22 October 2020
A number of articles aimed at the construction sector have been published since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need to ensure an effective COVID-19 plan is developed before a site opens. There is particular emphasis placed on maintaining a high standard of welfare facilities and cleaning regimes.
As we move towards winter, and the incidence of COVID-19 continues to rise in the Island, it is imperative that your COVID plan is reviewed and refreshed to ensure it remains effective in controlling the risk of transmission of the disease.
It is apparent from recent site visits that, in many cases, management controls and site procedures put in place as part of the Government of Jersey permit scheme, designed to support the safe opening of construction industry at level 4 of the Exit Strategy, have deteriorated or fallen away completely as we have moved through the various levels of the safe exit framework.
Unfortunately the long-standing concerns regarding the standard of welfare facilities on some local construction sites also remain real, with four formal Enforcement Notices served in the past three months for a failure to provide welfare facilities in accordance with the minimum legal standards required by Regulation 34 of the ‘Management in Construction (Jersey) Regulations 2016’ .
The Inspectorate will be focusing on the risk assessment and controls to manage and mitigate the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in forthcoming site visits to ensure these are effective and being implemented.
Further guidance on the issues which should be considered when assessing and reducing the risk of the spread of COVID-19 during construction and building work is available via the gov.je website.
COVID19 Business Advice during Level 1
gov.je