Page 14 - OHS, November/December 2020

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY
Tips for Working Safely in Construction During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Assessing risk level and ensuring workers have proper PPE are key steps to maintaining construction worker safety during this time.
BY SHARI FRANKLIN SMTITH
he construction industry, like many others, may be considering additional requirements and steps to help protect workers from SARS- CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This
■ Modify work schedules to stagger trades, or minimize mixing of shifts.
■ Limit in person meetings, or ensure people can spread out 6 feet or more between attendees.
■ Conduct hazard assessments to determine any additional PPE required and provide related training. ■ Understand your site’s local health
requirements and levels of community outbreaks. Recently published guidelines from AIHA, “Focus on Construction Health: COVID-19”, provide additional construction specific guidance.6 These further guidelines include strategies to help reduce and control COVID-19 related hazards in
construction environments.
OSHA Risk Levels
OSHA has provided additional guidance on exposure risk levels for COVID-19. In OSHA’s “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID19,” a control banding approach is provided based on levels of risk exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Levels include Low, Medium, High and Very High. OSHA anticipates that most construction work will be low or medium risk, with some opportunities for high risk tasks.
OSHA applied these risk categories in their construction specific guidance. Low risks tasks include those that allow workers to maintain 6 feet of separation and have little contact with customers, visitors or the public. Medium risk tasks include tasks where workers may need to work within 6 feet of each other or have contact with visitors, customers or the public. High risk tasks include “entering an indoor work site occupied by people such as other workers, customers, or residents suspected of having or known to have COVID-19, including when an occupant of the site reports signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19.”7 High risk activities could include work in hospitals with known or suspected cases of COVID-19.Veryhighrisksinvolvedinhealthcare procedures are not likely to occur in construction.
Additional PPE Considerations
for Construction
For low risk tasks, OSHA recommends, “Most con- struction workers are unlikely to need PPE beyond what they use to protect themselves during routine job tasks. Such PPE may include a hard hat, gloves, safety glasses and a face mask.” For medium risk tasks
novel coronavirus is currently believed to spread from person to person when an infected person’s respiratory droplets, perhaps from coughing, sneezing or talking, land in others’ eyes, nose or mouth. The CDC indicates that being within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes of an infected person’s respiratory emissions increases others’ chances of receiving enough virus to potentially be infected.1 Another possible route of infection is airborne transmission. According to the CDC, “there is evidence that under certain conditions, people with COVID-19 seem to have infected others who were more than 6 feet away.”2
Many internationally recognized organizations such as OSHA, WHO, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU OSHA),3 American Industrial Hygiene Association (AHIA) and the CDC have also published updated guidance.4
The CDC, OSHA, and AIHA have created guidance specifically addressing the construction industry. Key points from the CDC guidance for construction include:
■ Encourage sick workers to stay home.
■ Encourage workers who are well with sick family members to follow CDC precautions.
■ Implement a social distancing plan.
■ Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects, including shared tools, machines, ladders, etc.
■ Limit tool sharing.
■ Practice proper hand hygiene.
■ Provide training on symptoms and risks.
■ Provide proper training on handwashing and
hand washing stations or hand sanitizer.
■ Encourage the use of face coverings in addition
to social/physical distancing.
Additional engineering and administrative
controls for construction sites may include:5
■ Installing posters encouraging staying home if sick and demonstrating cough and sneeze etiquette as
well as proper hand hygiene, hand washing.
■ Designate a COVID-19 safety and health
officer responsible for COVID-19 concerns.
■ Install shields and barriers where possible.
■ Restrict access or limit capacity in enclosed
areas such as elevators, vehicles and break areas.
12 Occupational Health & Safety | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
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