5 Apr 2022 |
Industry |
Managing the risk to the workforce from respiratory infections such as COVID-19
The new guidance sets out actions that businesses should follow to help reduce the spread of infection, including ensuring adequate ventilation and encouraging vaccination.
Whilst there is no longer an expectation that every employer will consider COVID-19 explicitly in their risk assessment, employers “should continue to comply with their legal obligations to their staff”.
Although free COVID-19 tests are no longer available for the general public, the Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that tests will continue to be available to help protect specific groups, including eligible patients and NHS and care staff.
Anyone with a positive COVID-19 test result is advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days (which is generally when they are most infectious).
Headings in the new guidance (link below, with selected extracts from the guidance) include:
Know which symptoms to look out for
The symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections are (now) very similar so it is not possible to tell if you have COVID-19, flu or another infection based on symptoms alone. The list of symptoms of COVID-19 (along with flu and common respiratory infections) have been extended to include:
- continuous cough
- high temperature, fever or chills
- loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
- shortness of breath
- unexplained tiredness, lack of energy
- muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
- not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry
- headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual
- sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
- diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick.
Actions to reduce the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19
Encourage and enable vaccination
A COVID-19 vaccination guide for employers contains information on actions employers can take to enable (rather than mandate) staff vaccination.
Fresh air/ventilation
The HSE provides guidance on how to assess and improve ventilation in line with requirements under Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
Maintain a clean workplace
Staff can be supported to maintain a clean working environment by providing cleaning products, soap and hot water, and/or sanitiser.
Management of members of staff who are at risk of serious illness from COVID-19
There is specific guidance for people whose immune system means that they are at higher risk because they have a reduced ability to fight infections such as COVID-19. Employers may wish to consider the needs of employees at greater risk from COVID-19, including (but not necessarily restricted to) those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
Risk assessment
Employers may choose to continue to cover COVID-19 in their risk assessments (and should) continue to comply with the requirements for cleaning, ventilation and welfare facilities in the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and/or the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 to control occupational health and safety risks.
www.gov.uk/guidance/reducing-the-spread-of-respiratory-infections-including-covid-19-in-the-workplace
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31 Jan 2022 |
Industry |
Minor updates to SOP, face covering and BMF industry guidance
On January 27, with the lifting (in England) of COVID-19 ‘Plan B’ restrictions the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) issued minor revisions to the Site Operating Procedures (SOP) – v9.1. Version.9.1(the current version) is here.
Please note: other restrictions and guidance may apply in Scotland (notably from CICV), Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Use of Face Coverings in Construction during Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Version 6 moves from face coverings being a legal requirement (stated in version 5) in some settings to the following statement:
‘The Government suggests that face coverings should be worn in crowded and enclosed spaces where people may come into contact with others they don’t normally meet. Employers can choose to ask workers to wear a face covering, even though they are not legally required to, but need to consider reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities, as well as other obligations to workers arising from legislation. Workers may also choose to wear a face covering where it is not legally required.’
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24 Jan 2022 |
Industry |
End to 'Plan B' restrictions in England
The Government has confirmed that the COVID‐19 ‘Plan B’ restrictions in England will end next Wednesday 26 January, with the guidance to work from home withdrawn with immediate effect.
The COVID Pass will no longer be required to enter certain venues and face coverings will not be mandatory in any setting although people will still be advised to wear them in crowded and enclosed spaces where they come into contact with others they do not normally meet.
The legal requirement to self‐isolate after testing positive for COVID‐19 will remain in place. However, an individual may now stop self‐isolating if they take a lateral flow test from day 5 onwards and another one at least 24 hours later, and both results are negative and they do not have a high temperature. The Build UK COVID‐19 flowchart continues to be updated in line with the latest rules. |
17 Jan 2022 |
Industry |
Self-Isolation cut to 5 full days
Self-isolation for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) changes from 17th January 2022. It is now possible to end self-isolation for those who tested positive for Coronavirus after 5 full days, following 2 negative Lateral Flow tests taken 24 hours apart.
The first test should not be taken before the fifth day. The new guidance applies to everyone, regardless of vaccination status. People who are not double-jabbed and come in close contact with a positive case must still isolate for a full 10 days. More information can be found here.
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13 Jan 2022 |
Industry |
Vaccination employer toolkit
Current figures from ONS on vaccine rates by sector show that many construction workers have yet to get their booster vaccination, and that this in turn is affecting worker absence/self-isolation.
An employer toolkit is available for those who wish to inform employees about vaccination or encourage employees to get vaccinated.
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13 Jan 2022 |
Industry |
CLC Site Operating Procedures (SOP) - Version 9
The Construction Leadership Council has issued an updated version of the Site Operating Procedures (SOP). Version 9 of the SOP is available here, and it incorporates the following changes:
- A revised introduction to recognise that ‘working with COVID-19’ is now essentially ‘business as usual’ for the industry
- More relevant language to reflect the current situation onsite, for example ‘managing’ rather than ‘restricting’ numbers of workers
- Removing out of date references regarding when to go to work, shielding etc.
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22 Dec 2021 |
Industry |
Self-Isolation Advice Updated
The self-isolation advice for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed effective from 22 December 2021. It is now possible to end self-isolation for those who tested positive for Coronavirus after 7 days, following 2 negative Lateral Flow tests taken 24 hours apart. The first test should not be taken before the sixth day. The new guidance applies to everyone, regardless of vaccination status. People who are not double-jabbed and come in close contact with a positive case must still isolate for a full 10 days. More information can be found here stay-at-home-guidanc
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14 Dec 21 |
Industry |
LFT replacing self-isolation where pinged
From 14 December 2021 daily LFT testing is being introduced for close contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID‐19 ‐ including those of any Omicron cases ‐ in place of a requirement to self‐isolate.
This means that anyone who is identified as having had a close contact with a Covid-positive person and who is fully vaccinated (or aged under 18 years 6 months) does not need to self‐isolate but should take daily lateral flow tests for seven days.
Anyone whose rapid test comes back positive or who develops COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate and while self-isolating, take a confirmatory PCR test to verify the test result.
Note: The CLC has updated its guidance, which can be viewed here.
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09 Dec 21 |
Industry |
New measures and restrictions
The government has announced that England will move to ‘Plan B’, which includes:
• From 10 December, face coverings will be required by law in most indoor settings.
• From 13 December, office workers who can work from home should do so.
Full information can be found here.
Please note the following extract from the latest government guidance, which is not yet introduced but may be significant in the near future.
“The Government has announced its intention to replace self-isolation with daily testing for some contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Further details will be set out shortly. Until then, current rules continue to apply and you must self-isolate if instructed to do so by NHS Test and Trace. This remains the law.”
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24 Aug 21 |
Industry |
Health Security Agency launches free, limited antibody surveillance
DHSC has announced free access (for up to 8000 people only) to coronavirus antibody tests through a national surveillance programme via the UK Health Security Agency. Those aged over 18 will be able to opt in to take part when booking a PCR test through NHS Test and Trace.
Selected recipients who have a positive PCR result will be sent two ‘finger antibody tests’ to carry out at home and send back for analysis. The programme aims to help improve the understanding of immunity against COVID-19 from vaccination and/or infection.
www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-uk-wide-antibody-surveillance-programme
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14 Jul 21 |
Industry |
The Government has announced the removal of various mandatory COVID-protection measures from July 19.
This will affect the status of the Site Operating Procedures, which cease to apply from this date, but which can be used as an ongoing reference.
Click here for more information.
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20 May 21 |
Industry |
Site working
In view of the May government announcement that the potential spread of the coronavirus ‘Indian variant’ might delay further relaxation of social distancing measures beyond 21 June, the latest version (version 7) of the Site Operating Procedures (SOP) remain vitally important for our sector and the wider industry.
Where employees and other workers need to attend or work on site, Members should continue to implement the current Site Operating Procedures until further notice.
The SOP will be reviewed by the industry following any further government announcement into social distancing or other protective measures.
FE Training
Following the easing of coronavirus restrictions on 17 May, schools, colleges and other further education settings are now open for face‐to‐face teaching.
However, there has been no further guidance on resuming face‐to‐face training in the workplace, and Members should continue to determine if any necessary training can be undertaken remotely or is essential, as they may need to explain how they are complying with the current restrictions, which include working from home where possible.
ECA has produced guidance on how to carry out site training for apprentices, with suitable precautions, accessible below.
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08 Apr 21 |
Industry |
Rapid Flow Testing at work/home
The Government has set up several routes to free rapid COVID-19 testing. The main routes are:
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05 Mar 21 |
Industry |
Protective screens in vehicles
Government guidance on the fitting of protective screens (in taxis) but which may also be of use to those considering or fitting such screens in work vans etc.
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21 Jan 21 |
Industry |
Details of the free national Community Testing Programme,
and basic information on lateral flow testing |
07 Jan 21 |
Industry |
CLC Site Operating Procedures (SOP) - Version 7
SOP v7 has been updated to reflect Government guidance in England.
The changes in v7 are minor, including updates on self-isolation and
shielding and the removal of the requirement to display a QR code in
site canteens
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02 Nov |
Industry |
Contact tracing and how to pause contact tracing |
22 Oct |
Industry |
Summary of Tier 3 (very high alert) restrictions and continued domestic
and other activity (England & Wales)
For work purposes the existing ECA
summary is still relevant: updated guidance for England is here. And for Wales
is here.
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20 Oct |
Industry |
CLC Site Operating Procedures (SOP) - Version 6 |
29 Sept |
Member Only |
Use of face coverings in construction during COVID-19 - updated 29 Sept
The CLC has issued updated guidance regarding the use of face coverings at work |
25 Sept |
Member Only |
Car Sharing |
11 Sept |
Industry |
COVID-19: Dealing with outbreaks at work |
14 Aug |
Industry |
COVID-19 and Engineering Services: guidance (GN 2) version 2.3.1
Updated ECA/BESA GN2: notably to reflect CLC guidance on face coverings |
02 Aug |
Industry |
Reporting outbreaks of coronavirus
PHE Construction 'Action Card' how to recognise, contain and report incidents of coronavirus |
27 July |
Member Only |
Face covering guidance |
15 July |
Industry |
Government guidance on disposing of used/contaminated materials |
13 July |
Industry |
Enabling apprentice workplace travel and site supervision - Site Tasks
Enabling apprentice workplace travel and site supervision - Workplace Travel |
06 July |
Industry |
Work Safe - Safe Work Guide
ECA-supported information from Trustmark on working in domestic premises. |
29 June |
Industry |
Working safely in construction and other outdoor work (updated 24 June) |
25 June |
Industry |
Enabling apprentice travel and onsite activity
Guidance on how to enable apprentices to travel to and between worksites, and
undertake site training activity at closer proximity |
19 June |
Member only |
Summary of HSE information on RPE and face coverings |
16 June |
Industry |
Using eRAMS to manage COVID risk?
COVID risk assessment example using ECA's eRAMS (risk assessment
method statement service) - free to ECA Members.
Find out more about eRAMS here.
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12 June |
Industry |
Government guidance on travel, including on public transport |
04 June |
Member only |
Site safety return to work checklist |
01 June |
Member only |
Coronavirus: health and safety-related law and guidance
This guidance describes the legal framework and considerations
for health & safety risk for employers |
27 May |
Industry |
COVID-19 and Engineering Services: guidance (GN 3)
Work-related travel
This guidance has been drawn up by ECA and the BESA. |
27 May |
Industry |
COVID-19 and Engineering Services: guidance (GN 1) revised
COVID-19: use of PPE/RPE in higher risk environments.
This guidance has been drawn up by ECA and the BESA. |
18 May |
Industry |
Mental Health Week - Team tips |
05 May |
Industry |
Short Video animation: Safely undertaking domestic electrical work |
27 Apr |
Industry |
Coronavirus: Reducing risk between work and home |
22 Apr |
Industry |
Coronavirus: Useful safety signs for your use |
16 Apr |
Industry |
Template - Letter to commercial clients
Letter for issue when undertaking work for commercial clients |
16 Apr |
Industry |
Coronavirus - Template letter to domestic customers
Letter for issue when undertaking work for domestic clients |
03 Apr |
Industry |
ECA Coronavirus Tool Box Talk v2
This general coronavirus health and safety Toolbox Talk may be adapted
as necessary to suit individual Member company needs. |