The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has impacted a number of businesses across a variety of industries, forcing them to rethink their daily operations to ensure the safety of their employees and the general public. This is no different for construction firms, where multiple contractors and tradespeople on a job site may be working in the same space at any one time. In these instances, just one misstep can lead to the quick spread of COVID-19, jeopardizing the well-being of workers.
To help slow the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard your staff, consider the strategies highlighted in this Construction Risk Insights.
COVID-19 Safety Tips for Construction Firms
When it comes to COVID-19, discouraging sick employees from reporting to work and encouraging social distancing are the two of the most effective methods for protecting your workers:
- Discouraging sick employees from reporting to work—Above all, any
employee who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough,
shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, chills or fatigue)
should stay home. Individuals experiencing such symptoms should also be
instructed to consult guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on
seeking medical care. - Encouraging social distancing—Social distancing is the
practice of deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid
spreading illness. In terms of COVID-19, social distancing best practices for
construction businesses can include:- Avoiding gatherings of 10
or more people - Keeping at least 6
feet of distance from other people - Hosting meetings virtually when possible
- Limiting the number of people on the jobs site
to essential personnel only - Encouraging staff to work from home when
possible - Discouraging people from shaking hands
- Avoiding gatherings of 10
Beyond these recommendations, there are a number of specific job site and office precautions construction firms should consider. Specifically, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, businesses should:
- Communicate key CDC guidance
to their workers on how to stay safe from COVID-19. Helpful resources include
the following webpages:- How to
Protect Yourself - If
You Are Sick or Caring for Someone - Frequently Asked
Questions
- How to
- Post posters and
other signage that encourage workers to stay home when they’re sick and educate
them on hygiene best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Sample
posters from the CDC can be found here.
- Instruct employees
to practice good hygiene. Employees should clean their hands often, either with
an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water. Hand sanitizers should
contain at least 60%-95% alcohol, and employees should wash their hands with
soap for at least 20 seconds. It’s also a good idea to strategically place hand
sanitizer and hand-washing stations around the job site. - Instruct employees
to:- Avoid congregating,
and keep their distance from other workers where possible. - Avoid sharing tools
and personal protective equipment (PPE). - Clean reusable PPE
per the original manufacturer’s recommendation before every use. Used PPE must
be disposed of properly. - Utilize disposable
gloves as appropriate, and wash their hands after they’re done with them. - Change their clothes
before they get home. Dirty clothes should be washed using hot water and
laundry sanitizer.
- Avoid congregating,
- Ensure the work
environment is cleaned regularly. This can involve sanitizing doorknobs,
keyboards, tools, reusable supplies and equipment. - Avoid using a common
water cooler. For increased safety, provide employees with disposable plastic
water bottles or instruct them to bring their own. - Avoid scheduling
multiple tradespeople at once. This should help limit the amount of individuals
on the job site at once. - Sanitize portable
toilets frequently. - Avoid cleaning techniques
that could generate bioaerosols.
Continued Safety
While the strategies highlighted in this document can help you protect your workers from COVID-19, it’s important to follow CDC guidance at all times. For more information, click here.
