OSHA Safety Guidelines for Construction In COVID-19

Essential activities and services including construction must go on, even with COVID-19 continuing to be an active threat. If you are doing business in this industry, it’s important to understand the latest OSHA safety guidelines before you restart operations. The Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) released a guidance containing “recommendations” and descriptions of mandatory health and safety standards. While these recommendations do not create any new legal obligations and are not classified as “regulations” or “standards,” they provide important guidance and informational content to help you and other employers in the construction industry to provide a healthful and safe workplace during this time. 

What the guide covers

The OSHA COVID-19 workplace safety guidelines apply to all construction workers and employers, such as those who are involved in ironworking, carpentry, plumbing, HVAC, concrete work and masonry, earthmoving activities, and utility construction work. All relevant persons are advised to remain alert of the changing outbreak conditions, understand how the virus spreads in a community, testing availability, and implement measures for infection prevention accordingly.

OSHA’s COVID-19 guidance for construction includes tips that could help minimize the risk of becoming exposed to the coronavirus:

• Sick workers must be encouraged to stay home.
• Enable workers to wear masks properly to minimize their chances of catching the virus or prevent them from spreading it.
• Advise all workers to avoid any physical contact with other people. Personal space must be maintained to at least six feet where possible. Workers in work trailers must practice social distancing while inside.
• Proceed to using other normal control measures, such as PPE (personal protective equipment) to protect workers from other job hazards.
• Invest in OSHA safety training to educate workers on how to use, put on, and take off protective equipment and clothing.
• Promote personal hygiene. Workers who do not have instant access to soap and water may use alcohol-based hand rubs with at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Encourage proper respiratory etiquette (i.e. covering for sneezes and coughs)
• Use EPA-approved cleaning chemicals that are proven to be effective against the coronavirus.
• Shorten in-person meetings where possible and limit the workers in attendance. Practice social distancing at all times.
• If equipment or tools must be shared, instruct workers to clean them with alcohol-based wipes before and after use. Don’t forget to consult the manufacturer’s recommendations for the right way to clean the tools and equipment.
• Disinfect and clean portable toilets regularly. Keep hand sanitizer dispensers filled regularly, and frequently disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like toilet seats and door pulls.
• Encourage all workers to report any health and safety concerns.

As COVID-19 can be fatal to certain individuals—especially the elderly and immunocompromised— observing and implementing proper OSHA COVID-19 workplace safety is more important than ever, so you can prevent your employees from becoming sick.

Is your construction site ready for COVID-19? Impact Safety can work with you to ensure that your workplace can have a strong safety culture. We can help you make real-world solutions that are tailored to your situation and unique objectives while keeping OSHA safety guidelines in mind.