Ronald J. Sikorski, Business Manager & General Vice President
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OETT
Apr 1, 2020
3 min read
COVID-19 Safety Guidance for Construction Sites
Updated: Feb 2, 2021
The following guidelines are based on Interim CDC’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to CoronavirusDisease2019(COVID-19),OSHA’sGuidanceonPreparingWorkplacesforCOVID-19,andthePublicOrder Under City of Los Angeles Emergency Authority (Issue Date March 19, 2020, Revised April 1, 2020) by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (hereinafter “Safer at Home Order”). Please check LADBS.org for the latestupdates.
Construction industry employers shall develop a comprehensive COVID-19 exposure control plan, which includes control measures such as social distancing; symptom checking; hygiene; decontamination procedures, and training. Anexposurecontrolplanandthefollowingpracticesmustbefollowedtopreventanyonsiteworkerfromcontracting COVID-19, as many people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic and can potentially spread disease. Failure to comply with these guidelines shall be deemed as creating unsafe conditions as per the Safer at Home Order section 5(ix) and may result in withheld inspections or shutting down the construction site untilcorrected.
In keeping with the forgoing authorities, LADBS staff will verify compliance with the below guidelines during regular scheduledinspectionsforprojectsunderconstructionaswellasduringinvestigationsassociatedwithcomplaintsthat maybesubmittedtoLADBS(Callcenter-311or(213)473-3231–Callswillthen beroutedtoLADBS’CallCenter.OR, use the MyLA311 Website at https://myla311.lacity.org/ or submit via the MyLA311 mobileapp.):
1.Practice social distancing by maintaining a minimum 6-foot distance fromothers.
2.Preclude gatherings of any size, and anytime two or more people must meet, ensure minimum 6-footseparation.
3.All workers and visitors on site shall wear face coverings over their noses and mouths while performing their work. Face coverings referenced in this guidance can be fabric coverings, such as scarves and bandana coverings. Reusable facecoveringsmustbefrequentlywashed,minimumonceaday,forthehealthandsafetyofusersandothers.Single- use coverings must be properly discarded into trashreceptacles.
4.Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) as appropriate for the activity beingperformed.
5.The owner/contractor shall designate a site specific COVID-19 Supervisor to enforce this guidance. A designated COVID-19 Supervisor shall be present on the construction site at all times during construction activities. The COVID- 19 Supervisor can be an on-site worker who is designated to carry thisrole.
6.Identify“chokepoints”and“high-riskareas”whereworkersareforcedtostandtogether,suchashallways,hoistsand elevators, break areas, and buses, and control them so social distancing ismaintained.
7.Minimize interactions when picking up or delivering equipment or materials, ensure minimum 6-footseparation.
8.Stagger the trades as necessary to reduce density and maintain minimum 6-foot separation socialdistancing.
9.Discourage workers from using other workers’ phones, desks, offices, work tools and equipment. If necessary, clean and disinfect them before and afteruse.
10.Post, in areas visible to all workers, required hygienic practices including not touching face with unwashed hands or withgloves;washinghandsoftenwithsoapandwaterforatleast20seconds;useofhandsanitizerwithatleast60% alcohol, cleaning AND disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, machines, shared tools, elevator control buttons, and doorknobs; coveringthemouthandnose when coughing or sneezing as well as other hygienic recommendations by theCDC.
11.Place wash stations or hand sanitizers in multiple locations to encourage handhygiene.
12.Require anyone on the project to stay home if they are sick, except to get medicalcare.
13.Have employees inform their supervisor if they have a sick family member at home withCOVID-19.
14.Maintain a daily attendance log of all workers andvisitors.
15.Employers must permit their employees to wash their hands at least every 30minutes
16.Employers must make sure employees have access to a clean and sanitary restroom, stocked with all necessary cleansing products like soap and sanitizer.