On Monday Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation on coronavirus. Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy has been published, outlining the UK Government’s plan for rebuilding and recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. The roadmap to lift restrictions step-by-step will be of particular interest to businesses and employers. In step 1, which will apply from Wednesday 13 May in England:

• Workers should continue to work from home rather than their normal physical workplace, wherever possible.
• All workers who cannot work from home should travel to work if their workplace is open. Sectors of the economy that are allowed to be open should be open, for example this includes food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution and scientific research in laboratories. The only exceptions to this are those workplaces such as hospitality and non-essential retail which during this first step, the Government is requiring to remain closed.
• As soon as practicable, workplaces should follow the new “COVID-19 Secure” guidelines.
• It remains the case that anyone who has symptoms, however mild, or is in a household where someone has symptoms, should not leave their house to go to work. Those people should self-isolate, as should those in their households.

As the rate of infection may be different in different parts of the UK, this guidance should be considered alongside local public health and safety requirements for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The UK government, in consultation with industry, has produced ‘COVID-19 secure’ guidance to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible. The new guidance covers 8 workplace settings which are allowed to be open, from outdoor environments and construction sites to factories and takeaways. This sets out practical steps for businesses focused on 5 key points, which should be implemented as soon as it is practical:

1. Work from home, if you can
2. Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment, in consultation with workers or trade unions
3. Maintain 2 metres social distancing, wherever possible
4. Where people cannot be 2 metres apart, manage transmission risk
5. Reinforcing cleaning processes

The 8 guides cover a range of different types of work. Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. You may need to use more than one of these guides as you think through what you need to do to keep employees safe.

• Construction and other outdoor work – Guidance for people who work in or run outdoor working environments.
• Factories, plants and warehouses – Guidance for people who work in or run factories, plants and warehouses.

Advice on contractual best practice during these challenging times of the coronavirus, produced by the Construction Leadership Council via its Covid-19 Industry Task Force, has now been issued.  This detailed advice and guidance, which includes sample letters under various forms of contract has just been published on the CLC website and can be accessed here.

The public is advised to consider wearing face coverings in enclosed public spaces such as shops, trains and buses to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. They do not need to be worn outdoors, while exercising, in schools, in workplaces such as offices, and retail, or by those who may find them difficult to wear. Find more information here.

There are not many events in life that affect every single one of us, but COVID-19 is one of them. All the events that CRASH relies on for fundraising have been cancelled for the next 7 months and will not take place this year. However, they are still receiving requests for construction assistance from charities who help homeless people, and hospices for children and adults.

Like everyone, they are working out how and when they can respond and they offer their sincere thanks to the companies and individuals who are helping them with this vital work.

If you’d like to get involved, please see click here.

The Government has extended the criteria under which people in England can receive testing for Coronavirus to include those who cannot work from home but are showing symptoms. This widening will now mean that construction workers that show symptoms would be able to get tested. Details of how to apply for testing can be found here.

The Construction Industry Coronavirus Task Force has published a new website to showcase industry’s response to Covid-19. Case studies are in four categories – building NHS capacity; donating PPE; safeguarding workers; and helping communities. If you would like to add a case study to the site, please e-mail hustongilmore@ceca.co.uk.