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Updated 9.04am - 24 March 2020
The Covid-19 Alert level will become level 4 on Wednesday at 11:59pm. This means that all businesses will be closed except for essential services and lifeline utilities.
Last evening the Board was able to obtain further definition and guidance of the term “essential services”
In relation to Building and Construction, the term “essential services” means:
- Any entity involved in building and construction related to essential services and critical infrastructure.
- Any entity involved in building and construction required to immediately maintain human health and safety at home or work.
- Any entity that performed or is involved in building and resource consenting necessary for the above purposes.
The first two parts of this definition are relevant to those working in plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying.
Related to essential services and critical infrastructure.
You may continue to perform all plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work that is related to essential services and critical infrastructure.
A description of what is an essential service can be found on Covid-19 website at this link. https://covid19.govt.nz/help-and-advice/for-businesses-and-organisations/employers-including-rse/
For example, you can continue to provide your services to businesses associated with fast moving consumer goods, food production or key public services. You can also carry out work associated with health services or emergency services.
You cannot, however, continue to provide services to services/businesses that do not appear on that list.
Immediately needed to maintain human health and safety at home or work
Under the definition you may also continue to provide plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying services if they are immediately needed to maintain human health and safety at home/work. Under this definition the services must:
- Be needed to maintain human health and safety at home/work; and
- That need must be
Examples of the type of work that would come under this definition include:
- The repair/replacement of hot water cylinders that have failed as the hot water will be required for sanitation purposes.
- The unblocking and repair/replacement of sanitary waste pipes where there is an immediate threat to human health and safety.
- The repair/replacement of water pipes where there is an immediate threat to human health and safety.
- The repair/replacement of gas piping, fittings and appliance where there is an immediate threat to human health and safety.
Examples of the things that would not be included in that definition are:
- The repair of minor leaks.
- The replacement to tap washers.
- Routine servicing.
- The replacement of sanitary fixtures that are working.
The emphasis is on essential repairs, not those that pose no immediate threat to health and safety. If the need is not immediate can it can wait for another day then you should not be doing that work.
The lockdown is designed to increase our Nation’s ability to fight and stamp out the Covid-19 virus. It is important that all of us play our part in respecting the lockdown if the disease is to be defeated.
Most of the time it will be apparent to you whether the work is important for health and safety purposes. Use your judgment and common sense. We recommend that you continue to monitor the Covid-19 website for information as it is changing and becoming more detailed overtime.
The Board will continue to provide updates on the definition as they become available.
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