Occupational health and safety issues at the Construction Sites-Post Covid-19 situation

Occupational health and safety issues at the Construction Sites-Post Covid-19 situation

-Er. Abhushan Neupane

NEC No: 3173 Civil “A”

1.      Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province. World Health Organization (WHO) declared this disease as this issue as the matter of Global Emergency dated 30 January 2020. Furthermore, this disease was termed as the Global Pandemic on 11 March 2020 Nepal Government has locked down the Nation from 24 March 2020 and it is continuing up to 27 April 2020. Despite the lockdown situation of the country, it has been observed that some of the construction projects including National Pride Projects like UpperTamakoshi HEP and Melamchi water supply scheme are continuing their construction activities at the site.

During the outbreak of epidemic like Covid-19, the Prime Contractors have a major role in maintaining Occupational Health safety issues at the Construction sites. Most of the Construction Contract states that at the time of an outbreak of illness of an epidemic the Contractor shall carry out the regulation, orders and requests as may be made by the Government or the Local medical or sanitary authorities, for dealing with and overcoming the same. Hence it is evident that the Prime contractor’s role could not be ruled out during this period of Global Pandemic. It is evident that the industry will not be able to avoid the adverse impacts of widespread shut down of construction activities due to Lockdown of the Country like Nepal, whose economy is import-based and heavily relied upon India and other countries. The short supply of major construction materials, other major logistics including food to the Labour and fuel have hard hit this sector due to the Prolonged Lockdown situation of the country. Moreover, the Construction crew have left their working site owing to the prolonged Lockdown period and concerning their own health and safety issues. The supply chain disruption has led to the deceleration of the previous pace of the Construction and even stopped the Construction activities.

2.      Safety awareness of Covid-19

For the developing economy like Nepal, the construction activities could not be stopped for a prolonged period because lots of skilled and unskilled manpower directly rely upon this sector. Hence, before commencing of work the construction crew shall be mandatorily following some of the safety awareness rules recommended by WHO and Government of Nepal.

The rules include:

a.      Maintaining and trying to maintain social distance while working

b.     Use of Mask/Alcohol-based rubs and other PPEs against virus transmission

c.      Frequent washing of hand with soap or another type of detergents

d.     Avoiding touching of Nose, Eyes and Mouth during work or avoid touching hand masks

e.      Maintain enough hygiene and sanitary safety during sneezing

f.       Taking rest if the symptoms of headache, fever and other symptoms are encountered

The construction space shall be sealed completely with no permission of entry of suspicious workers and people particularly susceptible to covid 19 cases.

3.      Workspace management

During this period the workspace shall be made adequate clean and sanitized, such that the workers shall not have any type of fear or suspicion about the case. The social distancing between the workers with at least 2m distance shall be tried.

Some of the tricks that could be adopted includes:

a.      Segregate the construction start time

b.     Segregate the Lunch break time

c.      Segregate the reporting and construction close up timed.     

d. Reduce the pace of construction activities as much possible

e.     Maintain safety briefings before the start of construction activity maintaining enough social distance

f.       Place enough sign and symbols all around the workplace

g.      Enough temporary toilets as possible

4.      Sanitizing the major work stations & medical facilities

Major work stations like lifts, hoists, doors, telephones, labour room, engineers room etc need to be sprayed in at least in daily frequency. Furthermore, sanitizing stations containing alcohol-based hand sanitizers shall be placed in different locations throughout the construction site. One shall install handwashing stations in a different location. The temperature of the construction work shall be measured before entering the construction site and before leaving the construction site every day. Furthermore, the Construction management shall have enough coordination with local authorities as who carry Rapid Diagnostic tests of Covid -19, and refer them to the hospital for further treatment.

5.      Strategic management of the construction workspace:

The construction management team shall adopt the following strategic measures before the implementation of aforesaid measures:

1.      Start with the end in mind

a.      Have Plan A and Plan B in hand

2.      Check the safety procedures adopted as mentioned above and periodically update them

3.      Collect quantitative data and analyse data using scientific tools

4.      Collaborate the sharing the best thought with colleagues and other cross-functional teams

6.      Conclusion/ Recommendation

The effects of Covid-19 Pandemic in the construction industry in Nepal could not be underestimated. Although, in order to maintain the pace of development activities, Construction industry shall be operated in this crucial period. The measures like the safety of workers during this period, workspace management, proper sanitization of workspaces and top management’s strategic plans to carry construction activities are very crucial at this time.