Risk Assessment
Introduction
As hosts, we want guests to have a wonderful safe stay in Lyme Regis Cottage and we are aware that accidents can happen at any time but we wanted to put together some basic information for you for when you stay or indeed if Lyme Regis Cottage is suitable for you.
Guests
Owing to the age and character of the cottage, the property is sadly not suitable for any person with severe mobility problems; all occupants should be able to cope confidently and safely with stairs, one flight that is steep. At all times guests should use the handrails provided when using any of the stairs. Guests should make every effort to ensure the safety of any visiting / less mobile person.
Fire
There are smoke detectors on all floors and we provide a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen. However, the guidance given by the fire service on discovering a fire is to exit the building as swiftly and safely as possible – do not tackle the fire yourself. Please familiarise yourself with the routes of exit from the building. Ideally any person leaving the building as a result of fire should do so via the front door; however, this may not always be possible so the doors on to the garden are also a means of escape from fire. We do ask guests to be extremely sensible and aware of the special dangers posed by fire and the personal injury risk associated with such an event.
Never leave cooking on or in the cooker unattended.
Never leave an electrical appliance switched on and unattended, such as the toaster, a hairdryer or the electric iron.
All electrical appliances & lights should be switched off before going to bed.
Please be aware of the dangers of a naked flame (the gas cooker hobs) - never leave them unattended.
Please note, no candles should be lit inside the cottage.
We have a strict No Smoking policy both inside and outside the property.
Hygiene and Welfare
No pets are allowed at the property.
Toiletries are provided for guests.
We can arrange for the cottage to receive additional cleaning for stays longer than 1 week.
Mattress and pillow protectors are fitted to all beds. Sheets, duvet covers & pillowcases are cotton.
Central Heating
The cottage has a gas-fired hot water and heating system. A digital room thermostat is located on the landing of the first floor.
Disposal of Waste
Please help us by sorting all your refuse. Recycling tubs are in the garden along with the normal bin; spare bin liners are also provided. The recycling baskets can be used for glass (bottles/jars), plastic containers (milk cartons), paper, cardboard and (ideally rinsed) cartons/tins.
Flooding
Please do not leave any tap running and unattended; it is very wasteful and can lead to serious damage.
Bathrooms
Please take care when getting in or out of bath & showers; wet floors can become very slippery.
General
It is of the utmost importance that guests read the information that we send to you in advance of your arrival. Please also familiarise yourself with the Information folder on arrival. Please also ensure that you familiarise yourself with the building, its surroundings and all safety instructions.
Covid-19 Risk Assessment
This section of the Risk Assessment has been carried out following the guidelines on the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) website (www.hse.gov.uk)
Assessment carried out by Petra Clare
Assessment date 08/07/2920 the cottage had been vacant since March 23rd 2020 and will not be visited by guests until at least July 4th 2020
Potential Hazards
Contamination of the site by guests who are asymptomatic or who develop symptoms while in situ
Transmission of the virus between guests or between guests and contractors / suppliers
Who is at Risk?
Other guests on site or with subsequent bookings, particularly the elderly or those with underlying health conditions
Cleaning and Maintenance Contractors and their immediate families, particularly if they care for relatives who are elderly or have underlying health conditions
The wider public locally
Actions to Control Risk
Anybody who is exhibiting symptoms or who has any reason to believe they may have come into contact with the virus up to 14 days prior to their booking must follow the Government instruction to self-isolate (at home) and follow NHS guidelines. Therefore, they should not travel to the cottage.
Anybody in one of the vulnerable groups identified by the Government should follow Government advice to self-isolate. They should not travel to the cottage.
Contractors who are exhibiting symptoms or who have any reason to believe they may have come into contact with the virus within the previous 14 days should not come on site; again, they should follow NHS guidelines.
We ask all guests to follow the national guidelines on social distancing when outside the cottage.
Guests are advised that opportunities to eat out in the area may be restricted at this time and they should be prepared to fully self-cater.
Implemented changes to our normal cleaning policy
We always strive to maintain extremely high standards of cleanliness at Lyme Regis Cottage and, under normal conditions, we also strive to maintain high standards of sustainability. However, we recognise that, at this time, some sustainable practices will need to be compromised. For example, washing and reusing cleaning cloths and using mostly natural cleaning products. We will of course resume these practices as soon as it is safe to do so; however, for the duration of the Covid-19 outbreak we have decided to adopt the cleaning practices recommended by Public Health England (PHE) for Cleaning in Non-Healthcare Settings - please visit:- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-decontamination-in-non- healthcare-settings/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings
As guests may not exhibit symptoms until after they return home, we will treat every changeover clean as if the guests had been infected. As a result, we will:-
Use disposable cloths and mop heads
Clean with diluted chlorine bleach
Pay particular attention to frequently touched surfaces such as door handles and
handrailsReduce the number of soft furnishings normally provided
To protect our housekeeping team, we will:-
Delay cleaning until the property has been vacant for 72 hours if at all possible
Provide rubber gloves and plastic aprons
Limit the number of team members in the property to two at a time
Ask guests to strip their own beds and put used linen in bags provided
Ask guests to empty all bins into a large bin bag and tie the bag closed. These bags should then also be bagged
Used linen will be removed by the housekeeper and delivered to the laundry company 72 hours later, providing an adequate buffer to protect the laundry staff
This policy will be reviewed for changes on a monthly basis until the Government advises that the Covid-19 threat has passed.