UK Government Covid-19 Guidance for Working in Other People’s Homes
Read on for an overview of the official guidelines laid out to maintain safety when working in residential properties
Amanda Pollard
9 June 2020
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
To ensure businesses that work in home environments keep their staff healthy, the government released a set of Covid-19 safety guidelines on 11 May. Here’s a rundown of the advice to help you create a workplace that runs safely. This guidance is for people who provide services in, and to, people’s homes, as well as employers of these individuals (which may include households).
Before actioning any of this advice, bear in mind that it’s a set of guidelines. (For Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, it should also be considered alongside local public health and safety requirements and legislation.) The government stipulates that you should carry out an appropriate Covid-19 risk assessment first, just as you would for other health-and-safety-related hazards, and this should be done in consultation with unions or workers.
Before actioning any of this advice, bear in mind that it’s a set of guidelines. (For Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, it should also be considered alongside local public health and safety requirements and legislation.) The government stipulates that you should carry out an appropriate Covid-19 risk assessment first, just as you would for other health-and-safety-related hazards, and this should be done in consultation with unions or workers.
Can I work in any home now?
No. You shouldn’t work in a household that is self-isolating or where anyone is shielding.
When working in a household where somebody is clinically vulnerable, but has not been asked to shield – for example, the home of someone over 70 – prior arrangements should be made to avoid any face-to-face contact – for example, when answering the door.
The government advises that the first option should be to work from home by finding alternatives, such as digital consultations. However, it recognises this isn’t always possible for in-home providers.
The guidance states that no one should be obliged to work in an unsafe environment. So if staff have to work face-to-face for a sustained period with more than a small group of fixed partners, you really need to assess whether the activity can safely go ahead.
No. You shouldn’t work in a household that is self-isolating or where anyone is shielding.
When working in a household where somebody is clinically vulnerable, but has not been asked to shield – for example, the home of someone over 70 – prior arrangements should be made to avoid any face-to-face contact – for example, when answering the door.
The government advises that the first option should be to work from home by finding alternatives, such as digital consultations. However, it recognises this isn’t always possible for in-home providers.
The guidance states that no one should be obliged to work in an unsafe environment. So if staff have to work face-to-face for a sustained period with more than a small group of fixed partners, you really need to assess whether the activity can safely go ahead.
What are the main things my team can do to reduce the risk of transmission?
The government advice for workers includes:
The government advice for workers includes:
- Increase the frequency of hand-washing and surface-cleaning.
- Keep the activity time involved as short as possible.
- Use screens or barriers to separate people from each other.
- Use back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible.
- Reduce the number of people each person has contact with by using ‘fixed teams or partnering’ (so each person works with only a few others).
- Communicate with households prior to any visit and discuss how the work will be carried out to minimise risk for all parties.
How can I reduce risk when travelling to and from a home?
Workers should try to travel to sites alone in their own transport, where insurance allows.
However, if workers have to travel together, they should be encouraged to take measures such as the following:
Workers should try to travel to sites alone in their own transport, where insurance allows.
However, if workers have to travel together, they should be encouraged to take measures such as the following:
- Make journeys with the same individuals and limit the number of people travelling per vehicle.
- Maintain good ventilation by keeping windows open, and face away from other passengers to reduce risk of transmission.
- Clean vehicles frequently using gloves and standard cleaning products, with emphasis on handles and other areas where passengers may touch surfaces.
- Where possible, employers should match workers to households local to them to minimise transportation.
- Wash hands on arrival and maintain social distancing when entering the home.
How can my team work safely while in a home?
The government recognises that in some homes, it isn’t always possible to maintain physical distance from customers. If this is the case, the guidelines include:
The government recognises that in some homes, it isn’t always possible to maintain physical distance from customers. If this is the case, the guidelines include:
- Pay extra attention to equipment, cleaning and hygiene to reduce risk.
- Assign working materials, such as tools or domestic appliances, to an individual rather than sharing them. If they need to be shared, they should be shared by the smallest possible number of people.
- Discuss with households ahead of a visit to ask that a 2m distance is kept from those working, if possible.
- Ask that households leave all internal doors open to minimise contact with door handles.
- Identify busy areas across the household where people travel to, from or through – for example, stairs and corridors – and minimise movement within these areas.
- Bring your own food and drink to households and have breaks outside where possible.
- Limit the number of workers within a confined space to maintain social distancing.
- Use a fixed pairing system if people have to work in close proximity. For example, during two-person assembly or maintenance.
- Allocate the same workers to a household where jobs are repetitive.
Should we hold face-to-face meetings with homeowners?
The government advises you use remote working tools to avoid having appointments in person. If you do have to hold an in-person meeting, the advice includes:
The government advises you use remote working tools to avoid having appointments in person. If you do have to hold an in-person meeting, the advice includes:
- Only absolutely necessary participants should attend appointments and should maintain 2m separation where possible.
- Avoid transmission during appointments – for example, from sharing pens and other objects.
- Hold meetings outdoors or in well-ventilated rooms whenever possible.
How do we take deliveries safely?
If you need to have goods delivered to the home, there are a few things you can do to prevent transmission.
For example, minimise contact during deliveries by asking the driver to call beforehand rather than ringing the doorbell. Also, try to have single workers loading or unloading vehicles. If more than one person is needed, use the same pairs of people.
You can also minimise contact during payments and exchange of documentation by using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.
If you have to collect materials yourself, try to buy them in bulk to reduce the frequency of needing to visit shops. The same advice is given for removing waste, which should also be done in bulk if possible.
If you need to have goods delivered to the home, there are a few things you can do to prevent transmission.
For example, minimise contact during deliveries by asking the driver to call beforehand rather than ringing the doorbell. Also, try to have single workers loading or unloading vehicles. If more than one person is needed, use the same pairs of people.
You can also minimise contact during payments and exchange of documentation by using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.
If you have to collect materials yourself, try to buy them in bulk to reduce the frequency of needing to visit shops. The same advice is given for removing waste, which should also be done in bulk if possible.
Should my team wear face coverings?
Wearing a face covering is optional, but if you do decide to use them, it’s important to give the following guidelines:
Wearing a face covering is optional, but if you do decide to use them, it’s important to give the following guidelines:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitiser, both before putting a face covering on and after removing it.
- When wearing a face covering, avoid touching your face or face covering, as you could contaminate them with germs from your hands.
- Change your face covering if it becomes damp or if you’ve touched it.
- Continue to wash your hands frequently.
- Change or wash your face covering daily. If the material is washable, wash in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. If it’s not washable, dispose of it carefully in your usual waste.
- Practice social distancing wherever possible.
What hygiene measures should we take while working in a home?
The government advises the same hygiene measures as you’d use in other settings, including:
The government advises the same hygiene measures as you’d use in other settings, including:
- Wash your hands more often than usual for 20 seconds using soap and hot water, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose.
- Reduce the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve, not your hands. Throw the tissue in a bin immediately, then wash your hands.
- Clean frequently touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.
- If hand-washing facilities are not accessible, you should carry hand sanitiser.
- Frequently clean objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, using your usual cleaning products.
- Arrange with the householder methods of safely disposing of waste.
- Remove all waste and belongings from the work area at the end of a shift and at the end of a job.
How do I identify and protect my vulnerable staff?
It’s essential to protect those people who are clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely vulnerable – these individuals have been strongly advised not to work outside the home.
Government advice includes the following:
It’s essential to protect those people who are clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely vulnerable – these individuals have been strongly advised not to work outside the home.
Government advice includes the following:
- You should help clinically vulnerable individuals, who are at higher risk of severe illness, to work from home, either in their current role or an alternative role.
- If clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) individuals cannot work from home, you should offer them the safest available on-site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. If this isn’t possible, you should carefully assess whether this involves an acceptable level of risk.
- Consider, also, other employees with protected characteristics. Expectant mothers, for example, are entitled to suspension on full pay if suitable roles cannot be found. Also, pay particular attention to people who live with clinically extremely vulnerable individuals.
How do I look after staff who are working from home?
The advice is to monitor the wellbeing of people who are working from home and help them stay connected to colleagues. This is particularly important if most of their colleagues are on site.
Keep in touch with your off-site workers and pay attention to their welfare, mental and physical health, and personal security.
It’s also important to provide equipment for people to work from home safely and effectively, and to ensure they can access all the work systems.
Read the full UK government guidelines for Working safely during COVID-19 in other people’s homes.
Tell us…
How are you finding implementing the safety guidelines so far? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments.
The advice is to monitor the wellbeing of people who are working from home and help them stay connected to colleagues. This is particularly important if most of their colleagues are on site.
Keep in touch with your off-site workers and pay attention to their welfare, mental and physical health, and personal security.
It’s also important to provide equipment for people to work from home safely and effectively, and to ensure they can access all the work systems.
Read the full UK government guidelines for Working safely during COVID-19 in other people’s homes.
Tell us…
How are you finding implementing the safety guidelines so far? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments.
Related Stories
Business Talk
How to be a Truly Sustainable Interior Designer
Find out the key things you can do to reduce your and your client’s carbon footprint both during and after a project
Full Story
Business Talk
How to Produce a Compelling Newsletter for Your Business
By Becky Harris
Experts share 10 tips for engaging prospective and current clients with email newsletters
Full Story
Research
What Are the Budgeting Habits of UK Renovation Clients?
Discover how UK homeowners spend their money, finance their projects and manage the costs
Full Story
Business Talk
10 Tips for Building Good Relationships With Other Pros
Industry professionals share how to find the right people to work and form bonds with when collaborating on projects
Full Story
Business Talk
5 Ways to Attract More Clients to Your Renovation Business
Find out what homeowners are looking for when hiring a design professional for their project
Full Story
Kitchens
Which of These Kitchen Renovation Trends Would You Choose?
By Kate Burt
The 2024 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report is out. Dive into the highlights to see what’s topping your choices
Full Story
Renovating
Best of Houzz 2024: The Winning Design Projects
The Best of Houzz 2024 award winners have been announced. Take a look at some of the winning designs
Full Story
Trade Fairs
What Are the Surface Trends for 2024 and Beyond?
Discover the key themes that will be influencing surface materials in the year ahead
Full Story
Trade Fairs
Key Interiors Trends from the 2024 Maison&Objet Design Fair
For its 30th birthday edition, the trade show turned its focus to the link between nature and technology
Full Story
Renovating
What Are Your Renovation Plans for the Year Ahead?
By Kate Burt
Are you moving or staying put, cancelling renovations or forging ahead – and, if so, with what type of project?
Full Story
Great article with good helpful hints.
If any designer feels the need to practice these guidelines I would be willing to accommodate them for a full design and project management for my upcoming renovation. I would, of course, charge no fee. Manchester area…