- Is Plumbing considered essential work?
Yes. However please note that during a lockdown period where only essential work is permitted to be carried out, plumbers must only perform essential plumbing services.
Essential plumbing work includes:
- Clean running water
- Clean sewerage
- Hot water systems
- Maintenance and up keep of the following facilities: aged care, hospitals, supermarkets, service stations and any other work that has been deemed essential.
- What essential plumbing work can I perform during a lockdown?
The following maintenance work can be completed in a persons home:- ensure clean running water
- clear sewer drains (to ensure shower, toilet, sink) run freely
- gas detection
- Hot water repairs, change over if currently not working
Below are examples you can use as a guide to help you determine if the client's request is considered emergency plumbing work:
Gas:
- Smell of gas outside or inside the house
- Gas hot plate not working and gas can be smelt
Hot Water:- No supply of hot water
- Leaking storage tank (maintenance required)
- Maintenance to hot water systems
- Smouldering hot water (unsafe for elderly and infants)
Cold Water:
- No supply of water
- Burst water main
- Water leak that may cause structural damage or cause health issues inside the house (mold)
Drainage:
- Blocked drain (toilet, shower & sink)
- Water coming out of the overflow relief gully (blocked drain)
- Sewer smell within the house (can cause serious health problems)
Emergency maintenance for essential business is still allowed:
- Police station
- Childcare Centre
- Hospitals
- Age cared Facilities
- Dr Surgery
- Supermarket
- Petrol Stations
- Anything on the Governments Essential business list.
Maintenance to Waste Water Infrastructure:
- Any routine maintenance work on Waste Water systems is also an essential service as this is classified as high risk to the community.
Please follow the State Governments recommendations at all times whilst carrying out emergency plumbing work and ensure you follow the Plumbing Standards.
- What plumbing work is not considered essential?
Non essential plumbing work includes the following:
- Extensions
- Construction
- Renovations
- New homes
- Is there a distance limit for plumbers working in the metropolitan areas?
No
- Can I travel between regional areas to perform emergency work?
Yes
- What is pandemic leave?
Pandemic is leave with out pay. Click below for more information: https://coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au/coronavirus-and-australian-workplace-laws/stand-down-during-coronavirus
For financial support, click below:
https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/school-and-community/financial-support-for-individuals
- Can more than 1-person travel to complete essential work?
We advise the following:
- Max 2 people
- sit separate where possible (back passenger vs driver seat)
- keep windows down to circulate air
- always wear a mask
- wipe down surfaces touched by passenger
- Do plumbing admin staff have to work from home?
Yes, all admin staff must work from home where possible.