What is the COVID-19 pandemic?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “COVID-19 is a new disease, caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans.”
Most people experience mild symptoms of the disease, like in the upper-respiratory tract. However, in some cases, COVID-19 “can cause severe illness and even death.”
The CDC states that COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact with others. People who don’t show symptoms can still spread the disease.
COVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan China in 2019—and has since spread around the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.
How has COVID-19 affected safety in construction?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated their safety and health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
New safety measures for workers due to COVID-19 include:
Social distancing (staying at least six feet apart from others)
Practicing good personal hygiene (like frequently washing hands with soap and water)
Wearing face coverings (cloth or surgical masks)
Increased hazard and risk assessment
Staying home and isolating if you feel sick
OSHA also strongly advises employers to implement a COVID-19 prevention program to mitigate risk. That way, you can educate workers on how to stop the disease from spreading—and promote jobsite safety.
What are other resources to mitigate risk during the COVID-19 pandemic?
In addition to safety inspection checklists, you can mitigate risk from COVID-19 with cleaner safety documentation and education.
Raken’s daily reports give you real-time jobsite data remotely to minimize physical contact. Photos, videos, and other attachments are time-stamped, too—making for powerful evidence in the case of a dispute. All in one place.
With Raken, you can also access our digital library of 100+ free toolbox talks. Bulk schedule safety talks from the office, then load them directly into the field’s mobile app. All completed talks—along with digital sign-in sheets—are uploaded to the cloud. That way, you’ll have proof that you keep crews and employees updated on new health and safety protocols.