Virus GUIDELINES AND SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS for Construction

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PLANNING PHASE:

 • Plan construction phases avoiding large groups of workers and unnecessary overlap of crews. If the work plan was developed prior to the Virus outbreak, consider reviewing and adapting when necessary; 
 • Basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) related to construction safety such as gloves and glasses should be provided to workers depending on the tasks they are assigned to. In addition, each worker 
 • Additional handwashing stations including the provision of clean water and soap, together with cleaning and disinfection products may be required for construction sites opened prior to the outbreak. For new construction site, plan and budget provision of these items
 • Preferably, every worker should be provided with a basic set of tools needed for the tasks they are assigned to. Using the same tool by multiple workers should be avoided. If tools are shared or stored for later use by another person, they need to be disinfected/cleaned. 
• Plan to engage workers coming from the close proximity to the facility being built (possibly from the same block) and avoid involving labor from farther away camps or villages. 

PREPARE YOUR WORKFORCE: 

 • Prevention messages should be printed and clearly displayed on site. Consider providing an additional printed copy of the key prevention messages for all workers to disseminate to their families.
 • Workers should be clearly informed on protocols to follow in case they or their family members get sick. 
• Workers should wear a reusable or surgical mask. 
• Workers should be requested to maintain a physical distance of 2 meters (6’) from others as much as possible and to adhere to the other suggested practices for infection prevention and control, in particular: - Wash your hands regularly with clean water and soap for at least 20 seconds, or clean them with a hand sanitizer; - Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; - When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth with a tissue and throw it into the closed bin immediately. - Do not spit. 
 • Working gloves are sometimes worn to protect against injuries during some activities, but they do not offer any protection against transmission of viruses and should be considered as unwashed hands in terms of minimizing touching one’s face. 
• Workers should not greet each other with handshakes or embraces at any point during the day. 
• If workers are operating in an area where sick or suspected infected people are currently or recently transited (in the previous 3 days), they should wear masks and disposable gloves at all times. 
• Advice workers to wash their clothes frequently (daily if possible). 

 ACCESS TO SITE: 

• Only essential visitors (workers, supervisors, and managers) should be allowed on site;
 • Programme/monitoring visits should be reduced to the minimum and should be planned when workers are not on site (i.e. lunch or prayer time). 
 • Fence off the construction site to ensure no one can enter or approach the workers without authorization and the workers and other constructions staffs do not enter the existing building area without authorization. 
• Entry and exit gates should be clearly marked and guarded; 
 • Body temperature should be measured for all persons entering the site. 
• Allow enough space for people to queue in a safe manner at the entrance of the site while they wash their hands and get screened. 
 • A trained staff should be designated to guard the access, checking the temperature of workers and visitors and enquiring about the overall health condition and vulnerability; 
 • Ensure there are sufficient hand washing stations at the entrance and that they have water and soap, as well as clearly display signs requesting persons entering to wash their hands. 
 • Anyone falling in one of the following categories should not be allowed on site: - Has a family member suspected virus patient living in the same household or self-isolating, or if s/he has got in close contact with a confirmed Virus patient in the previous two weeks. S/he should not report on-site and self-quarantine at home for two weeks. - Is showing one or more symptoms related to a virus (high temperature, new persistent cough, shortness of breath). S/he should not report on-site, stay home and self-isolate or seek medical care in case of severe symptoms. - Is a vulnerable person (by virtue of age, clinical/health condition, or pregnancy). 
 • All persons should wash or clean their hands before entering and leaving the site. 
 • Workers should be encouraged to reach the site using individual modes of transportation and avoid public transport when possible during construction 
 • To the most possible extent, workers should maintain a physical distance of 2 meters (6’) from others at all times. Performing activities that must be conducted in close proximity should be avoided when possible. If these activities must take place, workers should wear masks.
 • If possible, construction crews should be segregated and tasks allocated so they do not overlap it is suggested to establish crew shifts to be also applied for break, lunch, and prayer time. 
• If a worker develops virus symptoms on-site, the following actions should be followed: - Avoid touching anything; - Cough and sneeze into a tissue and put it in a closed bin, or in their flexed Elbow in case they don’t have issues; - Return home and self-isolate, or seek medical care in case of severe symptoms. - All surfaces and tools s/he may have recently touched should be cleaned and Disinfected. 
 • In spaces where queuing may happen (including latrines and handwashing stations), consider marking a safe distance of 2 meters (6’) on the ground or railings. 
• Meetings on-site should be avoided at all times. Instruction to workers should be given in open spaces and maintain a physical distance. 
• If construction activities happen in an enclosed space, the site should be ventilated as much as possible, for example leaving doors and windows open during the working day.
 • Due to potential sudden access restrictions, all materials and equipment should be carefully and safely stored before leaving the site at the end of every day.
 • When receiving and unloading goods and construction materials, workers should keep their distance from the drivers at all times. When possible, drivers should remain in their vehicles. If drivers must unload the goods for safety reasons, they should do so without the help of the workers and they should wash or clean their hands before and after. Any contact between deliverers and receivers should be avoided (including delivery papers and pens for signature, etc.). It is recommended that everyone needs to sign paperwork and have their own pen or wash their hands after. 
 • Provide safe drinking water dispensers and one-time cups, or encourage workers to carry an individual cup.
 • All solid waste (excluding construction materials) should be put immediately in closed bins or closed bags and not left for someone else to clear up.