Construction site Operating Procedures during COVID-19

Construction site Operating Procedures during COVID-19

The Construction Leadership Council has published what is set to become the construction industry’s current most important code of practice – Site Operating Procedures during the coronavirus pandemic.

The key points include:

Site workers need to be two metres apart from each other at all times, as per government instructions, including in the canteen. In fact better to shut the canteen and get people to bring their own prepared lunches in.

• Start times on site should be staggered to avoid congestion at the gates.

• Site workers are urged to drive or cycle to work and avoid public transport, if possible.

• Fingerprint scanners and other security systems that require touching should be disabled.

• Reduce the number of people in attendance at site inductions and consider holding them outdoors wherever possible.

Andy Mitchell, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council said the following:

"We are in exceptional circumstances, and are doing our utmost to keep construction sites operational wherever it is practical and safe to do so. Whilst the guidance from Public Health England may change in future, for the time being construction sites of any size that are operating during the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic need to ensure they are protecting their workforce and minimising the risk of spread of infection.

To implement the Government’s social distancing recommendation the Construction Leadership Council has now published Site Operating Procedures. I would strongly recommend that these procedures are implemented by every operational construction site, with the aim of us having a standard approach across the industry that all firms and workers can adopt.

It is also vital that the health and safety requirements of any construction activity must not be compromised at this time. If an activity cannot be undertaken safely due to a lack of suitably qualified personnel being available, or social distancing being implemented, it should not take place. We are aware that emergency services are also under great pressure and may not be in a position to respond as quickly as usual."

Download the document here: Site Operating Procedures – 23 March 2020