Minnesota construction industry details effort to combat spread of COVID-19

(FOX 9) - A group of Minnesota construction organizations issued a statement Wednesday outlining their efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.

According to the release, workers are urged to exercise good hygiene and maintain clean facilities on-site. Workers are also told to maintain a minimum distance of six feet between individuals to increase physical space between workers at the worksite. 

Employers are also "modifying their jobsite communications, planning, and schedules to shrink or eliminate group gatherings." This includes changes to or the elimination of pre‐job conferences, communal break locations, and any other activity that would bring a group of people together on the jobsite.

Additionally, officials are altering policies for material deliveries.

Full statement from Minnesota Construction Industry:

The Minnesota construction industry is committed to the health, safety and welfare of our workforce and the public. Our respective organizations represent labor and management in the Minnesota construction industry. The purpose of this communication is to describe the specific mitigation strategies that our members – the Minnesota construction industry employers and their skilled workforce – are taking to combat the COVID‐19 outbreak.
The following strategies, which are derived from CDC and OSHA workplace recommendations, have been and are being implemented on our construction industry jobsites across the state. Our organizations are promoting the universal implementation of these measures to safeguard Minnesota construction industry jobsites through the duration of the COVID‐19 outbreak.
Hand‐washing and other hygiene measures are key to preventing the spread of viruses, including COVID‐19. The following measures are being taken across Minnesota’s construction industry:
•    Worker education – through specific communications and posters – of the importance of frequent handwashing, hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, and staying home when sick. All employees must carefully observe these requirements.
•    Careful attention to jobsite toilet and hand cleaning facilities. All employers must ensure that these facilities are in clean, working order and stocked with soap and/or hand sanitizer.
•    Jobsite and equipment cleanliness. Jobsites must be kept clean, with frequent cleaning of any frequently touched surfaces on the site. Any tools or equipment that might be shared by workers must be cleaned before and after use.
Construction jobsites are not densely populated work areas. Regardless, the following social distancing measures are also being taken across our industry:
•    Workers are being instructed to observe a minimum distance of six (6) feet between individuals to increase physical space between workers at the worksite. This includes pre‐work and post‐work events of all kinds.
•    Employers are modifying their jobsite communications, planning, and schedules to shrink or eliminate group gatherings. This includes changes to or the elimination of pre‐job conferences, communal break locations, and any other activity that would bring a group of people together on the jobsite. Policies for material deliveries and other third‐party jobsite visits are being altered. Employers are simultaneously implementing new strategies to ensure ongoing, successful jobsite communications.
These and other measures – which include remote work directives in office settings – have the full support of labor and management. We will continue to support and take the steps necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of our workforce and the public.