A challenge in the trades

COVID-19 is creating new challenges for health in the trades.

On a regular day, it’s customary to chat with a customer without worrying about where they’ve been or whether they’re standing 6 feet away from you. COVID-19 is changing the way business is done for many industries and in record time. Electricians, plumbers, general contractors, and construction workers who visit homes, essential businesses, and other worksites may find themselves at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 depending on the location. Added risks bring new concerns for contactors in how to prevent the virus and how to respond to an infection.

While you can’t control everything, there are practices you can put in place to mitigate risk, as well as actions you can take to mitigate exposure in the event someone becomes sick.

Prevention

If you have not had a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in your workplace or on your jobsite, the additional steps that you may want to consider include the following.

• Encourage frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water Hand Washing Guidance.
• Hand sanitizer, with at least 60% alcohol content, is a secondary option.
• Remind everyone to keep noses and mouths covered when coughing or sneezing Coughing and Sneezing Etiquett.
• Avoid touching in and around the eyes, with unwashed hands.
• Practice social distancing (maintaining a safe distance of at least six (6) feet from others) as much as practical.
• Require sick employees to stay at home.

Response

If you have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, the additional steps that you may want to consider include these.

• Remove the infected, or potentially infected, employee from the workplace or jobsite: Before the employee departs, ensure you have a full list of affected employees who may needbe sent home(i.e., individuals who worked in close proximity (three to six feet) with them in the previous 14 days).For suspected cases, take the same precautions and treat the situation as if the suspected case is a confirmed case for purposes of sending home potentially infected employees.
• Ensure a medical evaluation is completed: Advise the employee to contact a medical care providerto discuss the symptoms that they are experiencing and follow any orders given.
• Investigate: Just as you would investigate a workplace injury (i.e., slip and fall), investigate suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, and document your investigation. (Investigating may assist with the determination of work-relatedness of the confirmed case or exposure.)
• Identify corrective actions: These items will include what additional measures could be put into place to prevent further spreading of the virus on the jobsite or in the workplace as well as future occurrences. Such measures may include the cleaning and sanitizing of the work area(s) and/or tools (hand and power) as well as reinforcing the guidelines for prevention outlined by CDC with others in the workplace and on the jobsite.
• Establish a procedure to follow up: Communicate with both affected and non-affected employees on the status of the suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case, but do not communicate the name of affected individuals or specific medical diagnoses. Where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19, notify affected employees and encouragethemto seek medical attention. If a suspected case tests negative, notify affected employees and encourage them to return to work.

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Handling Covid-19 Online

Expect many of your customers and potential customers to check online to see if there are updates about your business regarding COVID-19.

Here are some tips for what to do online:

• Include an announcement on your Homepage, or create a featured post on Facebook where visitors can quickly see COVID-19 information.
• Tell your customers about changes to your business hours or availability, including on your GoogleMyBusiness listing (temporary hours are now an option).
• Share the steps you’re taking to protect the health of your customers .
• Remind customers that you’re open as an essential business should they need you for repairs.

Remember, We are here for you

Our goal is and always will be to continue to help you succeed in your market. If there is anything that we can do to help you through these times please do not hesitate to reach out.