after taking any breaks.
• Wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water or hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available before entering and after getting out of a vehicle.
• Daily cleaning of common contact surfaces in the office.
• Daily cleaning of screens, computers, telephone handsets and desks.
• All shared tools to be cleaned after each use.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and put it in a bin, or if they do not have tissues, cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow.
• Toilets to be cleaned regularly.
• Rubbish collection and storage points emptied regularly throughout and at the end of each day.
• Single use PPE should be disposed of so that it cannot be reused daily.

The company will provide all personal protective equipment for each individual worker.

The following multiple use PPE has / will be provided to each employee:

• FFP3 mask
• Gloves
• Ear Defenders
• High-vis
• Hard Hat
• Protective goggles
• Protective glasses

It is the responsibility of each worker to clean and maintain this PPE daily. If PPE becomes defective, damaged or unfit for use, this must be reported immediately to either the manager or the directors so it can be immediately replaced by the company.

In the event where the works dictate it is not possible to maintain the social distancing recommendation of 2m, or workers are required to enter an inhabited property, disposable PPE will be provided by the company. This will include:

• Single use, disposable gloves
• Single use, disposable P3 masks
• Single use, disposable protective suits.

All the above PPE items are to be used for single use only and must be safely disposed of at the end of each day. The company will keep a stock of each item and the worker must inform the company if replacement is needed before the start of each working day.

If workers require any additional PPE not listed, this will be provided.

In addition to the procedures and control measures detailed above, prior to attendance on each site or domestic works, the company will undertake a detailed risk assessment and method statement to identify any potential risks or further control measures that may be required and have not been covered by the policy above relating to the risk posed by Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Each worker will be given a copy of both the specific risk assessment and method statement and will be required to sign to say they have read and understood the identification of the risks and control measures put in place. If on attending site any worker has concerns or notices further hazards that were not identified, these are to be communicated to the manager or directors immediately. No works shall occur until appropriate control measures have been put in place.

Site works
In addition to the procedures and control measures described above, it should be expected that the main contractor will provide a site induction on  the specific procedures and control measures in place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) and all workers will be expected to follow these procedures in addition to the ones set out by Billing Chimney and Flue Services Ltd.

If a worker has any concerns whilst on site, these should be reported immediately to the site foreman or by following the specified procedure described during the site induction. If any worker is unsure as to the line of communication to follow, they must call Billing Chimney and Flue Services Ltd immediately and cease works until the concern has been addressed and resolved.

Domestic works
For works to occur in the domestic setting, additional procedures and control measures are to be followed.

Billing chimney and Flue Services Ltd will ensure that any works being undertaken in a domestic setting are essential works only.

Billing chimney and Flue Services Ltd will endeavour to ensure that any works being undertaken in a domestic setting will occur only while the property is not inhabited and is vacant. The client will also be provided with both the risk assessment and method statement for the works and a copy of this policy will be made available to them.

If the event that essential works are required in an inhabited property, Billing Chimney and Flue Services Ltd will put into place the following:

• The client will be asked to confirm in writing that they, nor any of their household have shown symptoms of Coronavirus (Covid-19) within 14 days of the proposed attendance on site.
• The client will be asked to vacate and clear all rooms where works are required prior to the attendance of workers.
• The client will be asked to leave the entrance to the property open and provide a clearly demarked route to the area where works are required so NO contact between workers and clients are required.
• The client will be instructed not to enter any working area and to maintain social distancing guidance of two metres from any worker if works are external.
• Workers will be required to reduce contact with any surface (e.g. door handles, windows etc.) to a bare minimum.
• Workers will apply protective sheeting to the working area which is to be removed and disposed of daily.
• Workers will be required to clean any surfaces internally with which they have come into contact at the end of each working day.
• Workers MUST wear gloves when using ladders and accessing scaffolding or safe working platforms.
• The client will be advised to clean all areas where workers have passed through or entered to undertake essential works, wearing relevant PPE before using these areas again.
• If working internally, workers will be required wear single use protective PPE as described above, which is to be disposed of daily.
• Billing Chimney and Flue Services Ltd will provide on site toilet facilities for our workers only.
• Billing Chimney and Flue Services Ltd will provide hand washing / sanitisation facilities for our workers only.
• Billing Chimney and Flue Services Ltd will provide disposable PPE to each worker for the duration of the works.
• Billing Chimney and Flue Services Ltd will provide a safe method of disposal of all work related waste separate to the clients own waste removal facilities.