BC construction sites remain open, employers say they can maintain social distancing

[Sheba]

Provincial health officer confirmed construction sites exempt from guidelines on group gatherings

Many construction sites across British Columbia remain open with employers saying that, despite concerns, they are able to maintain social distancing between workers.

Some cities like Boston have already suspended all construction activities and unions in Quebec have called on their province to do the same.

But the president of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, Fiona Famulak, says B.C. isn't there yet.

"We look to our public health officer to provide continued guidance, and our industry is ready to respond if changes occur," Famulak said.

This week provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed that construction sites are exempt from provincial guidelines prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people.

Famulak says contractors need to be vigilant about keeping the required one- to two-metre distance between workers.

On Thursday, Henry confirmed that the 50-person prohibition also doesn't apply to industrial sites, meaning large-scale projects such as the Site C dam and LNG Canada.

"These are less risky environments for the most part even though you may have a lot of people there," Henry said. "For most industrial sites this is not a difficult accommodation and this is something employers should pay attention to."

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[svlt]

Contrarian opinion maybe, but I think this makes sense given that it is a controlled entry/exit and mostly outdoor nature of these sites. Will need a lot of oversight from supervisors and foremen. I'd be more concerned about how these people are getting to work - ideally they can be told to drive their own vehicles for the time being instead of taking transit.

[misher]

Originally Posted by svlt

Contrarian opinion maybe, but I think this makes sense given that it is a controlled entry/exit and mostly outdoor nature of these sites. Will need a lot of oversight from supervisors and foremen. I'd be more concerned about how these people are getting to work - ideally they can be told to drive their own vehicles for the time being instead of taking transit.

I agree for other reasons. There is always a risk.

But can we afford to stop our economy and send everyone home? No we can't. So we need to pick winners and losers. Generally construction workers are a hardy bunch without lung or immune system issues. Give them masks and be cautious.

People often ignore the cost of good ideas. It is a great idea to send everyone home into quarantine for weeks, we'd basically nip this in the bud. But we can't afford to. So we need to make sacrifices and weigh the gains and losses.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by misher

But can we afford to stop our economy and send everyone home? No we can't. So we need to pick winners and losers.

Said the poster who is against government picking winners and losers!!!

[Airboy]

No most construction takes safety pretty seriously. classes or goggles and gloves are mandatory on any site I work on. Had sanitizer is also at most sites.

Plus you always have the right to refuse if you don't feel safe.

I am wearing Spoggles now. These are goggle type eye wear I have for petro chemical plants. No one stands around, there are no more meeting indoors. I never do lunch on site so I don't use the on site offices. Most of my fly in sites are closed now anyway. its just local ones still operating and most of those are down to 20-30 people on site.

Just received a call about someone testing positive that was working on one site. we are just waiting now to see if the site is closed or if the guy was even on site at the time he was contagious.

Unless the Governments say to close, we all still have deadlines. design wise we still have deadlines as well.

LNG and Site C are demobilizing.

[Changing City]

It's not a matter of 'chosing winners and losers', and the economic cost is almost certainly not the basis of a decision to keep contruction sites open. It's entirely down to the risk involved. As soon as there's any evidence that coronavirus can spread between workers on construction sites, I would expect them to be closed down.

The problem is that someone can have the virus, and be passing it on, with no symptoms showing. That could mean a number of people getting the virus from the worker who has it, and in turn passing it on to their families, or friends, or workers in stores they visit or restaurants or bars. That's why the fact that it can spread exponentially is such a problem, and why the dramatic interventions are necessary.

Some health agencies have closed construction sites too. California is on lockdown, so many of their sites have closed (although not all, as some are considered 'essential'). Boston shut down construction a few days ago, but New York, so far is still allowing them to operate.

[Airboy]

Just got word that a rural Sask site of mine just reported a trades guy tested positive this week. Do not have word if the site is shut down or just the area the guy was in.

[Alex Mackinnon]

Those kind of work camps are basically breeding grounds for viruses. It's not uncommon to get the camp plague.

Usually I don't get sick very often, but I had a cold on and off for months when I was in camp a couple years ago. It was fairly widespread too. Everyone eats together, works near each other, talks to one-another. It's not a place for social isolation.

[Changing City]

It looks like some sites on Vancouver Island are losing their workers because of lack of appropriate facilities. [link]

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by Alex Mackinnon

Those kind of work camps are basically breeding grounds for viruses. It's not uncommon to get the camp plague.

Usually I don't get sick very often, but I had a cold on and off for months when I was in camp a couple years ago. It was fairly widespread too. Everyone eats together, works near each other, talks to one-another. It's not a place for social isolation.

This. Basically the work camps do not have health care facilities, so if someone accidentally brings it in, that could be a death sentence to everyone there.

However Metro Vancouver construction likely can keep on since a lot of that protection gear is already part of the process. They can't just shut down something that has already started because it may cause the construction site to succumb to weather events or vandalism. Just like the work camps however, you would only continue so long as protection equipment is available.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Changing City

It looks like some sites on Vancouver Island are losing their workers because of lack of appropriate facilities. [link]

Maybe we'll see construction sites go to movie-star trailer washrooms. Wouldn't be a bad thing.