Safety has always been a cornerstone of the Madison Concrete Construction culture, but we could have never imagined the need to add an infection and risk control plan to our safety program. However, given the impact that COVID-19 has had on our communities, that is exactly what we did. Building on our proven approach to safety on the jobsite, this new plan incorporates guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Association of General Contractors (AGC).
Utilizing OSHA’s Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19, Madison has determined that our occupational risk of exposure to COVID-19 falls within these two categories: Lower Exposure Risk and Medium Exposure Risk. With this identified, we developed protocols to address the COVID-19 hazard including
- Wearing an N95 mask or cloth face covering in public settings and while on job sites when outside of equipment cabs and when in any proximity to other personnel.
- Handwashing or use of hand sanitizer when soap and water is not readily available.
- Cleaning and disinfecting high touch areas daily.
- For office personnel, work from home when possible.
- Scheduling and sequencing work to allow for social distancing of at least 6 feet when possible.
- Avoid sharing personal protection equipment (PPE), tools, pens, iPads, laptops, hand-held radios.
Constant and open communication is key to the success of this program. On May 1, we held a company-wide conference call to review the COVID-19 infection and risk control plan. These conference calls continue each Friday so our team can share jobsite experiences from the past week. Discussions include what is and is not working, the need to change any protocols, equipment needs, safety practices of other contractors on the job, and more. These virtual meetings have been a very informative and useful exchange of information.
Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf announced plans to move all Pennsylvania to the yellow phase of reopening, which allows for businesses to reopen with social distancing and other health and safety guidelines in place. At Madison Concrete, we will continue to monitor the impact of this transition and modify our protocols accordingly.
Contact us if you have any questions about the precautions Madison is taking against COVID-19, how your projects may be impacted or how our firm can assist you throughout this situation.
