The construction industry continues to boom during the pandemic. Following a quiet lockdown period from March to May, there has been a real eagerness to complete on properties and carry out renovations, making the most of the stamp duty cuts and trying to capitalise before another pandemic or lockdown emerges.
The property market continues to very busy, with a record number of mortgage approvals and applications for construction finance.
But with construction booming across the UK capital and other regions, it is important that any construction workers are still minimising any risk of the covid-19 pandemic spreading, especially for their colleagues and any clients living or working in their homes. Octagon provides some advice for keeping build sites safe during covid-19.
Allow for Open Spaces
Construction sites are typically in the open air – and this is something that reduces the risk of covid-19 spreading. However, as a site comes closer to completion, the spaces become enclosed, especially if you have the client living in the home at the same time. In this case, you have to take measures to make sure that windows are always open and that the spaces are not confined. You can also consider making areas just for workers or builders and not accessible for household members.
Hand Washing Stations
Using hand sanitisers or hand washing stations are important to avoid the germs and virus spreading. If you are bringing materials from different locations, you want to ensure that your hands are clean (or you are wearing gloves) and they are washed every time you leave and enter.
Some construction sites will already have hand washing stations, assuming there is a kitchen installed.
You can also access portal hand washing stations from the likes of Trovex, which are perfect for construction sites upon entry or exit – and they have also been used by schools and other places of interest.
Regular Testing
It is not unreasonable to ask for and carry out regular covid-19 testing on builders and workers, especially if they are mixing households or working on multiple jobs. The result of one person or the entire team catching covid-19 could be detrimental to the workflow, deadline and become very costly.
Home testing kits for Covid-19 are available to order online and cost just a few pounds. But ideally you should try find the ones available in bulk so that you can carry out tests daily and for multiple staff members.
Wearing Masks When in Close Proximity to Others
Wearing the correct PPE is always important if you are not in the same bubbles. So if you have different specialists and builders coming in from different locations, the correct PPE such as masks and gloves will be important.
For the very least, you may need to wear masks and gloves or show that you are regularly washing your hands just to instil confidence in the client – and demonstrate that you are taking measures towards their safety and yours.
