Construction Work

Most construction work involves a client and a contractor so both need to demonstrate that a site can be opened safely.
Thus safe systems of work need to be posted openly and adhered too. Which I am sure most businesses can do.
The economic impact would lead to a reduction on the spend by government by getting People back to work.
This can be policed using cameras on phones by businesses and provide any evidence of compliance.
Possible hot lines for public to highlight concerns that can be policed by HSE.
Many construction projects are publicly funded etc so I am sure as the client they can support the contractor to minimise any risks

Why the contribution is important

Getting construction jobs going is key to priming the economic recovery. This allows planning of new work, gets fabrication going again. If we have 30% of people on furlough or redundant at present this is the size of the threat to our ways of life leading to an impact on society that we have not seen since 1930’s

by Cwab1964 on May 06, 2020 at 08:58AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.5
Based on: 32 votes

Comments

  • Posted by scottc May 06, 2020 at 09:19

    Smaller builders, painters and handymen (say under 5 employees) could restart on work immediately where the work is external only and the client is happy. Builders merchants and waste disposal sites would have to re-open to enable this.

  • Posted by Jeanie May 06, 2020 at 09:26

    The ban on all construction work is not treating people as Grown Ups. Many construction sites could be run with social distancing measures in place and reduced number of workers on site. This will get harder in the winter months, so it particularly foolish to ban construction (and other outdoor work) now.

    Examples from my street:
    - a whole house refurbishment project stopped, where two men were previously working on different elements without contact with each other
    - a new porch stopped, where one man was working in the open air or alone inside the porch. The house inhabitants were using the back door

  • Posted by IMB69 May 06, 2020 at 10:30

    While construction is a major part of our economy and employs large numbers it also has the potential due to these numbers to increase the R number. Any return needs to be carefully thought out not just contractors putting words on paper these need to be workable solutions, some of the issues are
    Social distancing on site during your work activity

    No supplies of PPE available due to other demands

    Travel to sites- One person per vehicle, how does someone that doesn't drive get to site (apprentices)

    Increased parking required on larger sites

    Sub contractors travelling from other areas of the Country potentially spreading the virus
    Accomadation for workmen and subcontractors at some site locations

    Supply chain deliveries coming from all over the Country or even mainland Europe with materials for larger projects again movement of people from different areas with potential to spread any infection

  • Posted by Andrewmiller May 06, 2020 at 11:20

    Absolutely, no employer can allow staff to work within 2m of each other without the correct PPE which as you say is not, for obvious reasons available. Small contractors who are flouting the rules will spread the infection and potentially delay the restart.

  • Posted by Gagdet May 06, 2020 at 11:29

    Small to medium construction work to be continued but with certain rules in place as long as they adhere to social distancing

    Travel to site with own car
    Use separate enter/exit to works
    Respect social distancing
    As an example have 2 or 1 person per day carrying out work

    Example :
    Family with NO Functional Kitchen during lockdown as work stopped. But only require 1 joiner to fit...plumber to do pipe and electrician to carry out their work can be done staggered.

  • Posted by borisj May 06, 2020 at 12:56

    Selfishness of rich construction company owners is pushing for this, they even have a group in the UK parliament putting together standard operating procedures that english sites claim to be following. Cowboy builders unite, and a few desperate but vocal unfortunate individuals needing some kitchen work done.
    What are the lives of those infected by a disease that no-one has built in immunity to and for which there is no cure, compared to the need to make money or get your kitchen finished.
    Can't it wait another week ?
    Get a free standing oven from Curry's they'll deliver it tomorrow and it'll plug into a normal socket, or get a camping stove from Argos, they'll deliver it and the bottle of gas it needs to work.

    The only way to stop a virus with no treatment is to stop it spreading, that means not interacting with other people, that means not having your kitchen finished, or your plastering done, or a lick of paint put on your walls, or your building site working to make houses no-one can move into, or offices no one can work in, or car parks no-one can park in.

    Save the people and the economy will recover quicker, go back to making money and the virus will continue to spread, and all the non work stuff will remain closed... what's the pooint of making money for the rich few at the cost of the employed many.

  • Posted by WilfredLawrieNicholasJohnson May 07, 2020 at 17:11

    Many keep drawing comparisons to the fact that English Construction sites are still operating and Scotland have been closed. But how confident are these people that the CLC Guidance is safe? On paper parts may seem reasonable. But just because people are working to them does not make them safe. There is a feeling that the workers in construction industry in England are essentially being treated as test subjects for this guidance, meanwhile it is dressed up as ‘best practice’.

    How can we be sure that the current CLC guidance is:

    a) Safe?
    b) being enforced by the company?
    c) being further enforced by authorities like HSE?

    The guidance is flawed and unclear with many unsafe recommendations, such as face to face working for up to 15 minutes to highlight the most obscene suggestion (a UK government recommendation).

    The Scottish Government should issue its own guidance for the construction industry in Scotland. First and foremost it should be safe and clear. Some suggestions to improve safety could be as follows:

    • Staff should travel alone and not share public transport or share vans in any circumstance
    • Limit number of people on site at any one time
    • Everyone should wear a mask
    • N95 masks and goggles for anyone who has to work within 2 metres

    Final point. Construction bosses only really care about the money or the programme. They never care about the hardworking boots on the ground, never have and never will. There needs to be enforcement and heavy fines issued to those who don’t want to comply or are not taking it seriously enough. The only thing that will force some of these people to comply is if there is a financial incentive.

  • Posted by FM79 May 08, 2020 at 14:42

    The construction industry is critical to the economy and needs to be restarted as soon as possible. It's wrong that Scottish construction is still blocked but it's ok in England, very inconsistent and not acceptable
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