Teams should reduce the number of people in each work crew to the minimum number of people possible to perform the task safely, even if the reduction of crew size means the job takes longer. Minimize interaction between work teams: Even groups within the same project should avoid interaction across groups, to minimize possible viral spread if one worker contracts COVID-19. Approaches to avoiding contact between groups may include staggered shifts, compressed work weeks where different teams work different days, and maximizing geographic distance between different teams working on the same project. Avoid contact with visitors: Visitors outside the typical work crew should avoid interaction with the team wherever possible. For example, if an inspector or materials delivery needs to enter the site, they should alert the work team (e.g. by honking the horn of their vehicle twice or through another established communication means) so that the work team can vacate the site while the external parties are present. Maintain a 6 foot distance between employees wherever possible: Construction teams should make every effort to limit activities that cannot be performed within 6 feet of distance between workers. However, some core construction activities may require some proximity to complete (e.g., concrete pours, utility potholing, work in cranes, drainage pipe construction, among others). In these cases, construction crews must employ other aggressive measures to limit contact. Examples include requiring employees to face away from each other, the use of supplemental Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) like face shields or respirators, minimizing the number of people on a team, and retaining consistency within work teams to limit contact with parties external to that team. Office work should be done remotely, whenever possible: Office functions associated with a project (e.g. accounting or records) should be done from home to the maximum extent practicable. In-person meetings should be avoided: Office meetings and consultations should take place virtually, with participants working from home or their work truck, whenever possible. If an in-person meeting is absolutely necessary, that must be limited to fewer than ten people, and participants must maintain 6 foot distance at all times during the meetings. All surfaces should be wiped down before and after the meeting, and hand washing should also occur before and after the meeting. Workers must not congregate during breaks: Construction workers should not congregate for lunch or other breaks. Activity specific work plans: Contractors should consider all job activities and review how they can be accomplished using necessary social distancing and sanitation protocols. Strict hygiene protocols must be utilized with all equipment and surface areas that are commonly touched. Operators of light and heavy duty equipment, specifically, must: Clean commonly touched surfaces before and after operation: Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. Cleaning is typically performed using soap, detergents, cleansers and clean water before using a disinfecting method. Commonly touched surfaces, include but are not limited to: door handles and grab bars, instrument panels, steering wheels, devices such as cell phones; Follow cleaning activities with an approved disinfectant: refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection. Disinfecting is typically performed using approved commercial or household disinfecting solutions. For a list of CDC-approved disinfectants against viruses (including COVID-19 virus), see: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2 Use of personal protective equipment for hygiene and safety: employees should wear all standard worksite personal protective equipment (PPE), especially eye protection and gloves, as well as other standard safety equipment (e.g. reflective vests or jackets). Face masks should be limited to specific activities for which they are typically needed, because of a national supply shortage. PPE may not be shared between members of a work team. It is critical that individuals DO NOT report to work while they are experiencing illness symptoms including any of the following symptoms: such as; fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, nausea, chills, or fatigue. If an employee does experience any of these symptoms, they will notify their foreman or supervisor immediately so that appropriate follow-up actions can be taken. A screening tool for employees can be found here. People at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are urged to stay in their Residence at all times except as necessary to seek medical care. People who are sick must stay in their Residence except as necessary to seek medical care and must not go to work, even at a Critical Business. Any worker displaying possible COVID symptoms may not participate in construction work. Employees should monitor their health at the beginning of each work day and are strongly encouraged to check their temperature at the start of the work day (although some COVID-19 cases do not experience a fever). Individuals should also seek medical attention if they develop these symptoms by first calling their primary care provider or urgent care center. A sick employee must not return to work until they have been asymptomatic for 72 hours. If an employee is diagnosed as positive for COVID-19, they should not return to work until a medical professional has provided written notice that it is safe to do so. Focus on critical activities: Not all construction activities are of equal urgency. When considering whether a project is critical, please consider factors such as the impact on public health and safety, the impact on the economy, and the impact on the environment.
