COVID-19 Update - Are We Still Working?

"This is directly applicable to your sector, as you say, your work cannot be done from home. Arboriculturalists should therefore be able to continue with outdoor work, where they can continue to follow Public Health England guidelines." George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Dan De Frece

Head Arborist
Silveroak

We wanted to update you as regards our work in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following guidance from the Arboriculture Association we are continuing to work where it is safe to do so inline with Public Health England guidance. The health of our team and the public is of paramount importance to us and we are keen to operate in a manner that promotes the safety of all.

Letter from Defra

We took the decision to carry on working where possible as the Arboriculture Association contacted George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) for clarification to see whether Arborists could carry on working in light of the government guidance. Here is his response:

As the minister responsible for domestic forestry I am happy to provide a response. I hope this letter can provide clarity and assurance to your members in this uncertain time. As set out in public health guidelines available on gov.uk, which were updated on 29 March:

You can travel for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home.
With the exception of some businesses and venues, the government has not required any other businesses to close – indeed it is important for business to carry on.
If you cannot work from home then you can still travel for work purposes, provided you are not showing coronavirus symptoms and neither you nor any of your household are self-isolating. No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild. At all times, workers should follow the guidance on self-isolation if they or anyone in their household shows symptoms.

This is directly applicable to your sector, as you say, your work cannot be done from home. Arboriculturalists should therefore be able to continue with outdoor work, where they can continue to follow Public Health England guidelines. I would therefore like to thank the Arboricultural Association for your work done already to disseminate this information to your members and the sector.

View the full letter here.

Guidelines for working

Therefore inline with this current guidance we are continuing to work where the environment allows and we are working within the below parameters:

If the house holder is happy for us to do the work, the house holder will agree to stay in their house and communicate via phone
The work area has enough space to allow us to maintain a 2 meter distance away from each other
An adequate distance from neighbours
We are also endeavouring to follow the government guidance as regards not sharing tools, disinfecting equipment after use, not travelling together and regularly washing hands. See guidelines here.
If one of our Arborists would rather not work in this period of uncertainty then that is fine and we leave it up to each person to individually choose.

Quotes and Visiting Sites

If you would like a quote for work you would like carried out, we are happy to visit your house or land but it would be better if possible if you could keep within your house when we are on site and we can communicate via phone about the work.