We are living in interesting times. 2020 is proving to be one of the most challenging years in our nation's history. From a global pandemic, civil unrest, to the threat of a potential economic collapse, there's no shortage of stress. If you own a construction company, the stress is probably weighing heavier on you than a 30 tonne excavator.
Keeping your workers safe on the worksite is always a priority. It's though enough making sure workers are vigilant to keep an eye out for massive equipment let alone making sure they safeguard against an invisible microbe. And it's not just a matter of keeping your workers from getting sick, although that's the most important thing, you also have to be sure you're taking the proper steps to keep local, state, and Federal governments from shutting down your job site because it does not comply with COVID-19 regulations.
Every construction project is different, however, there are some basic prevention tips construction contractors can implement to keep workers safe. They include keeping anyone away from the job site if they appear sick, conducting meetings over the phone or on a meeting platform such as Zoom, and by limiting the number of people in one area at a time while observing the six-feet-distancing requirement.
One of the toughest sacrifices during the pandemic is forgoing personal contact with people. It's natural to socialize during breaks, but this is one time when it's best if workers take brakes alone. If not possible to completely keep workers from gathering, the number of people in one area should be limited with the six-feet rule respected. Because the virus can spread through touch, employees must avoid physical contact with others.
Although inconvenient, workers should avoid sharing tools if possible and should disinfect them before being stored. When cleaning tools and equipment, consult manufacturing recommendations for proper cleaning techniques and restrictions. The company should also assign the same machine to operators if possible. When that operator is done with the machine, it should also be disinfected.
If a member of a construction crew tests positive for COVID-19, he or she will automatically be quarantined for two weeks while those working around the infected person will also need testing. A way to avoid downtime would be to have more than one team assembled in the event one of the crews ends up being shutdown because of exposure.
The precautions extend beyond the job site. Employees are encouraged to minimize ride-sharing. When that's not possible, employees must ensure adequate ventilation. Taking a person's temperature has never been easier. Forehead temperature scanners get a reading within seconds. These should be used when employees report to work. If they show to have a high temperatures, usually 100 degrees or more, they should be sent home. This includes visitors to the worksite. A person may not have a temperature, but if they are complaining of a headache, sore throat, or have a cough, they too should be deemed at risk and sent home.
Workers should also indicate if they have family members or friends they've been in contact with who have tested positive for COVID-19. Also, an employee who may have traveled to an area with high infection rates should self-quarantine to be sure they were not infected.
Other precaution measures include gloves and masks. Now, wearing a mask for many construction workers is not practical as they restrict the flow of oxygen. And gloves can reduce the ability to grip heavy objects. Everyone should use common sense when it comes to protective masks and gloves.
All of the above suggestions may seem extreme, and arguments persist for an against the safety measures being taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, however every construction company owner should implement the measures as best as possible if for no other reason than because your job site could get shutdown if you don't.
