Managing Contractors During the Coronavirus Pandemic

These are unprecedented times.  As the Coronavirus continues to spread across the country, organizations are doubling down on their precautionary measures to try and curb the effects of the virus.  Consequently, the economy has taken a hit as production and demand slows in almost every major industry around the world.  Some industries, however, are pressing forward and capable of maintaining their production timelines during the outbreak.

With the situation seeming to change daily, construction contractors may find it increasingly difficult to keep up with adapting their work environment to changes in the recommended safety measures.  Keeping up to date with the situation and providing your employees with important safety information and procedures is imperative to any workplace health and safety initiative.  Here are some ideas for ways you can manage your contractor teams during the current pandemic climate.

Increase Awareness of Basic Safety Precautions

It may seem simple, but reminding employees to adhere to basic hygiene practices and maintain social distancing are proven effective ways to limit the spread of germs.  Create a policy that outlines procedures for contractor employees to follow that includes:

• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying home when you are feeling sick or have respiratory symptoms.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. The dilution should be at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Practice immune system-boosting habits such as getting enough sleep and eating nutritious foods.
• Try to maintain a safe distance between each other of six feet or more.
• Avoid sharing tools as much as possible. If sharing cannot be avoided, provide a way to sanitize tools between users.

Generate a Response Plan

Be prepared by creating a containment protocol for your organization as a whole or for your individual worksites.  Your containment protocols should include important points of contact for all employees and managers and who to contact if there is exposure, a positive case, or presumptive-positive case in the workplace.  It should also include a scenario based response to exposures and cases, based on the Center for Disease Control’s guidance.  The CDC outlines responses that employers and the general public should take if there is an exposure, and the risk it can have in the workplace.  Responses will range between no action to sanitizing efforts, to 14-day quarantines for employees and their close coworkers.  More information can be found on the CDC website here:

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/community-mitigation-strategy.pdf
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

The CDC in conjunction with FEMA and Apple released a self-assessment tool that employers can use to give employees a way to self-assess their exposure, symptoms, and the appropriate response.

The self-assessment app can be found on the Apple App Store or online:

• https://www.apple.com/covid19/

Familiarize Yourself with Benefits

You may experience an increase in questions about employee health benefits.  Ensure you are familiar with employer health insurance plans and contact information for employees to gather more information about their health benefits.  In the unfortunate occurrence that your business suffers from the pandemic, make sure employees know how to obtain unemployment benefits if their situation warrants a furlough or reduction in employment.  These lines of communication are often best suited for Human Resources professionals.

Communicate Often

Most importantly, ensure you are staying up-to-date with official guidance from trusted sources, such as the CDC, and communicate your organization’s mitigation and containment efforts to your employees often.  This can be a stressful time for all employees.  Having an open line of communication can help minimize fear and develop trust in the workplace.

Appruv can help facilitate important Coronavirus-related communications to all of your contracted workers, third-partys, subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors.  For more information on how to streamline communication, contact Appruv today.