Stricter measures needed to combat Covid on construction sites

Unite is calling for the creation of separate site operating procedures to cover both indoor and outdoor construction work following revelations by Professor Calum Semple that confirm Unite’s belief that stricter measures are needed to combat Covid-19 transmissions on constructions sites.

 “Since the beginning of the pandemic, Unite has warned that construction workers were at considerable risk,” said Jerry Swain Unite national officer for construction.

 Professor Calum Semple told Sky’s Sophie Ridge programme on Sunday (22 November) that, “you would have thought working outside wouldn’t be a risk but many people in construction are actually working inside before buildings are made Covid-safe.

 “So the construction industry has turned out to be a risk that I was surprised to see.”

 Huge amounts of the industry operate through bogus self-employment or agency labour where workers have no employment rights and engagements are short.

 The union is also highly concerned that many construction workers remain unable to self-isolate due to financial reasons as they do not qualify for the job retention scheme, self-employment grants or extra payments for self-isolating. Unite believes this is an additional factor in the increasing construction transmission rates.

 “In these circumstances and with unemployment growing, workers fear that if they raise concerns they will have their contracts terminated and will struggle to find new employment,” said Jerry.

 “The professor is right that a great deal of construction work is undertaken inside, often in poorly ventilated areas. The risk of transmission is further increased in poor weather as workers seek protection indoors from the elements,” he added.

 The situation has been made worse by the inadequacy of the site operating procedures published by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC).

 “The government feeds into this body so it must be aware of the failure to address the need for the compulsory wearing of masks where workers can’t work in a socially distanced manner,” said Jerry.

 Unite has demanded this repeatedly warning that it was central to getting transmission in the sector under control. 

 “This failure is likely to have contributed to the high transmission rate and has seriously undermined the social distancing messages vital to the protection of workers,” added Jerry.

 While larger sites, particularly where Unite has been actively involved, have been better in ensuring Covid safe working practices are enacted, such measures on smaller sites and in the domestic sector are either weak or non-existent.

 “Since the beginning of the pandemic, Unite has argued that construction employers need to ensure that workers are protected from when they leave home until when they return home at night. The increased level of transmission in the sector demonstrates this is simply not happening,” warned Jerry.

 The union is operating a confidential email – [email protected] and hotline (0207 622 2442) for construction workers concerned about Covid-19 safety.

“Unless the government and construction employers ensure that there are strict rules on mask wearing, that social distancing and cleaning regimes are being followed, and workers can afford to self-isolate, transmission rates will continue to climb.

 “Unite remains fully committed to working with employers and the government to address these issues and improve Covid safety for construction workers,” said Jerry.

By Barckley Sumner