By Phil Casto

In some areas of the country, construction has been completely shut down as authorities try to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In others, work goes on, though contractors have heightened their controls to limit exposures.

Whichever category your firm is in today, you need to plan for tomorrow. The risk of exposure is that much higher to workers who are still on the job. Plus, past epidemics have occurred in waves. We haven’t gotten through the first one, yet a second is predicted for this fall. It’s critical to develop a three-pronged plan – to limit site exposures, set up pandemic preparedness measures, and safely shut down and secure job sites – now.

Protect Your People on Job Sites

Comprehensive policies are needed to minimize exposure to Coronavirus at job sites. These include:

  • “Well” Employees-Only: Sick employees must stay home and see a healthcare professional if they are showing symptoms (cough, fever, wheezing). Symptomatic workers will be sent home. Consider sick pay for those who can’t afford to stay home.
  • Site Sanitation: Set and enforce a hand sanitation schedule: when entering the project; before/after all breaks; after touching common surfaces or shared tools. Place and keep stocked hand sanitizing stations throughout the project. Post rules on physical distancing, as well as sneezing and coughing etiquette.
  • Project Housekeeping: Sanitize surfaces regularly. In addition to doors, railings, elevators and offices, this includes shared tools, extension cords, material carts and trash hoppers. Use disposable disinfectant wipes or a 10% bleach solution.
  • Practice Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions: These include actions like scheduling fewer crews or scheduling trades on a staggered basis for physical distancing purposes. Run skeleton crews, if possible. Establish one-way stairs (one set of stairs for going up and another for going down) and hallways to minimize passing.

Construction and Coronavirus: Preparedness Disaster Planning

Your organization’s disaster plan focusing on construction and Coronavirus should be informed and guided by those of federal, regional and local authorities. It should incorporate:

  • Operational issues: Consider how much of a workforce reduction the business can handle and still function during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identify the business-essential positions, functions and operations, how many/who it will take to sustain them and how personnel gaps can be filled. Consider your approach for downsize, but have a backup plan in case business surges.
  • People issues: Make sure your policies adequately support your employees on and off the job. Work with employees to address leave, pay, transportation, childcare, union responsibilities, and other human resource issues. If you don’t have a sick leave policy, put one in place that doesn’t penalize sick employees. Train workers on infection control; make sure they are mindful of the physical distancing and other practices that will keep everyone safe, on and off the job.
  • Communications issues: Continuously provide training, education and information about employee health and safety. Assign “point people” to whom employees and customers can turn for accurate information. A bulletin board or website can be used to share the news on the pandemic. Your insurance companies and local and state health authorities can be good as health resources, too.

Work Stoppage and Securing a Job Site

If authorities issue a stay-at-home or quarantine order, securing job sites is another challenge to plan for.

  • Security: Physical security measures are key, like boarding up, installing lighting and fencing, and securing all entrance points. Camera and/or video systems also should be ready to go, either monitored off-site or with alert/alarm capability. Walk- or drive-by inspections should be a backup, and increased warning signage is important.
  • Water/fire protection: To reduce the risk of water damage, water-tight building encapsulation should be put in place. Additionally, the building’s water should be monitored remotely with water level and water flow alarms in sumps and on piping. Water supplies might also be disconnected, to further reduce the risk of damage. To guard against fire exposures, unplug or disconnect temporary heating appliances, de-energize non-essential electrical connections and prohibit hot work in the 24 hours before shut down.
  • Document: A photo log of all areas is good insurance. Also inventory any valuable materials or equipment left onsite.
  • Communicate: Share the plans with your crew and subs, including a formal schedule for the remainder of work necessary for the shut-down. This includes identifying valuable equipment, where it will be located and when tools and equipment will no longer be accessible. If the project owner is providing insurance, confirm in writing what requirements must be met to maintain coverage while construction activity has ceased. Secure full copies of the insurance policies and also confirm contact details of the owner representative and broker for claims purposes.

The era of the Coronavirus and what’s sure to come is already being called the “new normal.” These are extraordinary circumstances as we try to adjust. But this sort of planning puts you in a better position to stay ahead of the curve – or, really, of the current and the next Coronavirus wave.

Get the latest information, guidance and resources on Coronavirus (COVID-19) to help you protect what matters most on our Coronavirus Resource Centre.