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Guidelines for builders’ merchants

Opening up. The Construction Leadership Council and the Builders Merchants Federation have published guidelines to help builders’ merchants protect their staff and customers during the coronavirus pandemic (see The next step ).

What’s covered? The document is filled with practical suggestions on how to operate safely including: (1) daily checks; (2) travelling to work; (3) running an office; (4) receiving and sending deliveries; (5)  serving customers; and (6) tool hire. Many of the suggested precautions equally apply to other retailers.

Tip 1. Ask staff to wash their hands immediately on arrival at the premises, regularly throughout the day, and before using any communal kitchen equipment.

Tip 2. Use surface cleaners which are certified as effective against viruses. If you can’t find these, wipe down first with soapy water and then follow with a dilute bleach solution (the solution should have 1,000 parts per million of chlorine). Clean all touch points every day.

Tip 3. For customer collections consider whether you can create a contact-free system. If that’s not a possibility provide clear signage to inform visitors of your rules. Mark floors to show two metre spacing for customers and one-way routes.

For a link to the guidelines, visit http://tipsandadvice-healthandsafety.co.uk/download (HS 18.18.08).