Social Distancing on the Construction Site

Rodrigo Juarez, Mexico

Member of the FIDIC Future Leaders Management Committee (FLMC), representing Latin America. Coursed the FIDIC YPMTP (now FLMC). My academic formation includes a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, a Master’s in International Construction Management and Engineering, a Master’s in Business Administration and Diploma in Project Management. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD in Project Management at the University of Leeds.

I have worked with the Texas Transportation Institute in Mexico City, the Project Management Office (PMO) for the Mexico City New International Airport with Parsons Corporation –Felipe Ochoa y Asociados (FOA) Consulting, and currently work as Consultant in Infrastructure Megaprojects for FOA Consulting, the first Mexican company to be certified in ISO37001:2016 in Anti-Bribery Management Systems and First Consulting Company worldwide certified in Business Integrity. Additionally, I work as an external consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB).

It is very difficult to assume what the New Normal will look like, not only for the infrastructure sector but also the wider consultancy and engineering sector all of which have been affected.

Exploring the current situation from the perspective of the built environment, Covid-19 has definitely made the industry reconsider many of the work patterns and practices that we used to adhere to. It has made us think about great areas of opportunity, but also, about many of the challenges we are yet to face.

It is curious how regular activities that we considered business as usual have now been transformed. In many cases, normal things in our daily activities have been substituted and/or replaced, activities such as, buying a coffee are now being minimized or restricted. When you then consider and amplify the effect of this into wider sectors, it is clear that normal working patterns will continue to be affected, but the question for the future remains is this going to be for the better, or for the worse?

I remember not many years ago, a project where we used to go to the construction site every day. The site was outside of the city and so there were not many places to go and buy anything, and so we had a small cafeteria within the facility where we all had at least, breakfast and lunch. It was the place we would all arrive in and meet in the morning and before starting our shift and so we would all gather around. At lunchtime, I remember the huge queues that would form, where everyone was waiting to buy something, to get a table, or to enjoy their meal.

This was considered the normal at many places including this during lunchtime. The issue, however, was always that when approximately 100 people arrived simultaneously within the same cafeteria. The area would become really crowded, and sometimes it was wise to wait and to come back perhaps, after one hour.

What COVID-19 has brought us is a disruption in this normal and common activities we undertake. For example, times have changed between catching up with work colleagues, breaks, lunch etc. none of them seem that they will not continue in their previous way given the new normal.

A potential collateral damage from COVID-19 and the “New Normal” will definitely be social distancing, potentially permanently. Across the clobe there are recommendations for staying at least 2 meters apart from each other, to remain closer to our housemates, limit people going into stores, amongst many other measures.

This is, however, only a small part of the picture. Many behavioural and working patterns in construction sites will change, and activities such as lunch will have to be strictly controlled, with well-defined shifts and controlled seating spots. Strict cleaning procedures and rotation will become relevant for personnel management.

This may therefore become as an example become part of the new norm. The “New Normal” will become a set controlled and defined activities per working division or sector that, if not managed properly or shifted periodically, will make people fall into routines that in the long run, could result in a lower productivity or even depression on sites where physical activity and contact is required.

We need to be very careful when resuming our regular activities. Talk to people, gather opinions and develop effective communications strategies that integrate the views of the employees on this matter, in such a way that the “New Normal”, at least in the construction site, can still bring joy to the people that used to enjoy this kind of activities with colleagues.

Rodrigo Juarez, Mexico