Safe Working Practices Launched for Installers
It’s not the first time Lakes have been innovators and industry leaders, their virtual bathroom impressed Graham at the beginning of July. Clearly, the recent world situation has given the company time to develop ideas and concepts for the betterment of the industry. The guides have been produced with the so-called ‘new normal’ in mind, titled ‘Safe Working in the Home’. One is aimed at bathroom installers whilst the other is for homeowners, with the intention of helping both parties broach the challenges of fitting a bathroom in the current climate. They are available in two formats, paper or PDF, and include information such as the latest government guidelines for complete clarity to both interested parties.
Mike Tattam, the Sales and Marketing Director of Lakes, explained in the BMJ that their intention was to help make home improvement projects easier as we move into the latter part of the year. “Many home improvement projects were put on hold during lockdown, but with restrictions now easing, homeowners and installers are keen to pick up where they left off while minimising any potential risks,” Tattam said. “We’ve created these simple guides to help everyone get back to ‘normal’ as safely as possible. Staying safe is everyone’s responsibility and that includes suppliers. It’s in all our interests to get the industry back to work selling bathroom products and installing with confidence in a safe way.”
The guides are part of the wider industry campaign with a ‘Safe Selling, Safe Working’ logo, which is aimed at helping get construction back on track. The driving force is to restore customer confidence in people entering and working on their property, as well as alleviating the worries of the same plumbers and fitters when buying their products from their local merchant.
The merchant industry suffered a muddled start to the year, with many major brands such as Buildbase closing their doors completely, whilst some remained open for larger sites to continue even in the early days of the restrictions. Concerns around colleague safety and the potential for customers to come into contact with a great many people have thus prompted the recent safe working drive, something Tom Reynolds, the CEO of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, recognises.
“Homeowners are finally able to put their plans and ideas into practice, it is important they have full confidence that the work can be carried out safely. BMA is supporting all efforts by our members and partners to provide consumers with that confidence. These guides admirably provide practical advice for stockists, installers and homeowners. I recommend them wholeheartedly to you.”
There is also an intention to help homeowners safely navigate their own installation. Safety has been highlighted in recent months, but it has always been one of the issues impacting home renovations and improvements. Aside from safe working practices, those looking to conduct renovations within their home have had to take precautions for many years, something that has become easier with technology. It is more straightforward for a homeowner to vet prospective builders through internet sites and other customer feedback, prior to a single tile being chipped off their bathroom wall.
Post-installation, there are other precautions they can take to ensure a safer future for them and their new bathroom. Information on plumbing coverage by HomeServe details how you can get cover for specific parts of the installation after it has been completed, such as pipes and drainage, to offer peace of mind after any expensive renovation. Any changes to the fabric of your home present potential not only for issues, but also severe costs if things go wrong, and it must be removed. Having some form of cover will give you extra reassurance long after your plumber has left the building.
In the current climate, you can never quite be 100% safe, but by following the safe working guides, all sides of the installation industry can protect themselves as much as possible. Suppliers and installers can follow the guides for safe working practices, whilst homeowners simply have another weapon in their arsenal as they too work towards safety, not only from new threats but also those which have existed long before, such as rogue traders and mechanical malfunction.