Working in Your Home

Despite the rapidly changing status of the Coronavirus outbreak across the UK, Peter Cox remain open to provide our usual high standard of services while following government guidelines and taking the necessary steps required to allow us to carry out work safely in people’s homes, offering you peace of mind.

The following government guidelines on social distancing in the workplace allow us carry out essential repairs and maintenance in people's homes, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms:

“Construction work plays an important role in ensuring public safety and the provision of public services. It can continue if done in accordance with the social distancing guidelines wherever possible."

"[Our colleagues] will maintain a safe distance (at least 2 metres) from any household occupants at all times, and you should ensure good ventilation in the area where you are working, including opening the window."

"No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repairs, and where the tradesperson is willing to do so.”

Published 7th April 2020, updated 4th May 2020. Find out more here.

Get in touch today to find out how Peter Cox can treat damp, woodworm, rot and structural waterproofing problems in your property while keeping our customers and colleagues safe. You can also continue reading this page to learn more.

To ensure we are abiding by Government guidance our colleagues will undertake the following steps before, during and after work on any site:

• An internal Risk Assessment and Method Statement review and approval system will take place to ensure that any vulnerable persons are carefully assessed to ensure that the correct controls and procedures are in place.
• Internal processes are in place to ensure our employees do not leave home or attend work if they are experiencing symptoms or are required to self-isolate.
• The branch office, surveyor or technician is to contact the customer by telephone on the appointment day to ascertain whether there is active risk of Coronavirus or if any occupant is self-isolating.
• Colleagues will travel individually as lift sharing is not permitted to ensure the two metre social distancing rule is adhered to.
• Before entering a property, our colleagues are to ask the occupant if they or other occupants are self-isolating or have Coronavirus, ensuring that the two metre social distancing measures are in place.

Listed below are some of the steps Peter Cox have put in place to ensure appropriate social distancing and hygiene when working in peoples homes.

With regards to hygiene our surveyors and technicians have been instructed to: 

• Avoid touching their mouth, nose, eyes and face.
• Do not touch gates, exterior handles etc. without first putting on disposable gloves.
• Avoid shaking hands/any physical contact with the client.
• Hands must be washed/cleaned each time gloves are taken on and off.

With regards to social distancing measures our surveyors and technicians have been instructed to:

• Travel to and from work via individual vehicles.
• Maintain 2 metre distances whilst working on site. Where this is not possible they will wear the appropriate PPE in accordance with the guidelines.
• Adhere to a cleaning process in place for work equipment such as scissor lifts, MEWPs and other mechanical equipment.
• Whilst working, clearly display ALL relevant signage appropriate to the work being carried out to ensure work areas can be cordoned off which supports social distancing measures.
• Follow training and awareness provided by the company on how to wash and clean their hands correctly.
• Use the hand sanitiser that all our colleagues have been supplied with.
• Use the nitrile gloves and supporting information provided by the company to ensure cross contamination does not occur.
• Remove the need for all but essential and prearranged site meetings only.

While Peter Cox have instructed our staff to follow the above guidelines, we are also making sure our colleagues stay informed about Coronavirus and are trained on how to operate safely.

As a result, all employees and colleagues must adhere to the following:

• Regularly receive Coronavirus Operational Guidance Updates.
• Complete our Hand Hygiene eLearning video.
• Complete our Coronavirus-specific learning programme via our IOSH Approved IHASCO training platform.
• Utilise technology provided by the company to enhance our surveyors and management team understanding around Coronavirus Risk Assessment and Method Statements.

Peter Cox have made sure that all of our colleagues have received quantitative and qualitative face fit testing for Respiratory Protective Equipment to ensure that any equipment we provide is suitable and adequately fitted for the individual by our external qualified provider.

To support this requirement, we have a strong face fitting RPE and clean shaven policy to ensure that we maintain a high level of compliance and also satisfy our legal duties as an employer.

As part of Rentokil Initial, we have access to the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE).

Our customers are already telling us what they think about our approach to repairing homes while keeping safe:

"I just wanted to pass on my thanks for the professionalism demonstrated during our survey today. These are such strange times but he was reassuring, wore all PPE and stuck to guidelines etc. He completely understood my concerns with little children in the house."