The traffic light settings are now used throughout New Zealand
For trade businesses, Level 4 is the highest level of alert.
Anyone who is not working in an important service must remain at home during an Alert Level 4 lockdown. Outside of your own household bubble, you are not to make physical touch with anyone. You should work from home if possible; otherwise, you must remain at home.
Is it possible for tradies to work in Alert Level 4?
During Alert Level 4, tradies are asked to apply their common sense to determine whether the service they are delivering is critical.
Businesses that are important to the provision of life are referred to as essential businesses. This comprises electricians, plumbers, and builders in the trades industry who provide maintenance services to keep the requirements of life or critical safety in place.
During Alert Level 4, work that isn’t urgent must be put off. Here are some examples to help you tell the difference:
- Plumbers: You can repair or replace a broken hot water cylinder for sanitation reasons, but you can’t replace a working toilet.
- Electricians can fix or replace security alarms, but connecting a home theatre system isn’t regarded as necessary.
- Builders: You can fix structural damage that prohibits inhabitants from enjoying a dry, warm home, but you can’t lay a concrete slab for a BBQ.
If you’ve been called to provide emergency assistance and must leave your isolation bubble, you must do so in a method that reduces the danger of COVID-19 transmission. Wear a mask and follow the WorkSafe website’s requirements.
In an Alert Level 4 situation, regional travel for New Zealand tradespeople is prohibited.
You are only allowed to leave the house to:
- Purchase groceries.
- Get any medical attention you need.
- Take a COVID-19 test to see if you’re HIV positive.
- Exercising in your neighbourhood.
If you work in an Alert Level 4 vital service and can’t work from home, go to work.
Moving in and out of a territory that is in Alert Level 4 may be restricted if you need to travel for critical employment. The COVID-19 website has the most up-to-date information on travel and how to apply for an exception.
Purchasing construction supplies in Alert Level 4 Building and construction supply stores are still open, but only for critical work supplies.
Alert Level Three
If possible, you should also work from home during Alert Level 3. That means that if you have office personnel, they’ll have to work from home because they won’t be able to return to the office.
Is it possible for tradies to work in Alert Level 3?
Under some circumstances, tradies can return to work. Tradies returning to work must adhere to health and safety regulations, which include contact tracking, social distancing, and any mask requirements. Please check the WorkSafe website for the most recent revisions to health and safety recommendations.
For the industry, there are now precise Health and Safety standards accessible. Here’s a quick rundown of what you should be considering:
- Tradies can work – If it is safe to do so, tradies can do repairs and installations. Customers’ property, such as their homes, can be worked on by plumbers, electricians, and other craftsmen.
- You must work safely: Avoid direct contact with consumers and keep a distance of at least two metres between you and them. Ask if there is a back entry you may use if you need to enter a client’s house or business for a project and make sure they are aware of and will follow the physical distancing standards. You should also double-check that your customer (and anyone else on the premises) is symptom-free ahead of time.
- Physical distancing on the job – While keeping a 2-metre physical distance from people is ideal; it isn’t always achievable on a construction site. A one-metre separation from other workers is essential in a regulated workplace such as a construction site.
- Schedule jobs wisely – If you have a team working for you, the same criteria apply. If possible, send only one employee to the work environment; if more than one person is needed, send them in different vehicles and make sure they keep one metre away. If feasible, keep a space of two metres between you and the other person.
- Contact tracing is required; keep a complete record of where you and your team have gone and who you’ve spoken with. If one of you (or one of your customers) develops the virus, this helps authorities track down the source of transmission.
Alert Level 3 for regional travel for New Zealand tradespeople.
Travelling into or out of a region that is in Alert Level 3 may be restricted in some ways. The COVID-19 website has the most up-to-date information on travel and how to apply for an exception.
Purchasing construction materials in Alert Level 3 Building and construction vendors are available. To assist in restricting the spread of COVID-19, suppliers should have health and safety safeguards in place.
Alert Level 2 for Trade Businesses
At Alert Level 2, all establishments can reopen, but there will be a one-metre physical separation requirement, as well as tougher health and safety regulations.
Is it possible for tradies to work during Alert Level 2?
Tradies are allowed to work, but they must adhere to all health and safety regulations, such as contact tracing, social distance, and any mask requirements. Please check the WorkSafe website for the most recent revisions to health and safety recommendations.
Travel for tradies in New Zealand in an Alert Level 2 situation.
Under Alert Level 2, workers are permitted to go outside their own zone.
Building and construction suppliers are open for business in Alert Level 2. However, to assist restrict the spread of COVID-19, suppliers should have health and safety safeguards in place.
Level One Alert
At Alert Level 1, tradies can work and operate normally, as long as they follow the WorkSafe website’s rules.
Building and construction suppliers are open for business at Alert Level 1. To assist restrict the spread of COVID-19, suppliers should have health and safety safeguards in place.
Support from the government for COVID-19-affected tradespeople
Businesses affected by COVID-19 might receive financial assistance from the New Zealand government. For more information, go to the business.gov website.
Tradie contact tracing advice
Businesses will be required to supply the following contact information for individuals who have come into touch with an infected person. This information must be kept for a period of 14 days.
- Date and time, name, address, and phone number
- Contact information via email
It sounds like there’s a lot to keep track of, doesn’t it? You are correct. Make sure to keep track of your public liability insurance and make sure you are not paying too much! We recommend keeping precise timesheets to keep track of your everyday encounters. These should ideally be updated at the conclusion of each work session/job.
