OSHA Updates List of COVID-19 Resources for Construction Industry

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an updated list of COVID-19 resources from various federal and state agencies and nongovernment organizations on May 26. The information includes a construction-industry-specific webpage with coronavirus-related guidance for construction employers and workers.

It includes recommended actions to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus. The recommendations include:

Using physical barriers, such as walls, closed doors, or plastic sheeting, to separate workers from those experiencing symptoms consistent with the coronavirus
Keeping in-person meetings (including toolbox talks and safety meetings) as short as possible, while limiting the number of workers in attendance
Assessing potential exposures and circumstances in the work environment before worker entry
Requesting that shared spaces in home environments where construction activities are being performed, or other construction areas in occupied buildings, have good air flow
Staggering work schedules, such as alternating workdays or extra shifts, to reduce the total number of employees on a job site at any given time.