17 Apr

Latest Government advice and industry updates – Issue 12

CIC Coronavirus Digest 16/04/20 – Issue 12

The latest government advice on the coronavirus (COVID-19) and updates from the construction industry. Please share with your own contacts. If you would like to subscribe, please contact kpring@cic.org.uk

Updated Site Operating ProceduresThe Public Health England (PHE) guidance on social distancing in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID-19), which includes sections on construction, tradespeople and working in people’s homes, and the use of private vehicles and car-pooling for travelling to work, have been incorporated into what is now industry-recognised guidance.

The key changes in version 3 include:
• Confirmation that the HSE is the enforcing authority for PHE guidelines
• The need for sites to monitor the implementation of the procedures• Further details on who should not travel to work
• Guidance for those who have no option but to share transport to work• Information on the hierarchy of controls which should be implemented to reduce the risk of transmission where social distancing of 2 metres cannot be achieved
• Information on first aid and emergency service response.

The revised Site Operating Procedures can be found here.

Furlough scheme cut-off date extended to 19 March

Thousands more employees will able to receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) after the eligibility date was extended to 19 March 2020, the government announced today.

Under the scheme announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak last month, employers can claim a grant covering 80% of the wages for a furloughed employee, subject to a cap of £2,500 a month.

To qualify and to protect against fraudulent claims, individuals originally had to be employed on February 28 2020.

Survey to support CLC research on bank loans

To support the research on bank loans, the CLC Task Group have prepared a short survey to anonymously capture feedback on the use and experiences of business trying to access the support.We’d be grateful if you could promote use of the survey through newsletters and on social media – it’s very short and just helpful in providing us a snapshot.

Click here to access the survey

CIC webinarsCIC have so far held two webinars offering support to construction workers in the age of coronavirus. The first was on the impact of coronavirus on jobs in construction and the built environment. The second was on self-employed and freelance workers in the construction industry. Their recordings can be found on the here on the CIC website.

There will be more webinars organised by CIC in the coming weeks:

Thursday, 23 April (pm) – Turnaround and Recovery
Monday, 27 April (pm) – Mental Health and Wellbeing
T.B.A – Construction Contracts in the Age of Coronavirus
T.B.A – Professional Liability in the Age of Coronavirus
T.B.A – Dispute Resolution in the Age of Coronavirus

Survey to canvas opinion about the issues our industry faces at the end of lock-down We want to canvass the opinion of our members to see what they feel are likely to be the biggest issues following the end of the Coronavirus lockdown. Once the economy is turned back on again, some people fear that there may be a number of issues, that delay or at least hamper a quick return to productivity.

Please click here to access the survey.

It will only take around 2 mins to complete.Please share this survey among your own networks so that we can get the widest spectrum of engagement and achieve useful results to feed in to the Construction Leadership Council’s work.

Coronavirus business suppport hub

A new Coronavirus Business Support Hub is now available at gov.uk/business-support

The hub brings together key information for businesses including on funding and support, business closures, your responsibilities as an employer and managing your business during coronavirus.

The hub also includes information for self-employed people and sole traders.

Support the fight against coronavirus

The Construction Leadership Council is in touch with NHS London Hospitals Trust to help the NHS with urgently needed PPE. A summary of the equipment required is as follows:

FFP3 Respirator Masks
Full Face Visors (disposable)
Full Face Visors (reusable)
Safety Goggles/Glasses
Hand Sanitiser
Full Body (Hazardous Material) Suits
Logistics/Transport support

If you are able to provide some of these essential pieces of equipment, please get in touch with Graham Watts (gwatts@cic.org.uk).

COVID-19 Construction Industry Taskforce

An industry Task Force is working with BEIS and Government ‘to protect the current and future of the construction industry.’ Any members or recipients with information, data and/or ideas that may be helpful to the work of this task force please contact the CIC Chief Executive on gwatts@cic.org.uk .