Category: Keenan CDM News

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS 
HSE Guidance via Email Today

Check the HSE website daily for the latest updates.

Working safely during the coronavirus outbreak

Our (HSE) new guidance will help you keep workers safe (COVID secure) during the outbreak.

It covers the steps you should take to protect workers and others, in line with your normal legal duties in managing risk and risk assessment at work.

The following guides will help you manage the risk from coronavirus in your business during this time:

• Working safely during the coronavirus outbreak – a short guide This guide covers who should work, protecting those at higher risk, getting into and leaving work, organising work areas, and good hygiene.
• Talking with your workers about working safely during the coronavirus outbreak Guidance on consulting your workers and measures to prevent coronavirus in your workplace and to make it COVID secure.

Government guidance published

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published guidance to help employers keep  their workplaces operating safely during this time.

The latest guidance covers eight workplace settings including:

• construction sites
• other people’s homes
• vehicles
• offices

Social distancing guidelines

HSE has guidelines on how businesses must maintain social distancing and protect workers.

The guidance explains what employers must do in order to protect workers and keep their businesses open. It covers:

• social distancing (employers who have people in their offices or onsite should ensure that employees are able, where possible, to follow the appropriate regulations and/or guidance for England, Scotland and Wales on social distancing)
• essential and non-essential work
• safe in-work activity

The construction industry has come together to show how it has been interpreting and applying government guidance in responding to Covid-19 by providing practical examples of how it is safeguarding its workforce while operating sites.

Many examples have been built on the Construction Leadership Council’s ‘Site Operating Procedures (v3) – Protecting Your Workforce During Coronavirus (Covid-19)’ guidance and its hierarchy of controls, which can be downloaded here.

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS 
Latest Construction Guidance

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): Construction Sector Guidance
www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-construction-sector-guidance/pages/overview/

COVID19 UK CLC Site Operating Procedures V3 (Dated 14 APR 2020)
The construction Leadership Forum (CLC) official Site Operating Procedures (SOP) for construction sites which remain operational during the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic and need to ensure they are protecting their workforce and minimising the risk of spread of infection. This appears to be the main guidance being followed at present by operational sites in preparing their site processes and procedures.
www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/news/site-operating-procedures-version-3-published/

COVID19 SCOTLAND CS Site Operating Guidance – V1 (Dated 06 APR 2020)
The Construction Scotland version of the CLC doc above – based on the CLC doc and content similar.
www.cs-ic.org/library/working-on-site-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-construction-guidance

HSE – Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice
www.hse.gov.uk/news/coronavirus.htm

BARBOUR Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Covid-19 News
www.barbour-ehs.com/covid-19-news

The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum
Information available on this website from the CICV which states the aim of bringing together the main construction trade and professional bodies to gather intelligence, share advice and speak directly with the Scottish Government on issues affecting members in the current crisis.
www.cicvforum.co.uk

PINSET MASONS Legal Update (Dated 24 April 2020)
Coronavirus: Construction Worker Distancing Review Call in Scotland
New powers provided to Police Scotland under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 should prompt construction companies to review on-site practices and consider how they can implement physical distancing of workers. www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/analysis/coronavirus-construction-worker-distancing-scotland

The information above is certainly not exhaustive and may be superseded in the near future but hopefully provides some useful current advice as of today’s date.

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS (UK)
CLC Site Operating Procedures Protecting Your Workforce During Coronavirus (Covid-19)

23 March 2020, 02 April 2020, 15 April 2020
18th May Updated Version

On 18th May the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) published updated guidance via Version 4 for construction sites which remain operational, for whatever valid reason, during the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic need to ensure they are protecting their workforce and minimising the risk of spread of infection.

The updated 18th May 2020 version of this Guidance Doc can be obtained via direct download from the CLC website.

COVID-19: H&S FOR WORKPLACES THAT REMAIN OPEN

Also refer this 02 April legal update from Brodies giving guidance on health & safety for workplaces that remain open during this time.