Guidance for Interior Designers During the Global Pandemic (COVID-19)
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Several industries were required to work from home or temporarily suspend operations during the initial months of COVID-19 spreading in the United Kingdom (UK). An industry severely affected by these measures and the global pandemic is the building works or construction industry.
Since interior designers are required to be present at their worksite and cannot carry out all work-related activities from home, this segment of the construction industry had to delay projects until safety and operational guidelines were issued.
With several industries being permitted to reopen and resume operations, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) compiled guidelines for the interior design sector with input from the Society of British and International Interior Design and Society of British Interior Designers (SBID) and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The document covers a range of topics related to interior design and companies like R&M Bespoke Living Spaces will be required to adhere to these guidelines when operating during the pandemic. The document is available on the SBID website and it is vital that a building project management company or bespoke joinery manufacturer studies the guidelines carefully.
Managing Risk
The objective of these guidelines is to reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking preventative measures in order of priority.
Every workplace is required to increase the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning and must enable working from home as a first option. This may not be possible for those in bespoke interior design or bespoke furniture design and in such a situation, workplaces must comply with social distancing guidelines issued by the government by ensuring workers maintain a two-metre distance from each other.
If an activity cannot be carried out if these social distancing guidelines are followed in full, the building project management or interior design company must consider whether the activity is required for the business to continue. If the activity is required, the company must take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between members of the team.
These mitigating actions include increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning, keeping the activity time as short as possible, using screens or barriers to separate workers, opting for back-to-back or side-to-side working over face-to-face working, and reducing the number of people an employee comes into contact by having fixed teams.
A bespoke interior design company like R&M Bespoke Living Spaces is also advised to share the results of their risk assessments with their employees. It is expected of all companies with a staff of over 50, but others are also advised to publish the results on their website.
Who Should Go to Work?
The guidelines state that everyone should work from home unless they cannot and that no one should go to work if the business is closed under current government regulations. However, when resuming operations, a company like R&M Bespoke Living Spaces will require teams on site and there are several guidelines to adhere to in this regard.
The wellbeing of those working from home must be monitored and companies must help them stay connected, especially if the majority of their colleagues are on site. They must also be provided with the necessary equipment to work safely and effectively from home.
The building works company must also consider who is essential to be on site and plan for a minimum number to operate safely and effectively.
Specific guidelines have also been issued on protecting people who are at higher risk as well as steps to be taken regarding people who need to self-isolate.
The guidelines for interior design also cover social distancing at work, ensuring a two-metre distance is maintained between people whenever possible, and managing customers, visitors and contractors to minimise contact resulting from visits to stores or outlets. These guidelines, as well as those on cleaning the workplace, workforce management and inbound and outbound goods, are of importance to any bespoke furniture design or bespoke joinery manufacturer operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guidance for Interior Designers During the Global Pandemic (COVID-19)
Several industries were required to work from home or temporarily suspend operations during the initial months of COVID-19 spreading in the United Kingdom (UK). An industry severely affected by these measures and the global pandemic is the building works or construction industry.
Since interior designers are required to be present at their worksite and cannot carry out all work-related activities from home, this segment of the construction industry had to delay projects until safety and operational guidelines were issued.
With several industries being permitted to reopen and resume operations, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) compiled guidelines for the interior design sector with input from the Society of British and International Interior Design and Society of British Interior Designers (SBID) and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The document covers a range of topics related to interior design and companies like R&M Bespoke Living Spaces will be required to adhere to these guidelines when operating during the pandemic. The document is available on the SBID website and it is vital that a building project management company or bespoke joinery manufacturer studies the guidelines carefully.
Managing Risk
The objective of these guidelines is to reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking preventative measures in order of priority.
Every workplace is required to increase the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning and must enable working from home as a first option. This may not be possible for those in bespoke interior design or bespoke furniture design and in such a situation, workplaces must comply with social distancing guidelines issued by the government by ensuring workers maintain a two-metre distance from each other.
If an activity cannot be carried out if these social distancing guidelines are followed in full, the building project management or interior design company must consider whether the activity is required for the business to continue. If the activity is required, the company must take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between members of the team.
These mitigating actions include increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning, keeping the activity time as short as possible, using screens or barriers to separate workers, opting for back-to-back or side-to-side working over face-to-face working, and reducing the number of people an employee comes into contact by having fixed teams.
A bespoke interior design company like R&M Bespoke Living Spaces is also advised to share the results of their risk assessments with their employees. It is expected of all companies with a staff of over 50, but others are also advised to publish the results on their website.
Who Should Go to Work?
The guidelines state that everyone should work from home unless they cannot and that no one should go to work if the business is closed under current government regulations. However, when resuming operations, a company like R&M Bespoke Living Spaces will require teams on site and there are several guidelines to adhere to in this regard.
The wellbeing of those working from home must be monitored and companies must help them stay connected, especially if the majority of their colleagues are on site. They must also be provided with the necessary equipment to work safely and effectively from home.
The building works company must also consider who is essential to be on site and plan for a minimum number to operate safely and effectively.
Specific guidelines have also been issued on protecting people who are at higher risk as well as steps to be taken regarding people who need to self-isolate.
The guidelines for interior design also cover social distancing at work, ensuring a two-metre distance is maintained between people whenever possible, and managing customers, visitors and contractors to minimise contact resulting from visits to stores or outlets. These guidelines, as well as those on cleaning the workplace, workforce management and inbound and outbound goods, are of importance to any bespoke furniture design or bespoke joinery manufacturer operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
