The movers of Eure-et-Loir, very affected during the confinement, have reinvented their profession

An imposing 50 m³ truck from the Dantan company in Saint-Georges-sur-Eure parked this Wednesday, in front of a house in Chartainvilliers, near Maintenon. Five strong fellows descend masked. “Several precautionary measures have been taken upstream and stipulated in a health protocol document,” says Romain Budant, team and sales manager. When quoting, the client must sign this “health guide” drawn up by the Dantan mover. The customer undertakes to be masked, to keep away from professionals on the day of their intervention and must guarantee that he has not been infected by the coronavirus and that he has not been in recent contact with a contaminated person. He must also ensure that he has not had any symptoms in the past fortnight. A declaration of honor is signed.

“Our job is physical and wearing a mask hinders our breathing”

Other agreements are not negotiable: “We limit the presence to two people in the home on the day of handling the furniture and boxes. And these are no longer allowed to help us. Children, the elderly and those at risk cannot go to the accommodation and moving places during the handling period.

In Chartainvilliers, it is a couple without children. Before starting, and entering the client’s house, the five movers put hydroalcoholic gel on their hands. Greetings are exchanged with the customer with a nod. They also have gloves if they wish. But they may not put them on. Because it is not easy to hold furniture firmly with these slippery and thick protections. Gloves and masks are changed regularly. The move begins. Specialists go back and forth, climb the steps to the house, then the stairs to the floor. Affected by the sun and repeated efforts, the movers resist despite a disturbing element on which they are unanimous: “Our job is physical and wearing a mask hinders our breathing. It’s not easy when you make efforts. The Chartainvilliers couple left all the doors open to facilitate circulation in their home. The handles, which have nevertheless been disinfected, are not affected.

The coffee or cold drink break is essential after a few hours back and forth with loads. Here again, the Dantan company modified the rules, specifies Romain Budant: “Before, we accepted a snack from the customer. Since the virus, we bring our thermos, our cups and our cold drinks ourselves. This is one more contact that is avoided. We also avoid being in the same rooms as our customers. “

Volunteer employees

Before resuming the portage, the movers change masks and gloves. In the evening, when returning to the depot, the movers disinfect the cabs of the trucks with wipes and in particular the on-board instruments and the handles. The salesperson, who has fifteen years of experience, has not noticed any apprehension from his customers: “I feel a great awareness of the risks. But they adapted during this long confinement. The huma side

We miss us but we must be demanding about health precautions. Same observation with the staff at Dantan: “They did not refuse to work when we asked them, on a voluntary basis. “