Domestic EICR and covid 19

[newfutile]

I am currently on 14 days self isolation and myself and my son have had possible symptoms of covid.
My job is EICRs in domestic tenanted properties.
what are peoples views on this ?
should i refuse to work ,should i ask for risk assesments and method statements with PPE
it seems daft i cant visit my friends and family yet the goverment think its ok to enter 10-20 properties per week
theres no way you can social distance or avoid touching sockets , switches ,FCU and consumer unit so how can this be done safely?

 

[telectrix]

far more likely for a vehicle to become unroadworthy due to 6 monts postponed MOT than a domestic installation to become dangerous.

 

[richy3333]

I think SELECT have coined it the best:

Only emergency repair and maintenance work essential to safety is undertaken until notified otherwise by the Scottish government. Examples include emergency repairs to heating and plumbing and ventilation systems, electrical and fire and security systems, roof and building fabric repairs, attending to lift breakdowns and releasing trapped users, telecom repairs etc. Your own trade association will provide further examples and guidance, but businesses should use their own judgement over what constitutes an ”emergency”.
3. Any other construction work including, but not restricted to, the installation of new heating systems, re-wiring of properties, building of extensions, fitting of new kitchens etc, should be suspended in the meantime.

 

[Zerax]

far more likely for a vehicle to become unroadworthy due to 6 monts postponed MOT than a domestic installation to become dangerous.

You can be done for having an unroadworthy vehicle as you drive it back from the MOT testing station...

 

[newfutile]

I agree telectrix almost all of out properties have RCD and 609898 mcb protection and the main remedials i do are non working pendants / sockets , smoke and CO alarm changes and filling top of CU to IP4X , its quite rare to find missing main equipotential bonding and broken/incomplete rings and except for when a contractor has added type c mcbs all the maximum ZS are well under the 80% limit .

 

[telectrix]

You can be done for having an unroadworthy vehicle as you drive it back from the MOT testing station...

agree, but not much comfort to the pregnant nun you run over on a zebra crossing when your brakes fail

 

[Midwest]

thats correct midwest i dont agree with them either , however there view is i am under an employment contract to do EICR's in there properties which they deem as urgent health and safety work. they also tell me its there duty as a social landlord (tho im not sure why perhaps insurance related?)

Thats the crux of this matter. Your employer requires you to carry out your employment contract, whether you agree or not. Did you read my last link, about your employer taking your concerns into consideration. As said before this is new ground we are treading on, employment law might have things to say about this in due course, but it won’t be any time soon.

If you’ve registered your concerns, it’s now your employers responsibility. You can’t take the World on your shoulders.

 

[newfutile]

yes Midwest i have emailed him my concerns and he responded with a phone call , they are now purchasing a lot of extra PPE and i will change the way i do testing , wiping down CU before touching R1+R2 at pendants instead of switches wearing gloves eye protection and mask with alcohol wash before and after . also the tenant will be asked to keep away in another room after asking them if self isolating or any of the symptoms .
If any one else has any additional ideas i would like to hear them.

 

[Midwest]

yes Midwest i have emailed him my concerns and he responded with a phone call , they are now purchasing a lot of extra PPE and i will change the way i do testing , wiping down CU before touching R1+R2 at pendants instead of switches wearing gloves eye protection and mask with alcohol wash before and after . also the tenant will be asked to keep away in another room after asking them if self isolating or any of the symptoms .
If any one else has any additional ideas i would like to hear them.

As said before, I work in a carehome. Things are changing daily. Yesterday I had to wear full PPE to enter residents room, now I don’t. Situation is fluid.

 

[newfutile]

we have a number of care homes in our company but i have been told im not allowed in them at all!

 

[NDG Elecs]

Can't fully recall the full thread and it may have been mentioned already, but has HASWA been brought up? Your employer has a duty of care to all employees in the workplace..

 

[newfutile]

yes i did mention that they seem to think the risk is reduced by using PPE, wiping down surfaces and asking the tenant to stay in another room

 

[Midwest]

we have a number of care homes in our company but i have been told im not allowed in them at all!

Nope you wouldn’t; my Organization would not define an EICR as essential

 

[richy3333]

yes Midwest i have emailed him my concerns and he responded with a phone call , they are now purchasing a lot of extra PPE and i will change the way i do testing , wiping down CU before touching R1+R2 at pendants instead of switches wearing gloves eye protection and mask with alcohol wash before and after . also the tenant will be asked to keep away in another room after asking them if self isolating or any of the symptoms .
If any one else has any additional ideas i would like to hear them.

Has your employer considered that you and your colleagues could start spreading the virus around without knowing it? One of you could be asymptomatic etc. Sounds like the boss has little regard for his employers or the publics safety?

 

[Simon47]

Indeed, that is a risk. Go into one house, pick it up on your clothes, go to next house, pass it on. Short of insisting on a full deep clean of every property before you enter, you cannot be sure you aren't going to pick something up.
You could always knock on the door, and while winking at the occupier point out that you can't be sure you aren't carrying the virus, and are they sure they want you in the house ? Manage a full week of refusals and perhaps the employer will think about just saving the petrol and sending you home ?

 

[newfutile]

I have asked for a full RAMS statement , I did a retest just of global IR today (original IR was just over 2 M Ohms due to damp) and its very difficult to wear a mask , gloves , googles , head torch and test meter while testing .this could lead to a dangerous fault(s) being missed or even added.