Construction Prevention Measures
Before workers come to a location where work is to be carried out.
1.1. Everyone who is involved in construction needs to play a part in minimizing the risk of transmission of COVID-19. All employers (PCBUs) need to create a plan to achieve the requirements of this standard focusing on managing work to maintain the health of persons engaging in construction activity.
1.2. Planning and implementing COVID-19 protocols must involve workplace Health and Safety representation from workers. PCBUs are required to communicate and engage with their workers regularly around how to safely carry out work in a COVID19 environment.
1.3. The plan and work protocols must be communicated effectively to workers and persons before entering site or work starting by the person controlling the work. Language and culture requirements are to be taken into account to ensure information is understandable for all persons involved in the work
1.4. The plan and work protocols must take into account the possibility that the site or location where construction activity is to take place may have become unsafe while inactive during lockdown periods. Before any activity is recommenced the PCBU must ensure that all hazards have been reviewed and appropriately controlled before work activity is commenced after lockdown. This includes workers understanding of the operations and fit for purpose equipment, material and environmental condition checking.
1.5. In managing COVID-19 risk businesses the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk & Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 apply including adhering to the hierarchy of controls when making decisions on how best to protect persons from COVID-19 transmission.
1.6. Persons entering and exiting a workplace are to be registered to assist tracking of contact in case of COVID-19 infection.
1.7. Movement between and on sites is to be planned and managed to prevent transmission of COVID-19.
1.8. PCBUs will have a process to ensure employees are fit for duty by confirming their health status.
1.9. PCBUs must follow the guidelines set out by MOH in regard to vulnerable persons entering the workplace or engaging in any work activity.
1.10. PCBUs are required to have an understanding of and plan for how workers will travel to and from the workplace in order to minimize transmission of COVID-19.
2. Workplace entry or commencement of activity
2.1. PCBUs are to provide a means of evaluating that workers are fit for duty as they enter site or start construction related activity – this should follow MOH guidelines for detection of COVID-19 symptoms and risk factors. Construction Sector Accord COVID-19 – Standard for New Zealand Construction Operations 7
2.2. Workers must be able to sanitise their hands before starting work at their work location as per MOH guidelines
2.3. Arrangements are to be made by the PCBU for the safe use of PPE designed to minimize COVID-19 transmission including, cleaning, training in use, and disposal in line with MOH guidelines for Construction Related Activity.
2.4. Workers are to be given guidance by the person controlling the work location on how to decontaminate themselves and their clothing when returning to their home living arrangements and or accessing other services where they may be in contact with the public (including retailers and medical services).
2.5. All workers are to be registered as they enter a work area and records kept by the person controlling the work area. Work area registers are to be recorded, where it is practical to do so, at a work site level, part of a work site, or a place where construction related work is carried out.
3. Site Operations
3.1. Each place where work is carried out requires a person or persons nominated and agreed by the PCBUs to monitor and manage COVID-19 site protocols.
3.2. Only workers deemed necessary to carry out physical works, supervise work, or conduct work in order to meet regulatory requirements will physically attend the work location. All workers who can work from home, must work from home. Visitors to site will be restricted to the minimum necessary to deliver work.
3.3. All workers are to exercise the recommended personal health practices for reducing the risk of transmission as identified by the MOH. Education of these practices will be undertaken by the worker’s employer or person controlling the work location; this will be based upon agreement between the employer and person controlling the work location.
3.4. All offices and jobsites are to implement additional cleaning measures of common areas as recommended by the MOH.
3.5. Additional sanitary measures are to be implemented at the work location, including but not limited to, hand washing protocols, hand sanitizer stations, and provision of disinfectant wiping products.
3.6. Bathrooms and portable/mobile toilet facilities will require a cleaning schedule that minimizes the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
3.7. Work areas, where there is the potential for close interaction with members of the public or other persons not involved in the work, should be segregated to achieve physical separation.
3.8. Where practicable, construction sites are to be separated into zones in order to keep different crews/trades physically separated at all times (some work locations may need to apply alternative methods to zoning to achieve work group separation).
3.9. Work that requires close personal proximity (as defined by MOH) between workers (e.g. scaffolding, carpentry, crane lifts) should be minimised. Work of this nature must be planned and managed to establish a safe system of work. Risk of COVID19 transmission will be included in risk assessments and the highest level of control must be considered and properly implemented. Construction Sector Accord COVID-19 – Standard for New Zealand Construction Operations 8
3.10. Work vehicles that are shared by multiple persons to be sanitised after each journey by different persons (travelers and/or driver) by thorough cleansing of all internal surfaces and external handles and touch points.
3.11. Deliveries to the work location must be closely managed and controls must be implemented to avoid transmission of COVID-19.
3.12. Equipment and material deliveries are to be planned and managed to avoid the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
4. Leaving Site or Place of Work
4.1. All persons must be checked out of site or the place of work as they leave and records kept by the site controller and employer.
4.2. For each site and work location commonly used areas and surfaces where workers may have come in contact with are to be cleaned and sanitised at the end of the working day or at the end of each shift.
4.3. All waste and disposable PPE must be securely and safely disposed of. Appropriate controls and consideration must be made to those handling contaminated (or potentially contaminated) waste products.
Before workers come to a location where work is to be carried out.
1.1. Everyone who is involved in construction needs to play a part in minimizing the risk of transmission of COVID-19. All employers (PCBUs) need to create a plan to achieve the requirements of this standard focusing on managing work to maintain the health of persons engaging in construction activity.
1.2. Planning and implementing COVID-19 protocols must involve workplace Health and Safety representation from workers. PCBUs are required to communicate and engage with their workers regularly around how to safely carry out work in a COVID19 environment.
1.3. The plan and work protocols must be communicated effectively to workers and persons before entering site or work starting by the person controlling the work. Language and culture requirements are to be taken into account to ensure information is understandable for all persons involved in the work
1.4. The plan and work protocols must take into account the possibility that the site or location where construction activity is to take place may have become unsafe while inactive during lockdown periods. Before any activity is recommenced the PCBU must ensure that all hazards have been reviewed and appropriately controlled before work activity is commenced after lockdown. This includes workers understanding of the operations and fit for purpose equipment, material and environmental condition checking.
1.5. In managing COVID-19 risk businesses the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk & Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 apply including adhering to the hierarchy of controls when making decisions on how best to protect persons from COVID-19 transmission.
1.6. Persons entering and exiting a workplace are to be registered to assist tracking of contact in case of COVID-19 infection.
1.7. Movement between and on sites is to be planned and managed to prevent transmission of COVID-19.
1.8. PCBUs will have a process to ensure employees are fit for duty by confirming their health status.
1.9. PCBUs must follow the guidelines set out by MOH in regard to vulnerable persons entering the workplace or engaging in any work activity.
1.10. PCBUs are required to have an understanding of and plan for how workers will travel to and from the workplace in order to minimize transmission of COVID-19.
2. Workplace entry or commencement of activity
2.1. PCBUs are to provide a means of evaluating that workers are fit for duty as they enter site or start construction related activity – this should follow MOH guidelines for detection of COVID-19 symptoms and risk factors. Construction Sector Accord COVID-19 – Standard for New Zealand Construction Operations 7
2.2. Workers must be able to sanitise their hands before starting work at their work location as per MOH guidelines
2.3. Arrangements are to be made by the PCBU for the safe use of PPE designed to minimize COVID-19 transmission including, cleaning, training in use, and disposal in line with MOH guidelines for Construction Related Activity.
2.4. Workers are to be given guidance by the person controlling the work location on how to decontaminate themselves and their clothing when returning to their home living arrangements and or accessing other services where they may be in contact with the public (including retailers and medical services).
2.5. All workers are to be registered as they enter a work area and records kept by the person controlling the work area. Work area registers are to be recorded, where it is practical to do so, at a work site level, part of a work site, or a place where construction related work is carried out.
3. Site Operations
3.1. Each place where work is carried out requires a person or persons nominated and agreed by the PCBUs to monitor and manage COVID-19 site protocols.
3.2. Only workers deemed necessary to carry out physical works, supervise work, or conduct work in order to meet regulatory requirements will physically attend the work location. All workers who can work from home, must work from home. Visitors to site will be restricted to the minimum necessary to deliver work.
3.3. All workers are to exercise the recommended personal health practices for reducing the risk of transmission as identified by the MOH. Education of these practices will be undertaken by the worker’s employer or person controlling the work location; this will be based upon agreement between the employer and person controlling the work location.
3.4. All offices and jobsites are to implement additional cleaning measures of common areas as recommended by the MOH.
3.5. Additional sanitary measures are to be implemented at the work location, including but not limited to, hand washing protocols, hand sanitizer stations, and provision of disinfectant wiping products.
3.6. Bathrooms and portable/mobile toilet facilities will require a cleaning schedule that minimizes the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
3.7. Work areas, where there is the potential for close interaction with members of the public or other persons not involved in the work, should be segregated to achieve physical separation.
3.8. Where practicable, construction sites are to be separated into zones in order to keep different crews/trades physically separated at all times (some work locations may need to apply alternative methods to zoning to achieve work group separation).
3.9. Work that requires close personal proximity (as defined by MOH) between workers (e.g. scaffolding, carpentry, crane lifts) should be minimised. Work of this nature must be planned and managed to establish a safe system of work. Risk of COVID19 transmission will be included in risk assessments and the highest level of control must be considered and properly implemented. Construction Sector Accord COVID-19 – Standard for New Zealand Construction Operations 8
3.10. Work vehicles that are shared by multiple persons to be sanitised after each journey by different persons (travelers and/or driver) by thorough cleansing of all internal surfaces and external handles and touch points.
3.11. Deliveries to the work location must be closely managed and controls must be implemented to avoid transmission of COVID-19.
3.12. Equipment and material deliveries are to be planned and managed to avoid the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
4. Leaving Site or Place of Work
4.1. All persons must be checked out of site or the place of work as they leave and records kept by the site controller and employer.
4.2. For each site and work location commonly used areas and surfaces where workers may have come in contact with are to be cleaned and sanitised at the end of the working day or at the end of each shift.
4.3. All waste and disposable PPE must be securely and safely disposed of. Appropriate controls and consideration must be made to those handling contaminated (or potentially contaminated) waste products.
