How to Limit Coronavirus Exposure During Home Repairs
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In addition, talk to anyone coming into your home about the safeguards they will take. Some people feel timid bringing this up, but they shouldn’t, says Jeff Yoder, owner of ShelfGenie, a national shelving installation company in Washington, D.C. He says customers regularly ask him about the COVID-19 prevention steps his company mandates. “I take my temperature every morning,” he says. “I bring a thermometer with me and my whole team has thermometers” and daily checks. He also developed a checklist for his crews to ensure they follow proper COVID-19 prevention rules. Customers should create a list of questions for contractors, Yoder says. Those might include: Are workers required to wear masks over nose and mouth?Will workers before entering a home? Are they provided with hand sanitizer?Are or have daily temperature checks?Do workers try to maintain 6 feet of distance within a home? Yoder advises homeowners to talk with a supervisor beforehand to ask about pre-visit testing and screening. . Close doors between the work being done and your location, if possible, and make sure workers wear masks at all times — even if you’re not in the room. “You shouldn’t spend more time than necessary in the same room, since the virus is spread via exposure over a period of time,” Wood says. “The longer you’re in a space with someone, the higher your chances of contracting the virus.” Keep a window open and use a fan to direct air out. This type of ventilation can that stay confined in a space, Wood says. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > In addition, ask contractors to wash their hands regularly, and provide if they don’t bring any, Harris says. If contractors are landscaping, roofing or making and don’t need to enter your home, the main form of protection is masking for both of you when interacting, Wood says. The next best practice is to socially distance, she adds. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe More on home-family AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS
Stay Safe From COVID-19 When Workers Enter Your Home
Contractors appliance repair specialists and cleaning crews should take precautions
sturi/getty images As people spend more time at home, they’re creating long lists of that range from painting a room to a kitchen overhaul. For those who aren’t hard-core do-it-yourselfers, it’s likely the services of contractors, repair specialists or even cleaners will be needed. But with the raging, it’s challenging to feel safe opening the door wide to people outside a household. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Precautions to prevent transmission of COVID-19 are essential when it comes to ushering in workers, says Anthony Harris, associate medical director of WorkCare, a physician-directed occupational health company, in Chicago. “They need to follow official COVID precautions,” he says. “Just because someone is wearing a mask doesn’t mean you’re safe. If they’re not wearing it properly, that’s a problem.”Inquire about COVID precautions
Precautions start with the homeownerIn addition, talk to anyone coming into your home about the safeguards they will take. Some people feel timid bringing this up, but they shouldn’t, says Jeff Yoder, owner of ShelfGenie, a national shelving installation company in Washington, D.C. He says customers regularly ask him about the COVID-19 prevention steps his company mandates. “I take my temperature every morning,” he says. “I bring a thermometer with me and my whole team has thermometers” and daily checks. He also developed a checklist for his crews to ensure they follow proper COVID-19 prevention rules. Customers should create a list of questions for contractors, Yoder says. Those might include: Are workers required to wear masks over nose and mouth?Will workers before entering a home? Are they provided with hand sanitizer?Are or have daily temperature checks?Do workers try to maintain 6 feet of distance within a home? Yoder advises homeowners to talk with a supervisor beforehand to ask about pre-visit testing and screening. . Close doors between the work being done and your location, if possible, and make sure workers wear masks at all times — even if you’re not in the room. “You shouldn’t spend more time than necessary in the same room, since the virus is spread via exposure over a period of time,” Wood says. “The longer you’re in a space with someone, the higher your chances of contracting the virus.” Keep a window open and use a fan to direct air out. This type of ventilation can that stay confined in a space, Wood says. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > In addition, ask contractors to wash their hands regularly, and provide if they don’t bring any, Harris says. If contractors are landscaping, roofing or making and don’t need to enter your home, the main form of protection is masking for both of you when interacting, Wood says. The next best practice is to socially distance, she adds. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe More on home-family AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS