Whilst operating during the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, we need to ensure that we are protecting our workforce and minimising the risk of spread of infection.  This guidance is intended to introduce consistent, enforceable, measures for all our site/non-site operatives, in line with the Government’s recommendations on social distancing.

The health and safety requirements of any construction activity must also 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.  Site teams & Supply Chain Supervisors should remind the workforce at every opportunity of the Site Operating Procedures which are aimed at protecting them, their colleagues, their families and the UK population.

Anyone who meets one of the following criteria should not come to site:

• Has a high temperature or a new persistent cough - follow the guidance on self-isolation
• Is a vulnerable person (by virtue of their age, underlying health condition, clinical condition or are pregnant)
• Is living with someone in self-isolation or a vulnerable.

If a worker develops a high temperature or a persistent cough while at work, they should:

• Remove themselves from site immediately, maintaining the minimum social distance of 2m.
• Contact the Site Manager via mobile and advise why you are leaving site.
• Contact their Line Manager or Employer and advise why you are leaving site. 
• Avoid touching anything – if you can advise where you have been working please do so.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and put it in a bin, or if they do not have tissues, cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow.
• They must then follow the guidance on self-isolation and not return to work until their period of self-isolation has been completed.

Wherever possible workers should travel to site alone using their own transport and must consider:

• Parking arrangements.
• Means of transport to avoid public transport e.g. cycling.
• Maintain or be provided with suitable cleaning products. This should be soap and water wherever possible or hand sanitiser if water is not available.
• How someone taken ill would get home.

• Stop all non-essential visitors to all sites and premises.
• Report to suitable staff member on arrival where workers can be signed in likewise on departure.
• We recommend removing or disable entry systems that require skin contact e.g. keypads.
• Require all workers to wash or clean their hands before starting work & when leaving the site.
• Allow plenty of space (two metres) between people waiting at any entrance.
• Leave doors propped open where possible to minimise contact.
• Regularly clean common contact surfaces in offices, work areas where practicable, including tools, screens, telephone handsets, desks, particularly during peak flow times.
• Drivers should remain in their vehicles if the load will allow it and must wash or clean their hands before unloading goods and materials.

• Ensure soap and fresh / warm water is readily available and kept topped up at all times.
• Provide hand sanitiser where hand washing facilities are unavailable.
• Regularly clean the hand washing facilities and check soap and sanitiser levels.
• Provide suitable and sufficient rubbish bins for hand towels with regular removal and disposal.

• Please wait outside if toilets are in use i.e. 1 in 1 out.
• Wash hands before and after using the facilities.
• Enhance the cleaning regimes for toilet facilities particularly door handles, locks and the toilet flush.
• Portable toilets should be avoided wherever possible, but where in use these should be cleaned and emptied more frequently.
• Provide suitable and sufficient rubbish bins for hand towels with regular removal and disposal.

With cafés and restaurants having been closed across the UK, canteens cannot operate as normal.

Whilst there is a requirement for construction sites to provide a means of heating food and making hot drinks, these are exceptional circumstances and where it is not possible to introduce a means of keeping equipment clean between use & minimise equipment in use.

The workforce should also be required to stay on site once they have entered it and not use local shops.

• Dedicated eating areas should be identified on site to reduce food waste and contamination – Do not eat on site as per the site rules!
• Canteen doors to be propped open to avoid contact.
• Break times should be staggered to reduce congestion and contact at all times.
• The workforce should be asked to bring pre-prepared meals, flasks (hot drinks) and refillable drinking bottles from home.
• Workers should sit 2 metres apart from each other whilst eating and avoid all contact.
• Drinking water should be provided with enhanced cleaning measures of the tap mechanism introduced.
• Tables should be cleaned between each use.
• All rubbish should be put straight in the bin and not left for someone else to clear up.
• All areas used for eating must be thoroughly cleaned at the end of each break and shift, including chairs & door handles.

• Introduce staggered start and finish times to reduce congestion and contact at all times – 1 in 1 out.
• Introduce enhanced cleaning of all facilities throughout the day and at the end of each day.
• Based on the size of each facility, determine how many people can use it at any one time to maintain a distance of two metres.
• Provide suitable and sufficient rubbish bins in these areas with regular removal and disposal.

There will be situations where it is not possible or safe for workers to distance themselves from each other by 2 metres.

• Non-essential physical work that requires close contact between workers should not be carried out.
• Work requiring skin to skin contact should not be carried out.
• Plan all other work to minimise contact between workers.
• Re-usable PPE should be thoroughly cleaned after use and not shared between workers.
• Single use PPE should be disposed of so that it cannot be reused.
• Stairs should be used in preference to lifts or hoists.
• Increase ventilation in enclosed spaces.
• Regularly clean the inside of vehicle cabs and between use by different operators.

• Only absolutely necessary meeting participants should attend.
• Attendees should be two metres apart from each other.
• Rooms should be well ventilated / windows opened to allow fresh air circulation.
• Consider holding meetings in open areas where possible.

Enhanced cleaning procedures should be in place across the all premisis, particularly in communal areas and at touch points including:

• Door handles and push plates.
• Hand rails on staircases and corridors.
• Lift and hoist controls.
• Machinery and equipment controls.
• Telephone equipment.
• Key boards, photocopiers and other office equipment.

Rubbish collection and storage points should be increased and emptied regularly throughout and at the end of each day