COVID-19 Update

Like so many of you, we have spent the last several days and weeks learning about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it’s impacting our world. Luckily, the plumbing industry is one of the least affected industries, although you may receive requests from prospective or recurring customers to know how your technicians are “COVID-19 Safe”. This newsletter is broken up into the following sections:

1. Keeping Your Workers Safe
2. ASSE Released FREE Certification Training (link to certification training below)
3. Water Environment Federation COVID-19 Resource
4. Addressing Your Customers (Newsletter for your customers included below)

Keeping Your Workers Safe

Firstly, we wanted to update you on the publications, data and safety measures to keep your workers safe. PHCP Pros published an extensive article (https://www.phcppros.com/articles/11048-understanding-coronavirus-exposure-for-plumbing-professionals) March 12th reviewing the precautions that should be taken to keep your technicians safe and below is the main excerpt addressing technician safety:

 

 

“Finally, common sense still reigns supreme. Plumbers are advised to increase the frequency of hand washing and wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water (even longer hand washing time is good practice after contact with wastewater); avoid touching the face; cover any open cuts or wounds and wear proper PPE. If you personally come into close proximity, or into direct contact with an infected person, immediately report the incident to your supervisor and to your doctor or healthcare provider.

Good workplace and tool cleaning practices are also extremely important. Avoid sharing of tools with coworkers to the greatest extent possible. When choosing cleaning chemicals, look for cleaning agents with claims against viral pathogens. If such cleaning agents are not available, use soap and water and dry tools thoroughly after use. Keep your PPE clean as well by following manufacturer instructions carefully.

With no vaccine or treatment regimen currently available, it is important for all workers to be able to recognize the symptoms associated with contracting the coronavirus, which includes fever, shortness of breath, and persistent cough. Symptoms can take between two to 14 days to become apparent after exposure to the virus. If you start to feel ill, stop work immediately so as to protect your coworkers and others around you, go home, contact your doctor and follow your doctor’s orders. This is critically important when working in a facility that houses immuno-compromised people.”

ASSE Released FREE Certification Training

The ASSE released their certification training for FREE “while the pandemic remains”:

 

 

“Additionally, ASSE International’s Series 12000 Standard, Professional Qualifications Standard for Infection Control Risk Assessment for All Building Systems, is a standard that sets minimum criteria for the training and certification of pipe trades craftspeople, and other construction and maintenance personnel, on how to safely work in an environment with the potentially deadly diseases that may be present within worksites. While the pandemic remains ongoing, ASSE International is making the ASSE Series 12000 Standard available for free at http://www.asse-plumbing.org/12000-2018. The ASSE 12000 certification training addresses viruses, including the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus, but does not specifically reference COVID-19. We welcome plumbers from across the globe to consider professional qualification for infection control risk assessment especially when working on sanitary systems that have a high probability of being contaminated with COVID-19, such as healthcare facilities and hospitals.”

Water Environment Federation COVID-19 Resource

For updates on CoronaVirus for water professionals you may want to keep an eye on this page: https://www.wef.org/news-hub/current-priorities/coronavirus/

 

 

Addressing Your Customers

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have been receiving requests to help create a newsletter for you to send out to your customers about the CoronaVirus.  Some companies are getting requests from prospective leads or customers wanting to know that anyone entering their home is “CoronaVirus Safe”. As in, they want to make sure whoever enters their home is wearing gloves, a mask and some are asking if testing is being done on your workers.

Should you proactively send all customers a newsletter and update your website to reflect your COVID-19 Safety Precautions?

So, let us just share a bit about our take on this.  We have had some requests to put a “COVID-19 Safe” banner or badge on clients’ homepage that links to information about precautions taken to make sure technicians are “COVID-19 Safe”.   After looking at many national home service brands most are not updating their websites with information to show that their workers are “COVID-19 Safe”.   Although the main feedback from watching major brands to consultants is to “not advertise or mention COVID-19 unless asked”, we have been getting asked for these materials so we have produced them for you in the event you wish to send out a newsletter or update your site.

Below is a Coronavirus Advisory newsletter template you may optionally send to your customers or put on your website:

• • Send out to your list of customers
  • Post on your social media channels, such as Facebook and make it a sticky post or pin on top
  • Post on your website with COVID-19 Safe BADGE on your homepage (badges designed by us below)
  • 
    

COVID-19 Update

Like so many of you, we have spent the last several days and weeks learning about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it is impacting our world.

For [Company Name], that means understanding how it affects our employees, customers, and communities, and then making the necessary adjustments to our workers and operations.

We have one simple objective that guides us: keeping you and our employees safe. This has been at the center of our conversations every step of the way. With that in mind, we have implemented many precautionary processes inside our business in response to the threat of the coronavirus based on precautionary measures outlined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

 

 

 

• • • We have shared specific instructions with our employees on the importance of washing their hands.
    • All of our technicians have tested negative for COVID-19
    • We have ramped up cleaning and sanitation at our offices including our equipment.
    • Technicians sanitize themselves before leaving for our offices for an appointment and right before entering your home or office.
    • Our technicians will practice social distancing and will be wearing masks to protect you and themselves from possible COVID-19 transmission.
    • It’s standard practice for our technicians to wear gloves

Important Fixes in Your Home to Protect You from COVID-19

 

 

We could not emphasize any further how important frequent hand-washing with soap and water is to prevent the transmission of germs and viruses including the dreaded COVID-19. As well as how important your drains should be in tip-top shape to keep germs and viruses at bay.

(For Plumbing)

Therefore, you should not hesitate to call for repairs when there is something wrong with your:

• • • Water pipes preventing your access to free-flowing running water, and
    • Clogged or backed-up drains
    • (insert your list of main services here)
    • Might want to emphasize Bidet (paperless toilets) installation if you offer this since it is more sanitary and toilet paper is selling out.

(For HVAC)

Did you know that the air inside your home could be filled with impurities that can be found outdoors, including droplets that could contain germs and viruses, such as COVID-19?

Studies from the EPA show that due to the limited space indoors, the impurities in your home or office are higher in density per square inch than outdoors.

And so, a well-functioning air quality system should be in your home and office.

• • • Have your Indoor Air Quality checked
    • Make sure that your HVAC filters are regularly checked and cleaned.
    • Make sure that you have UV lights installed and are working properly.

Do not hesitate to contact us.

We are well-prepared for COVID-19 and we are ready to extend that protection and preparedness to you and your home to protect your loved ones. / to your office to protect your employees.