Earlier this year, when the air conditioning was broken, the faucet was leaking, or the electrical circuit breaker blew a fuse, people wanted a technician to come to their home immediately to fix the problem. Now, in the coronavirus-era, homeowners are hesitant to call for a service technician, deliberating the risk of having a stranger in their home. This uncertainty is causing electricians, plumbers, air conditioning repair technicians and other in-home service workers to implement new protocols and procedures to help ease customers’ concerns about the virus. Below are some precautions being taken by companies in the service industry to protect both their customers and their technicians.

 Ask Questions

Managers and owners should have open communication with their technicians every day. Ask them if they feel sick or have been in contact with anyone who has coronavirus. This daily check-in allows companies to comfortably share the information with customers, monitoring the health of all technicians while decreasing the possible spread of the virus. Companies should ask homeowners similar questions to protect their workers, as well.

Provide Protective Gear

While masks are required in some places, another option companies can explore are face shields. Shields could be a better alternative to masks because they do not have to be removed in order for service workers to communicate clearly with the customer. Communication on the job is critical; often workers have to explain the diagnosis on-site, showing the customer exactly what the problem is and why a repair or replacement is necessary. Being able to speak without removing a face covering is not only beneficial for everyone’s health but also essential to solving the uncomfortable situation. The TrueHero Extreme Coverage Face Shield, a plastic face shield originally designed and manufactured for healthcare workers, is presently being used in other industries, including the at-home service industry. Virus droplets are unable to penetrate through the plastic shield, since the shield covers the entire face and provides an extra layer of protection to the technicians’ mouth, nose, and eyes. TrueHero can also be cleaned and be disinfected after each home visit.

Disinfect Tools

All technicians have tools which are necessary to perform home service calls. Because tools are brought in and out of different homes throughout the workday, they need to be sanitized after every job. There are many hospital-grade disinfectants available in an easy-to-use spray which should be available to all technicians.

Minimize Time in Home

Before going to the home, technicians should have as much information about the problem in order to plan ahead for the repair. The extra time taken prior to the call will help minimize the amount of time technicians are in the home. All paperwork should be done outside the home; if there is a need to talk to the customer, ask them if they prefer to go outside.

As the at-home service industry continues to navigate how to effectively serve their customers, these precautionary tips can help ease some of their current concerns. With customers opening their doors to technicians, companies want to ensure them that protective measures are being taken.

© 2020 Silver Disobedience Inc. (SP)