Covid 19 virus update
As museums, historic houses and private collections start to re-open to visitors, we are pleased to get back to work. Drawing on guidance from the HSE, NHS, Historic England, Construction Leadership Council, and the UK Government, we have added Covid-19 precautions to our normal working practices, in order to reduce the risks to our own staff, and to everyone we work with, both on site and at our workshop. We believe that these measures will ensure a safe, healthy and welcoming service for everyone – and we very much look forward to working with you again!
Risk assessment
Workshops and office premises:
We introduced a Covid-19 guidance to ensure that staff and visitors are at limited risk to catch or transmit the corona virus. The following actions are put in place:
Precaution:
Undergoing daily temperature checks to detect infection at an early stage.
Limiting the number of people present in any space at any time to ensure social distancing.
Visitors will be by appointment only, and their visits will be recorded. This will allow for tracing in case any of us or any visitors develop symptoms. Signages to that effect will be on the gates and all external doors.
The main symptoms of suspected Covid-19 can include: a high temperature; a continuous cough; loss of taste or smell. Any staff member or visitor experiencing Covid-19 symptoms such as high temperature, continuous cough, loss of taste or smell is required to remove themselves immediately, report to the director of the company and self-isolate.
Cleaning and hygiene:
Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are provided (for staff, visitors and delivery personal) at every public entrance, washrooms and individual work spaces.
Staff frequently cleans and disinfects objects and work surfaces that are touched regularly.
If equipment like tools or vehicles are shared, they are cleaned between uses.
Personal Protective Clothing:
Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) where it is considered to limit the hazard risk (disposable gloves, goggles, and masks).
Safe disposal of PPE and cleaning waste according to HSE guidance (plastic rubbish bag, tied, stored safely for 72hrs before disposed in communal waste).
Site work:
Work-related travel takes place with precaution. If possible, travel is avoided and clients encouraged to send objects to the workshop for treatment. If travel and in-situ work is necessary we emphasise on good communication with property staff regarding estimated arrival times, parking facilities, un/up loading areas, possible ‘break out’ areas.
To ensure that our team together with other contractors and house staff can work safely on site we might send a designated person to visit new sites to take a risk assessment.
We designed a separate risk assessment to address the risks of covid-19, controlling the risk and inform sensible control measures.