COVID-19 Design Considerations – Attention Designers!

DESIGNERS – Are you designing for Covid-19 to help eliminate ‘close working’ on site?

The CICV Forum’s Construction Operating Guidance (SOP) (v4 26th Aug at time of writing) includes a section on close working and how this can be eliminated via various methods, with the first example being via design as the extract below from page 27:

Stages of the construction process where <2m tasks can be eliminated/mitigated:
Design – Sections of materials are:

  • 2.5m long or longer, or
  • materials can be installed by an individual (i.e. lightweight materials and simplified fixings)
  • mechanical means for lifting and access can be used while keeping construction personnel >2m apart

Please consider these elimination/mitigation measures when preparing designs – essential when discharging your duties under the CDM Regs in relation to this foreseeable hazard.