How has COVID-19 Changed the Construction Industry?

The coronavirus epidemic has ignited a global health calamity that has created havoc on all industries, including construction. Minimizing COVID-19's spread has become an important goal in the COVID-19 era. It is very challenging for construction projects because field employees, by definition, cannot work from home and must often work in close spaces with others.

Projects Will Take Longer

Because of the epidemic, many construction sites are either forced or choosing to restrict the number of workers on the worksite to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. Physical contact between workers can be reduced in various ways, establishing protocols for online meetings rather than in-person meetings, including supplying water bottles in place of communal drinking fountains, and allowing people to stagger their break time to reduce density in break rooms. Only one or two trades are permitted to work on a project simultaneously to preserve social distance among employees, resulting in lengthier building timeframes.

Reliance on Technology

The coronavirus has also wreaked havoc on the construction industry's back offices. When forced to work from home, many staff members have relied on technology such as emailing, videoconferencing and texting to keep corporate processes going.

Change in Project Types

The coronavirus epidemic has altered the sorts of projects constructed this year and in the future. Retail, entertainment, and hospitality projects are expected to be less popular, while healthcare-related industrial projects and hospital construction are expected to be more popular.

Enhanced Cleaning on Jobsites

The construction sector as a whole has never had a good track record when it comes to safety. Construction is the industry that has the most workplace deaths and the most injuries from worksite accidents each year. Due to COVID-19, U.S. contractors implemented new worksite procedures such as staggered shifts, personnel temperature checks, and complete disinfections of equipment, worksites, and machines.

Construction sites will likely witness extra cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing vigilance for the time being, at least until the virus has passed. This practice, along with frequent handwashing, will assist in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other bacterial and viral diseases that are easily transferred to construction sites.

Use of Face Masks

Face masks are included as part of the first line of defense for construction workers. To help prevent COVID-19 transmission, OSHA generally advises employers to urge employees to use cloth face covers at work. It also specifies in hot weather, when employers can safely maintain at least 6 feet physical distance from others, only then should they be allowed to remove facial cloth coverings.

Increase in Safety Trainings

With fewer employees on the site, safety managers, site superintendents, and supervisors will have an easier time monitoring workers and ensuring that the COVID-19 safety requirements are followed and all other safety laws and regulations.

COVID-19 will compel safety managers to incorporate adjustments and training to their safety programs and site-specific safety plans to deal with pandemics or future outbreaks, much like modifications to construction contracts.