General Contractors
General Contractor COVID-19 Site Management Plan
This construction-specific COVID-19 management plan addresses how Resident Members, Associates, construction crews (including suppliers), and the general public will be protected based on strict adherence to all updated government guidelines.
Controlled Work Zone Social Distancing Protocols
The construction site must be clearly demarked by either secured fencing and/or a sealed hoarding that creates an approved spatial separation of at least 2m between those outside the construction zone and any people and hard surfaces (including tools and materials) within the control zone.
Any entry and exit points into the construction zone must restrict public or unauthorized entry.
Emergency egress shall not be impeded, particularly from spaces currently occupied by Resident Members, Associates, and the general public.
Any entry and exit points into the control zone must be secured.
The General Contractor will be responsible for working with the owner to prepare a site specific Construction Zone Plan (example provided in Appendices).
Screening & Restriction of Controlled Work Zone Access
If you show any symptoms or have exposure concerns, you can take this self-assessment to help determine whether you should be tested and can call the following Health Lines (Alberta: 811; Saskatchewan: 811; Ontario: 1.866.797.0000; Quebec: 1.877.644.4545)
All international and non-essential travel is prohibited for those members listed on the “Approved Construction Personnel List.”
Personnel who have traveled outside the country, or who have been exposed to those who have traveled outside the country, are asked to self-isolate for 14 days before attempting to gain entry to the job site.
An “Approved Construction Personnel List” must be prepared by the GC for the Owner’s review.
A designated construction site superintendent must always be on site.
Only personnel listed on the “Approved Construction Personnel List” will be considered for entry into the construction zone, and these personnel can only gain access after having a completed a COVID-19 Screening Declaration Form (refer to Appendices) that is reviewed and approved by the Site Superintendent.
COVID-19 Screening Declaration Forms must be completed daily by construction personnel, and by other personnel prior to every inspection or site visit.
Personnel must travel to and from the work site in separate vehicles, and shall wait outside the construction zone, in their own vehicle, until waived-in by the site superintendent for formal check-in. • Upon entry or exit from the Controlled Work Zone, personnel must wash their hands in strict accordance with Alberta Health Services guidelines (and posted signage).
Upon exiting the Controlled Work Zone, personnel will be required to remove and discard disposable gloves (or wash and disinfect non-disposable rubber gloves with soap and water and disinfectant spray, respectively), before washing their hands; washed gloves should never make contact with a countertop or hard surface.
Controlled Work Zone Protocols General Spatial Separation Measures:
A strict “no handshake” policy will ALWAYS be in effect.
The number of workers on site will be restricted at any given time, within the Controlled Work Zone, to comply with government spatial separation guidelines.
Any food and beverages must be consumed at the minimum recommended spatial separation distance (2m) from one another.
Congregated lunch and coffee breaks are NOT permitted, and breaks will be staggered for every crew member.
Under NO circumstances are tools, food, beverages, utensils, or personal protective equipment (PPE) EVER to be shared.
In the event of damaged or malfunctioning PPE (e.g. torn gloves, improperly fitted respirator, etc.), the affected worker must leave the Controlled Work Zone immediately after undergoing exit disinfection and cleaning protocols.
In the event that the minimum 2m spatial separation requirement is not possible, due to safety reasons (e.g. one person holding something heavy while the other is fastening, etc.), workers will be required to wear protective face coverage (e.g. safety goggles with half-face respirator, disposable full face-shield, N95 face mask with goggles, etc.), gloves, etc.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Measures:
All personnel entering the Controlled Work Zone must wear the minimum appropriate PPE including, but not limited to, the following:
Inspections & Meetings
Safety Eye-wear (preferably goggles)
Protective Footwear
Gloves (made of disposable latex or impervious, washable rubber)
Hard Hats (if risk exists for blunt head impact)
Other
Construction-Related Work (including Demolition and Material Drop-Off)
NIOSH-Approved N95 Particulate Filtering Half-Respirator o Safety Eye-wear (preferably goggles)
Protective Footwear o Gloves (made of disposable latex or impervious, washable rubber)
Hard Hats (if risk exists for blunt head impact)
Other
Disposable PPE, such as gloves or suits, are not reusable.
Dust Control Measures:
Construction dust and debris must always be contained to mitigate exposure to workers and avoid contact altogether with residents, associates, and the general public.
All activities that generate dust or debris will be carried out in a designated area within the control zone and will get cleaned up immediately following the activity in question.
Washrooms & General Sanitation:
All personnel entering the Controlled Work Zone will be required to properly wash their hands at a designated Sanitation Station, marked with signage outlining best hygiene practices for combatting the spread of COVID-19.
Construction zone washrooms will NOT be shared with the general public, residents, or Boardwalk associates.
The site superintendent will ensure any site washrooms are always fully stocked with disinfectant spray, soap, paper towels, and an open top waste bin (closedlid bins should be avoided to mitigate contact with the bin surfaces).
Superintendent’s will ensure that any portable toilets are always fully stocked with disinfectant gel and disinfectant spray.
All washroom facilities must be cleaned daily, at minimum, using appropriate PPE.
Construction zone personnel are to minimize and/or avoid contact with any washroom surfaces, and always use paper towels to operate flush levers/buttons and tap sets.
Using either gloves or a paper towel, taps and toilet seats are to be sprayed down with disinfectant following every use.
Anyone using washroom facilities must additionally wash their hands (both after removing gloves and before replacing gloves) thoroughly for 20s with soap and water upon re-entry into the Controlled Work Zone.
A routine site disinfection should be performed on all high-touch surfaces at the beginning and end of each day
Site Signage:
Safety and site signage will be required at various locations outside of, and within, the Controlled Work Zone.
Signage will be required at the following areas:
Construction fencing or hoarding enclosures denoting restricted access
Controlled Work Zone to reinforce COVID-19 safety precautions
Sanitation Station to reinforce COVID-19 combative hygiene principles
Washroom(s) to reinforce COVID-19 combative hygiene principles
Various OH&S mandated areas as related to overall construction safety
AHS signage examples are located within the Appendices.
Meetings & Inspections:
Whenever possible, meetings will take place by phone or video conferencing
Critical site inspections will take place while no active construction work is being carried out.
Inspection personnel must wear appropriate PPE and follow all entry, exiting, and hygiene requirements.
Adaptive Measures:
In the event an immediate site shutdown is required, the General Contractor will ensure that the entire Controlled Work Zone is left, for a potentially indefinite duration, in a highly safe and secure manner.
Should the job site ever become compromised by either a site injury or a COVID- 19 exposure threat, the Controlled Work Zone will be immediately evacuated in a safe, controlled manner that complies with all hygiene exiting protocols; work will not resume until it is determined by the General Contractor’s health and safety officer, in conjunction with the owner’s health and safety representatives, that it is safe to do so.
Any demobilization, either emergency or non-emergency related, will require site sterilization by the General Contractor.
In summary, we respect and appreciate your company’s cooperation should Boardwalk need to exercise its right to halt any work that poses, or is perceived, by the jurisdictional authorities to present, a concerning COVID-19 health risk to anyone.
For the full document, including appendices, please contact Arvinder Dhol at ADhol@bwalk.com.