Union calls for construction workers to wear masks

The union has written to the Construction Leadership Council highlighting its concerns about the current site operating procedures (SOP).

The fourth and latest version of the industry-standard SOP was published last week.

It states: “If you are not able to work while maintaining a two metre distance, you should consider whether the activity should continue” and adds “that management should minimise the frequency and time workers are within two metres of each other.”

The guidance also states that “workplaces should not encourage the precautionary use of extra PPE to protect against Coronavirus (COVID-19).”

link to Site Operating Procedures (version 4)

Unite wants The SOP could and should be revised to explicitly state that the job should not be undertaken without appropriate PPE, which of course would include masks.
 
Unite also wants workers supplied with masks if more than one person travels together in a work vehicle and social distancing cannot be maintained.

Since the pandemic began, the CLC has become the go to place for construction sites trying to operate and keep workers safe.

It is essential that the information in the site operating procedures is clear, comprehensive and complete. As the procedures are currently written, the health of workers is placed at risk.

Unite has been constructive in the development of these procedures throughout and has fed its views into the CLC. It is imperative that the CLC ends the confusion and republishes revised procedures.

updated: 29/05/2020