Category: Covid-19 / Coronavirus

Scottish Gov’t Plan for Phased Return of Construction

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS

The construction sector could return to work on a phased basis from May 28 under a new framework announced today by the Scottish Government. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today: “The construction industry will be able to carefully implement steps one and two of its six-step restart plan, which it has developed with us“.

The industry-agreed* six-step phased model for the return of the construction sector is as follows…

  • Phase 0: Planning
  • Phase 1: Covid-19 Pre-start Site prep
  • Phase 2: ‘Soft start’ to site works (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 3: Steady state operation (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 4: Steady state operation (where physical distancing can be maintained and/or with PPE use)
  • Phase 5: Increasing density/productivity with experience

(*Worth noting that today was the first time many of us on the ground have seen this six-step plan!)

Read more at Scottish Construction Now 21 May Article: Gov’t Outlines Phased Return to Construction.

UPDATE 22 MAY: Also read update on Scottish Construction Now 22 May Article: Further Clarity Sought.

UPDATE 22 MAY: ‘Phase 0’ and ‘Phase 1’ are approved so far per a Scottish Housing News article… “The construction sector will be instructed to implement the first two phases in its restart plan with a decision to move to ‘phase 2’ of the construction sector’s plan only after consulting with government to ensure it is safe to do so in line with public health advice“.

UPDATE 22 MAY: Also refer Brodies Legal update here: brodies.com/binformed/legal-updates/construction-in-scotland-the-latest-state-of-play

Covid-19 Construction Site Guidance Collection

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS
KCDM Construction Site Guidance Collection

Published today is a Covid-19 Guidance page prepared by Keenan CDM with the intention of gathering key guidance information from various sources in one location for ease of reference. This page will be updated regularly as and when new or revised information is published and can be found via the link on the homepage or click here.

Page updated 28th May with new Scottish Safe Operating Guidance docs.
Page updated 21st May with revised CITB checklists for CLC SOP v4.

Coronavirus/Covid-19: Latest HSE Guidance @ 14th May

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS 
HSE Guidance via Email Today

HSE Covid-19 Image

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:

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:

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.

Coronavirus/Covid-19: Latest Construction Guidance @ 13th May (Updated 15th May)

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS 
Latest Construction Guidance

CITB Coronavirus (COVID-19) communication updates pages
With link and page extract below, noting that the checklists aren’t available until tomorrow are now available (15th May).
www.citb.co.uk/urgent-messages/

COVID-19 site safety checklists and forms (Updated 15th May)

During the pandemic it is essential that the workforce is protected to minimise the risk of infection on construction sites.

We have worked hard with CLC and others to produce a comprehensive range of checklists and forms are available to download. We are trying to help employers by providing this information. It will ensure that those who are permitted and able to return to work have a clear understanding of how they can apply the CLC’s COVID-19 Site operating procedures guidance (Version 3) in practice. Guidance on issues such as close working, cleaning and what employees should do if they become unwell will be included.

The checklist and forms will have four parts:

CC01: COVID-19 – Site operating procedures compliance checklist: An interactive checklist to ensure compliance with current guidance on protecting your workforce on site during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Download: CC01 COVID-19 – Site operating procedures compliance checklist (PDF file, 2.7MB)

CC02: COVID-19 – Health, safety and environmental risk assessment template: A guide offering example control measures for those required to undertake risk assessment of the workplace and specific activities on site. An interactive risk assessment template is also included in order to facilitate this process.
Download: CC02 COVID-19 – Health safety and environment risk assessment template (PDF file, 2.1MB)

CC03: COVID-19 – A toolbox talk for construction workers: Designed to be delivered to construction workers by their manager or supervisor. Good communication is essential for health and safety management on construction sites. It is vitally important that contractors, managers and supervisors engage and consult with workers, as it is an effective way of identifying hazards and controlling risks.
Download: CC03: COVID-19 – A toolbox talk for construction workers (PDF file, 325KB)

CC04: COVID-19 – Weekly site operating procedures checklist: An interactive checklist, designed to ensure ongoing compliance with both established and additional procedures.
Download: CC04: COVID-19 – Weekly site operating procedures checklist (PDF file, 1.8MB)

CITB Additional resources

We (CITB) have also released our complete library of 98 interactive checklists and forms from our GE700 Construction Site Safety publication for free download. The comprehensive range of checklists and forms are designed to help with the day-to-day management of construction sites.
Link: GE700 – Checklists and forms

Contractor’s COVID-19 Construction site Health & Safety Video
Detailing measures taken, rules, etc and prepared using CLC Site Operating Procedures guidance.

Another Contractor’s COVID-19 Construction site Health & Safety Video
Again detailing measures to be taken, rules, etc.

UK Government Guidance Document for Construction and other outdoor work (11 May 2020)
“Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) in construction and other outdoor work”
Direct Download