New Study, Planning Tool Identifies Risk Mitigation for Coronavirus in Construction

Reduce Spread of Coronavirus in Construction with While the world continues to wait for a vaccine for COVID-19, employers will need to remain up to date and vigilant on safety protocols on the jobsite, especially as we head into the winter months.

A study, published on October 29, 2020, by the University of Texas at Austin, found a connection
between construction sites that did not have COVID-19 restrictions in place, and higher hospitalization rates in surrounding areas. The study, based on residents in the Austin-Round Rock metro area, discovered that the risk of coronavirus hospitalization in the construction industry is five times more than other occupations. However, on construction sites where safety measures were in place, including equipment cleaning, protective equipment and limits on worker capacity, transmission risk was decreased by 50%.

As of October 30, 2020, OSHA has cited 144 establishments, with penalties totaling over $2 million
dollars. While the majority of violations are in healthcare and food processing, the construction industry can use this information to better understand what the most frequent citations are.

It is recommended by the CDC and OSHA that employers create a plan to protect employees to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on construction job sites. CPWR has created an Exposure Control Planning Tool that can help employers develop a written plan to help protect employees, keep job sites open, and help prevent delays.