COVID-19: The American Industrial Hygiene Association Issues Guidance for the Protection of Construction Workers | Practical Law

COVID-19: The American Industrial Hygiene Association Issues Guidance for the Protection of Construction Workers | Practical Law

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has released guidance to reduce the risk of exposure to and spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among construction workers.

COVID-19: The American Industrial Hygiene Association Issues Guidance for the Protection of Construction Workers

by Practical Law Real Estate
Published on 04 Sep 2020 • USA (National/Federal)
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has released guidance to reduce the risk of exposure to and spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among construction workers.
On August 12, 2020, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), a professional organization dedicated to promoting occupational health and safety, released guidance entitled "Focus on Construction Health: COVID-19" to help construction employers protect construction workers from exposure to COVID-19. This guidance can assist employers in developing their own site-specific plan. It will also assist owners in assessing those contractor plans.
The AIHA guidance includes the following seven-step plan to monitor and control the spread of COVID-19 at construction worksites:
Step 1: Designate a site safety officer.
Step 2: Develop a COVID-19 control plan.
Step 3: Review a site map to determine optimal locations for control measures.
Step 4: Create and implement specific elements of the COVID-19 control plan, including:
  • Policies and procedures to encourage sick employees to stay home.
  • Pre-shift screening of all employees to detect COVID-19 symptoms prior to entry on worksite.
  • Paid sick-leave, if possible.
  • Policies, procedures, and training to ensure that workers who become ill during their shift:
    • immediately notify the site safety officer;
    • are separated from other workers; and
    • are sent home or to a medical facility, as appropriate.
  • Mandatory use of approved face coverings.
  • Social distancing controls, including:
    • scheduling to reduce worker density; and
    • separation measures.
  • Exposure controls, including:
    • reducing commonly touched surfaces; and
    • improving ventilation.
  • Personal hygiene stations.
  • Surface cleaning and disinfection.
  • Personal protective equipment.
Step 5: Perform a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) for specific tasks.
  • A JSA is a technique to determine risks inherent in specific job tasks, including identifying:
    • the basic steps required to perform the task;
    • the potential hazards that could occur at each step; and
    • the safest way to perform the task.
Step 6: Develop a COVID-19 case response plan for reported infections, including:
  • The notification and tracing measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • Creation of a designated response team.
  • Procedures for closing and disinfecting areas used by the infected individual.
Step 7: Implementation and continuous monitoring of the COVID-19 control plan.

Practical Implications

Where construction activities continue or have resumed, the health and safety of workers should be of primary concern. Construction companies should implement OSHA guidance and should carefully monitor state and local requirements for construction activities. AIHA's Focus on Construction Health: COVID-19 is a new and valuable resource for construction employers seeking expert advice to reduce the risk of the exposure and spread of COVID-19 at their construction sites.
For more information on OSHA guidance, see Legal Update, COVID-19: OSHA Issues Guidelines for the Construction Workforce and OSHA Updates Guidance on Preventing COVID-19 at Construction Sites.
For more information on OSHA resources related to COVID-19, visit the OSHA website. For more information on COVID-19 and its implications for construction projects, see Article, COVID-19: Key Considerations for Privately Owned Construction Projects.
For a continuously updated collection of resources addressing COVID-19, see Practical Law's Real Estate Global Coronavirus Toolkit.