While this year may look a little different, the critical worker status of plumbing and heating engineers has changed the way many now view the industry. In the face of a global pandemic, it is those in the trade who have manned the frontlines, risking contact with COVID-19 in a bid to keep the public safe and warm in their homes.
Initiated by the World Plumbing Council (WPC), World Plumbing Day has been a fixture since 2010. Created to promote the vital link between good quality plumbing, health, environmental sustainability and, increasingly, economic prosperity, the day raises awareness of the importance of plumbing and plumbers worldwide.
Kevin Wellman, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) - a member of the World Plumbing Council - commented: “It’s been a whirlwind of a year since we last celebrated World Plumbing Day. Plumbing has sat at the heart of tackling the pandemic - from the clean water, taps and sinks we use to wash our hands, to the sanitation systems we use to help stop the spread of viruses and bacteria. In this latest lockdown, PPE clad engineers have been the local heroes, fixing cold weather emergencies such as broken-down boilers and burst pipes, in very tough situations.”
Indeed, plumbing and heating engineers have stepped up as critical workers in the face of many adversities. From financial and employment woes, to supply chain issues, difficulties sourcing PPE, changing governmental advice and the risk of being exposed to coronavirus, engineers have stoically faced all difficulties head on.
Mr Wellman added: “Suddenly issues such as a lack of public toilet facilities, toilet plume and even the toilet roll shortage became national disasters. Sadly, this is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the fallout from COVID-19. The number of hot water scalds and heating system related contact burns has grown at an alarming rate over the past year, due in a large part to the fact we are all spending a lot more time at home. This has also impacted on water and energy use, with an increasing number of households struggling to pay their bills.
“Those shielding or who have experienced a loss of income, are far less likely to keep up with annual servicing of appliances and plumbing systems. For some of the most vulnerable in society this will lead to a ticking time bomb of appliance and system failures. With commercial and industrial properties closed with short notice, we are also concerned that there will be a rise in water quality issues caused by contaminants such as Legionella, biofilm and lead.
“This World Plumbing Day, the CIPHE applauds the way our members and the entire industry has persevered through the last year whilst, at the same time, implore those in positions of authority to act upon the issues the COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light upon. Our industry will have a huge role to play in supporting homeowners and businesses through a recovery, and those hero capes will be staying firmly in place for the foreseeable future.”