5 Safety Steps to Implement When Booking a Plumber in Isolation

Just because we are all in isolation, doesn’t mean plumbing jobs stop. If you have a plumber coming to your home during this period, here are 5 Safety Steps to implement before and during your plumbing visit at your Melbourne home.

Step 1. Be Sure Your Plumber Has a COVID-19 Safety Management Plan

Be sure your Plumber has a COVID-19 Safety Management Plan and that you have read and understood it. If you have any questions regarding their plan, make sure you ask. Remember, if you’re not satisfied, there are many responsible plumbers in Melbourne with compliant COVID-19 safety management plans, make sure you choose one you’re comfortable with.

The Master Plumbers Association of Victoria is a great resource to learn what the requirements are for a plumber working in your home, especially their COVID-19 Information Hub.

There are also many State and Federal Government resource guidelines online.

Step 2. Make Sure Your Plumber Adheres to their Safety Management Plan

A great plan that isn’t adhered to is not worth the paper it’s written on. If your plumber is not carrying out work in a manner that reflects their COVID-19 Safety Plan, then ask them to stop. Explain that you feel unsafe with them working the way they are, and it doesn’t reflect the guidelines set out in their plan.

Remember you are the client and the health and safety of your family, and the plumber working at your home is paramount. If the Plumber refuses to change then you are within your rights to ask them to stop and leave.

Step 3. Maintain Physical Distancing

“Social Distancing or Physical Distancing” is a phrase we are constantly hearing and it’s an extremely important one. Maintain a physical distance of a minimum of 1.5-meters. Be mindful that the plumber working at your home keeps a 1.5-meter distance from you and your family.

If you have any questions about what your plumber is doing or why they are doing it, then feel free to ask, your plumber should be only too willing to provide answers to your questions. It’s also important that you don’t encroach on their space and keep the 1.5-meter distance at all times.

You may be tempted to look over their shoulder to see what they are doing but by doing this, you’re placing their health and safety at risk and they are within their rights to ask you to step back. If you choose not to and they feel they are in a vulnerable position, then they are within their rights to leave.

Step 4. When Making Your Booking, Answer the Health-Related Questions Honestly

When you make a booking, we will ask you a series of health-related questions (see below) to help us manage your appointment in a safe manner. These questions are an important step in reducing the risk of infection to yourself, your plumber, their family and the greater community.

Here are some of the Health-Related questions:

• Have you been in close contact with someone with COVID-19?
• Have you been told to isolate?
• Have you recently arrived back in Australia (last 14 days)?
• Have you, or anyone in the household tested positive for COVID-19, or are awaiting test results?
• Do you, or anyone living with you, have any flu-like symptoms, a fever, cough, or shortness of breath?
• Can you please maintain the recommended social distancing measures of 1.5m minimum during our visit?

Step 5. Only Engage in a Master Plumber

A Master Plumber is a plumber or organisation that is registered to an association that has a strict code of ethics. The Master Plumbers Association ensures all its members are qualified and meet a number of practice and trade standards. The Association is intent on ensuring that there is uniformity in licensing of plumbing contractors, in the regulation of the plumbing industry and in the training delivery of plumbing qualifications. It’s like having a black belt in plumbing.

Essendon Plumbing Services is a member of the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPSAA), also known as ‘Master Plumbers Association’. See our blog ‘What is a Master Plumber?’ to learn more.

Contact Us

All the local plumbers at Essendon Plumbing Services understand the safety precautions needed to attend a plumbing job during COVID-19. So, give us a call on 1300 193 298, we’d be happy to help!