SM Services, coronavirus work practices and risk assessment. (last updated October)
Following the initial lockdown implemented on 23 March 2020, to reduce the spread of coronavirus, minimise danger to the population and protect the NHS, laws were passed allowing the police to enforce requirements to reduce the spread of the virus. As regional and local circumstances have changed some recommendations and/or laws have been amended. Current government guidance can be found at:
As a self employed, sole trader, providing electrical installation and maintenance services, SM Services has limited scope to undertake “working from home”. SM Services has continued to be available to undertake any work that can be conducted in a safe manner by mutual agreement with all parties involved.
All workers, including the self employed have a legal duty to comply with the “Health And Safety At Work Act” which includes requirements for risk assessment of each workplace and job. Coronavirus has introduced additional risks that need to be assessed and suitable precautions to be implemented. Government guidance is available: gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes
The framework of SM Services risk assessment is mutual agreement of the following points:
- The proposed work cannot be undertaken remotely via homeworking.
- Stuart Mills t/a SM Services has not had any known symptoms, or been in contact with any other person who has had symptoms of Coronavirus.
- There are no practical limitations preventing the work to proceed whilst adopting appropriate social-distancing, as per government guidance whilst at the property.
- Suitable PPE is available to be used as required.
- If any Coronavirus symptoms become evident in either party, or any members of their household within 2 weeks of the work date, then both parties shall contact the other immediately, so that any appropriate isolation procedures can be adopted.
Additionally, no persons residing at the home address of SM Services is isolating due to travel from any restricted regions.
Because no symptoms of Coronavirus have been evident and there has been no know contact with third parties who have had symptoms, no persons living at SM Services home address has taken any formal Covid-19 tests.
SM Services recommends using the NHS track & trace phone App. and the Kings College Covid-19 research App, which are both downloadable onto a compatible smart-phone.
( The COVID-19 Symptom Study app is developed by health science company ZOE. It is endorsed by the Welsh Government, NHS Wales, the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland. Over 4,000,000 participants have downloaded the app and are using it to regularly report on their health, making it the largest public science project of its kind anywhere in the world. App data is being analysed in collaboration with King’s College London researchers. )
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