Construction to remain open as England prepares to enter new lockdown

Construction firms will be able to remain open when England enters a four‐week lockdown from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December. The new restrictions include requiring people to stay at home except for specific purposes, not mixing with other households, and the closing of certain businesses and venues.

Construction and manufacturing should stay open across all four nations, during the latest response to the pandemic. Build UK has advised sites to review their social distancing measures and remind their workforce of the importance of complying with the Site Operating Procedures ‐ Version 6whilst on site, as well as the new restrictions off site to protect their family and colleagues.

Tradespeople can also continue to work in people’s homes as long as both the worker and household members have no symptoms of coronavirus. The Work Safe Safe Work Guide can be used to reassure householders.

Andy Mitchell, co-chairman of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), said:”To ensure the construction industry operates safely the CLC has developed a range of guidance relating to social distancing, use of PPE and face coverings, the safe operation of site canteens, the safe operation of builders merchants, the use of public and private transport to work, and the use of temporary accommodation for workers, amongst other important matters, all of which are covered and are available on the CLC website.

Build UK is also reviewing the implications for construction workers’ accommodation for workers working away from home. It has also produced an authorisation letter template for employers in the event of workers being stopped on journeys to and from sites anywhere in the UK.