Was the boiler man out of order?

a lot of the workmen who have come to my house, more so recently, have those plastic bags over shoes. one who was working on problem with boiler even lay down a plastic sheet over carpet, said it saved taking shoe bags/own shoes on and off as back and fro his van. he even had a small mini hoover he used when he had finished around where he had been working. i ask them to remove their shoes at front door if they dont have the bags.they also tend to carry those fold up/concertina style ladders.

Oh yuck, of course he was 'out of order'

The problem is partly the position of the boiler - above a worktop. He would need a small step ladder. We had our boiler moved into the barn (or garage) because it was in an awkward place in the kitchen. Now the maintenance man can work from floor level.

Apart from the hygiene angle, kitchen worktops, particularly those with a cupboard beneath, are not generally strong enough to support the weight of a person. Also I find now that most tradesmen carry disposable shoe covers with them to protect carpets, etc.

What happened with your previous engineer - did he carry ladders?

I must admit I find most workmen I've used are very considerate, removing shoes to come in to use the loo, wearing overshoes when they put my bedroom furniture together. Removal company putting dustsheets down so as not to spoil carpets. I would be horrified at outside shoes/boots being worn to stand on kitchen worktops.

My DF was a Painter & Decorator & always carried a pair of "indoor shoes" for working inside customers houses.

Ask his boss to provide him with the correct equipment.

...he was probably doing his best.

The man who fitted my smart meter had flourescent pink, crockodle print underpants on........they showed every time he moved.........yuk...........and the meter doesn't work.

Love it henetha ?

Socks or a towel would not have provided a good sercure grip). So unless you want to put him at risk of slipping and injuring himself, just disinfect the surfaces. Common sense nothing to do with "Elf and Safety"

Yes, he was definitely out of order. I wouldn't go so far as to give him the boot, but he certainly needs to pull his socks up.

He could have taken his boots off and climbed up in his socks.
Or would that have been worse?
As Roses said - go girl with the Dettol!

Plastic over shoes - what a good idea. Anyway glad it is not just me. I was horrified. I am pretty sure those filthy boots wouldn't end up on his own worktop.

They should be equipped with plastic overshoes - our fitters are, where I work. (Those in the UK, that is. We sell flat pack furniture and the British are the only people in Europe who expect someone to come and put it together for them!)

I don't know what it's like in the UK, but workmen often just don't see the niceties of running a business here in Germany. When I was out of work, I seriously thought about offering a service for them. A bit of bookkeeping, correspondence and such, but mainly, decent customer service - such as equipping them with cloths or protective sheeting, phoning to make appointments (and keeping to them!), providing proper written estimates and invoices.

I have spoken to some where they were obviously at the dinner table and you could hear the kids in the background. Most unprofessional.

He was out of order not to ask for an old towel or something to stand on, but would not be at all surprised to find that would contravene today's Elf 'N Safety.So go girl with that bottle of Dettol!

Very bad manners.
If he didn't have anything suitable to put on the worktop he should have asked.

Yes, definitely out of order. How unprofessional!