The Indian Plumbing Skills Council (IPSC) aligned to Skill India program, under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has prepared a database of over 900 plumbers who are ready to provide their services during the lockdown period, across the country.
Keeping in mind the need for stringent health and safety norms, the IPSC has also drafted Guidelines for the Plumbing Workforce to be observed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines were put together by a special IPSC technical task force headed by eminent leaders and experts from the Indian Plumbing Fraternity. The Guidelines cover important DO’s and DONT’s and location-specific precautionary measures including residential buildings and apartments, hospitals, isolation centres, commercial complexes and other establishments.
Some key highlights of the advisory are:
- Follow social distancing
- Disinfecting tools, equipment, touch points – quantity of solutions to be used
- Prefer cashless transaction
- Disposing used material
- Educating consumers for self-help in crisis
- Maintaining a log for backtracking in case needed
As per the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 15th April 2020, self-employed workforce including plumbers will be permitted to provide their services, from 20th April 2020. However, due to the nature of the job, drastic changes in procedures followed have been envisaged in the guidelines, especially pertaining to health and safety.
Dr Rajendra K Somany, Chairman, Indian Plumbing Skills Council said, “The plumbing workforce plays a very important role in protecting the health of the nation. These guidelines have been created as additional precautionary measures that the workforce must adhere to, in order to contain the further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, “IPSC’s proactive efforts in creating these guidelines are commendable and a welcome step towards India’s fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.”
