With England and Scotland announcing national lockdowns, Wales in tier 4 restrictions and Northern Ireland tightening measures, the British Pest Control Association has highlighted some of its guidance for the sector and answered some key questions.
Can you go to work?
Yes. Guidance in all nations is still that if you can’t work from home you should continue to go to work.
Should you go to work? Is it safe?
The BPCA said that’s for you, your employer and your risk assessment to decide. It still strongly suggests you decide which work to take on a job-by-job basis.
Are pest professionals key/critical workers? Can I send my children to school?
Yes, pest professionals are key/critical workers. Remember, key/critical worker status is currently only used for allowing children to remain in school during a lockdown. Everyone who cannot work from home is still permitted to go to work. Tradespeople are still permitted to go into people’s homes and businesses.
Pest professionals are considered critical due to our protection of “food and other necessary goods” by the UK government, which was confiemedd by Defra on May 13.
Northern Ireland and much of Scotland’s Local Authorities have also confirmed that they consider pest management to be critical.
The only devolved administration that is yet to explicitly confirm pest professionals are key/critical workers is Wales.