CORONAVIRUS - CONSTRUCTION - 27.04.2020

Is site work allowed?

The principal contractor is demanding that you send your staff back to site. However, they don’t want to go, as they believe it’s unsafe to do so. How should you deal with this awkward situation?

Carry on

You are engaged as a subcontractor on a large construction project. The site is run by one of the major players in the construction sector.

At the start of the coronavirus outbreak your staff were quite happy to continue working on the job. However, now the risks of working in such an environment have become apparent, nearly all of them have told you that they’re not willing to go in.

To make things more complicated

The few staff who have been willing to carry on have reported major problems with the supply of materials. None of the usual suppliers are open and the few that are have started to charge huge premiums on their products.

But the demands keep coming

Even though it’s almost impossible for you to get your staff back on site and to work in anything like a normal way the principal contractor (PC) doesn’t seem interested in your problems. In fact, the contract manager has made comments about invoking delay penalty clauses if you fail to get on with the job.

What should you do?

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. If the government prohibited work on construction sites, it would solve the problem. However, at the time of publication in late April 2020, it doesn’t look like this will happen.

Improvements are in place

At the start of the pandemic a number of sites were featured in the media for failing to keep workers apart. However, since then there have been significant changes on many sites. For example, welfare facilities have had seats removed, break times have been staggered, fingerprint access systems turned off, etc. This may convince staff to return to work.

Tip 1. Contact the PC and ask them to provide details on what steps they have taken to reduce risks. State that you will need time to review their new arrangements and will have to update your risk assessment and methd statement (RAMS) accordingly. This will buy you some time, and if the measures are adequate, it will help show your staff that it’s safe to return to work.

Tip 2. Use our new risk assessment as an addendum to your RAMS (see The next step ). This covers the standard control measures that should be followed by those working on site.

Tip 3. Make it clear to your staff that they are only to continue working if it’s possible to follow the PC’s new site rules and the control measures identified in the risk assessment.

Tip 4. Communicate the fact that normal standards apply. For example, permit-to-work systems must be followed and staff are to wear personal protective equipment, etc.

For a coronavirus risk assessment - site document, visit http://tipsandadvice-healthandsafety.co.uk/download (HS 18.16.07).

Start by asking the principal contractor to confirm what steps have been taken to reduce the risks to those working on site. For example, they should have made it possible to stick to the two-metre rule. Use our risk assessment to identify the safe systems of work that should be followed by your staff. This includes sticking to standard work practices.

© Indicator - FL Memo Ltd

Tel.: (01233) 653500 • Fax: (01233) 647100

subscriptions@indicator-flm.co.ukwww.indicator-flm.co.uk

Calgarth House, 39-41 Bank Street, Ashford, Kent TN23 1DQ

VAT GB 726 598 394 • Registered in England • Company Registration No. 3599719