{"id":78520,"date":"2020-06-25T06:03:37","date_gmt":"2020-06-25T04:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grupogespre.com\/covid-19-management-in-construction\/"},"modified":"2020-06-25T06:03:37","modified_gmt":"2020-06-25T04:03:37","slug":"covid-19-management-in-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grupogespre.com\/en\/covid-19-management-in-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Management in Construction"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Coronavirus pandemic broke out in March 2020 and completely changed our environment<\/strong>. Lockdown and other measures established by governments in different countries have caused an unprecedented halt to social and economic activity. However, certain essential activities have had to continue, with varying intensities. <\/p>\n

For this reason, health and safety has become very important, as establishing prevention guidelines is vital. Even more so, in view of the “new normal,” already in force in most territories. Many people have realized in this exceptional situation the fundamental role of occupational risk prevention professionals, and especially of Health and Safety Coordinators<\/strong>. In this article, we will focus on the particularities of COVID-19 management in construction. We will resolve some of the most frequently asked questions<\/strong> regarding the day-to-day management of this matter. <\/p>\n

In circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, a Health and Safety Coordinator is obliged to stay up to date on everything related to health and safety because this is when the work of occupational risk prevention professionals is most in demand.<\/p>\n

Is COVID-19 risk the responsibility of the Health and Safety Coordinator?<\/h2>\n

As established by Operational Criterion No. 102\/2020 on measures and actions of the Labor and Social Security Inspectorate relating to situations arising from the new Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)<\/a>, COVID-19 risk in construction is not an occupational risk. Therefore, the answer to the question posed is no. <\/p>\n

The aforementioned text establishes that “Regarding the preventive actions that companies must carry out against COVID-19, from the labor point of view, a distinction should be made between those corresponding to companies with activities that, by their very nature, exposure to SARS-CoV-2 may constitute an occupational risk, and those in which its presence in workplaces constitutes an exceptional situation (as in the case of construction sites), arising from the infection of workers through means other than occupational.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The Interpretative note on the application of these exposure risk scenarios<\/u> explains how the following table should be used. A profession can be classified in several risk scenarios depending on the tasks performed. <\/p>\n

\"COVID-19<\/h2>\n

Is it necessary to create an annex to the site Health and Safety Plan?<\/h2>\n

No, it is not necessary, since it is not an occupational risk and does not derive from the execution project or the Health and Safety Study. Therefore, such an annex is not required. <\/p>\n

According to the indications provided by the Regional Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Community of Madrid, COVID-19 is not a risk inherent to the workplace but a public health risk<\/strong>. Therefore, action protocols must be established on construction sites according to the procedures<\/strong> established by the Ministry of Health<\/strong>. This document can be consulted here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

These action protocols must be known by all site personnel and, as it is not a risk inherent to the execution of construction work, it will not be necessary to include them in an Annex to the Health and Safety Plan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What document is necessary to implement to inform all workers about COVID-19 risk and what measures must be taken on site to prevent contagion?<\/h2>\n

The contractor, as the workplace owner, must prepare a COVID-19 action protocol for the site<\/strong>. This protocol will be prepared with the assistance of prevention services, specifying how to apply the protocols established by health authorities in the particular workplace. It will incorporate the prevention measures indicated by health authorities applied to the site. <\/p>\n

In this regard, Operational Criterion No. 102\/2020 on measures and actions of the Labor and Social Security Inspectorate relating to situations arising from the new Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) indicates the following as an example:<\/p>\n

Flexible hours and staggered shifts<\/strong> to reduce worker concentrations. On site, continuous working days, different shifts for meals, breaks, changing rooms, number of site offices, etc., can be adopted. <\/p>\n

Must the contractor inform all parties involved in the construction project of the prepared action protocol?<\/h2>\n

Yes, the contractor must inform by sending a report to the project management team and the developer. Likewise, with the information report on the COVID-19 action protocol, all site workers are informed. <\/p>\n

\"\" \"On-Site<\/p>\n

How should one act in case of a possible, suspected, or probable COVID-19 case on site?<\/h2>\n

This point should be incorporated by the contractor in their action protocol<\/strong>. It is a relevant aspect in relation to COVID-19 management in construction. <\/p>\n

If the affected person presents symptoms compatible with COVID-19, they must contact health authorities<\/strong>. Likewise, they must inform the contractor<\/strong> of the site directly. If it is a subcontractor, through the means established by the subcontractor. <\/p>\n

The contractor will inform in writing<\/strong> of such possible, suspected, or probable COVID-19 case to all parties involved in the construction project. In this information, the measures adopted<\/strong> as a consequence of this event will be indicated<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

The established health protocol will be rigorously followed<\/strong>: Isolation of the worker for 14 days.<\/p>\n

In the event that the affected person confirms a POSITIVE COVID-19 result, the guidelines established in the following section will be followed.<\/p>\n

How to act if a POSITIVE COVID-19 case is confirmed on site.<\/h2>\n

First, all members of the project management team, developer, and, where applicable, Project Managers<\/em> will be notified.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If it is confirmed that any person has tested positive in disease verification tests, all members of the project management team will be notified. Likewise, prevention services, developer, contractor, subcontractors, and self-employed workers who may have been on site during the last 15 days will be notified.<\/strong> Immediate suspension of the site is advisable.<\/strong> Depending on the case and after rigorous analysis, consideration will be given to suspending only the work area where the POSITIVE COVID-19 case was working.<\/p>\n

In the case of POSITIVE COVID-19 cases presented in the week of March 23, 2020, it should be noted that during the previous 15 days, measures against COVID-19 had NOT been taken. In that case, it cannot be guaranteed that the affected person had not infected anyone else on site. <\/p>\n

For this reason, in these cases, the site must be suspended and complete disinfection of the site is recommended. The suspension may be temporary<\/strong> if safety measures are adopted that guarantee the protection of employees and site personnel. Total suspension proceeds if such measures are not adopted. <\/p>\n

The suspension of the site will be agreed upon with the Developer, contractor, and project management team, issuing a temporary suspension report for a minimum duration of 14 days.<\/p>\n

The model provided by the Superior Council of Spanish Colleges of Architects and the General Council of Technical Architecture of Spain will be used as the temporary site suspension report. This site suspension report will be communicated to all competent public administrations<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • City Council<\/li>\n
  • Competent Labor Authority. In the case of Madrid, the contractor will submit it to the Regional Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IRSST). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The Health and Safety Coordinator will attach it to the Incident Log and bring it to the attention of the Labor Inspectorate through the electronic registry.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The site suspension protocol will be followed so that it remains in the necessary and sufficient safety conditions.<\/p>\n

    If a cleaning service accesses the site, how should one proceed?<\/h2>\n

    It should be noted that the starting point is that the site is suspended. The workplace will also be suspended and will be in sufficient safety conditions for third-party access. Therefore, in terms of occupational risk prevention, it is considered that Royal Decree 1627\/1997 does NOT apply, but rather Royal Decree 171\/2004 on coordination of business activities applies. The corresponding risk assessment of the cleaning company must be available, considering the risk of COVID-19. <\/p>\n

    \"COVID-19<\/h2>\n

    Functions of the Health and Safety Coordinator and COVID-19 management in construction?<\/h2>\n

    Coronavirus is not an occupational risk in construction activity, as explained above.<\/p>\n

    The presence of COVID-19 on construction sites constitutes an exceptional situation. This is because it is not related to the nature of the activity carried out on them. In this regard, infection of workers can occur in workplaces or outside them. <\/p>\n

    For this reason, the Health and Safety Coordinator has no authority over a non-occupational and exceptional situation risk, such as COVID-19.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    In any case, the Health and Safety Coordinator will ensure SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, in the same way as all parties involved in the construction project,<\/strong> such as developer, project management team, contractors, subcontractors, self-employed workers, and, where applicable, Project Manager.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Therefore, the functions of the Health and Safety Coordinator during the construction execution phase will remain the same as those established in Article 9 of Royal Decree 1627\/1997.<\/strong> In this regard, they will not be increased by the exceptional situation generated by the Coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n

    \"Rosa<\/p>\n

    This article has been written by the team of coordinators at Gesti\u00f3n Preventiva en Obra, S.L.P.U. (GespreObra)<\/a> as assistance for construction sites. It is a living document that may undergo modifications based on the measures that labor and health authorities deem appropriate in light of the pandemic’s evolution. Its content was extensively developed in the webinar that Rosa Luz Carre\u00f1o, CEO of GespreObra, delivered on June 17, 2020, within the Prevencionar Meeting Point Internacional<\/a> space. You can watch the complete video of the presentation below: <\/p>\n