CONTRIBUTORS | PROTECTING LABORERS
BEATING COVID-19
Construction Adjustments in the Age of COVID-19
DANA BERGEMAN
Personal protective equipment is taking on a whole new meaning at jobsites.
T
he novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, has brought new meaning to the colloquialism “fluid situation.” Recommendations for protecting against the virus are literally changing by the hour. The evolving situation is truly unprecedented. As this article is being written, construction and construction-related services continue to be generally designated as essential, and therefore often exempt from the various “shelter-inplace” orders that have been issued due to the COVID-19 situation. But that too could change. Regardless, the construction industry has a responsibility to help “flatten the curve” and stop the spread of this vicious virus.
Follow CDC recommendations Thankfully, construction has been allowed to continue, but COVID-19 necessitates that the construction industry in general deploy reasonable precautionary measures as may be necessary following the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as federal, state and local governments. These recommendations include the expanded use of personal protection equipment (PPE), new recommendations for workplace social distancing, and continuation of existing safe-work practices for employees, jobsite personnel and contractors. These recommendations continue to evolve. As I write this, there are news reports of yet another pending change in CDC recommendations being forthcoming and, further, some building departments are beginning to issue recommendations too, so contractors should stay up-to-date on the latest
guidance. Construction management firms like ours are now asking contractors to provide written COVID-19 safety plans—including enforcement protocols—to help ensure that their personnel are following the latest recommended best practices of the CDC for the workplace. These plans will need to be updated regularly to include the latest recommended procedures from the CDC, federal, state and local governments around this issue.
PPE Whether a project is in the pre-construction or the construction phase,
28 BUILDING MANAGEMENT HAWAII | MAY 2020
it is recommended that employees, clients and contractor personnel follow the health and safety guidelines of the CDC and OSHA, including but not limited to: • Wear safety glasses at all times. • Wear latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves when appropriate. • Wear clothing appropriate for the work activities, including appropriate footwear. • Wear hard hats when any overhead hazards may exist or as otherwise appropriate. • Wear approved clothing or an ID badge identifying the individual’s employer.
