The Government announced on Sunday that it was urging businesses in England to return to work and released OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy on Monday which describes its phased approach to recovery and a roadmap to lifting restrictions. The Government states that “anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.”
The Government has since released its guidance on safety during coronavirus, which includes updated guidance on construction and other outdoor work, as well as guidance for factories plants and warehouses
This guidance recommends that construction firms carry out covid-19 risk assessments as workers return to sites, and companies with more than 50 workers should publish this on their websites.
Information on PPE and face coverings is included in section 6 of the construction guidance, which also directs employers to HSE Toolkits for advice on risk assessment.
The Government in England and Wales has been encouraging construction sites to remain open wherever possible throughout the lockdown, prompting Build UK to survey its Contractor Members to understand how many major sites are open and the productivity levels being achieved. The latest results showed that on 4 May some 76% of sites in England and Wales were open, including 95% of infrastructure sites, 82% of general construction and 52% of housing. These numbers fall to 20% in Scotland, where only defined critical sites are allowed to open.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extended
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak today announced that the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will remain open until the end of October. The scheme enables furloughed workers across UK to receive 80% of their current salary, up to £2,500.
The Government will introduce new flexibility from August which is expected to allow employers to bring back their workers part-time and will also explore ways through which furloughed workers who wish to do additional training or learn new skills can be supported. New statistics published today revealed the job retention scheme has protected 7.5 million workers and almost 1 million businesses.
Contractual best practice
The Construction Leadership Council via its Covid-19 Industry Task Force has produced guidance on contractual best practice which provides detailed advice including sample letters under various forms of contract.
Further guidance on Contractual and Commercial Considerations for the Return to Site and other advice is available to download from the Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum
The Cabinet Office has also issued guidance on responsible contract behaviour which that parties to contracts impacted by the COVID-19 emergency should act responsibly and fairly, support the response to COVID-19 and protect jobs and the economy.
Safety and rights advice for construction
Guidance and advice on workers’ rights is available from a number of sources including the Trade Unions Congress and the Unite Union which offers a hotline and email to report unsafe working and lack of social distancing on construction sites as part of a campaign to keep construction workers safe, as well as a range of health and safety and risk assessment advice for all sectors.
Useful health and safety advice is also available from the FIS, including a Four Step Protocol to Safe Systems of Work and the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020.
WEBINARS
- ASFP CEO Niall Rowan will be supporting the Fire Safety Event Online at 2pm on Friday 15 May
- ASFP will be taking part in the Firex International Digital event on 21 May
- BESA daily webinars
- The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) is running a number of webinars which can be accessed
- Construction Industry Council Low Value Disputes Model Adjudication Procedure (CIC LVD MAP) launch webinar, 1 May
- The Construction Industry Council have collaborated with Langley Waterproofing systems to produce a guidance video on safe operation for small construction sites
- The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has released a video of the Minister responsible for construction, Nadhim Zahawi’s address to the Large Contractors Forum on 22 April 2020
INDUSTRY RESOURCES AND UPDATES
- British Safety Council
- Build UK Daily Updates
- Builders Merchants Federation suppliers status
- Builders Merchants Federation merchants status
- Builders Merchants Federation/CLC Branch Operating Guidelines
- CLC Site operating procedures Version 3
- CLC guidance on Temporary Suspension of Sites
- CLC Advice on Employment Schemes
- CLC Plan to sustain the construction industry
- CLC Travel to Work letter
- RICS/RIBA/RTPI letter
- CIC Post-Lockdown Survey
- Ireland’s Construction Industry Federation Guidelines
- The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is offering a range of free resources on its Coronavirus Hub
- Make UK, the umbrella trade body representing all UK manufacturing is also providing Coronavirus advice for manufacturers.
- TUC guidance on workers’ rights
- Unite Union campaign to keep construction workers safe
- Unite Union health and safety and risk assessment advice
- FIS health and safety advice
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS
- Employers & Businesses
- Decontamination in Non-Healthcare Settings
- Public Sector Procurement in Response to COVID-19: Procurement Policy Notice
- Households on Self-Isolation
- Social Distancing
- Government England OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy
- Government England guidance on safety during coronavirus, which includes updated guidance on construction and other outdoor work, and guidance for factories plants and warehouses
- Business Minister Letter to the Construction Industry
- Business Minister Letter to the Manufacturing Sector
- PHE Social distancing in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID‐19) – Construction guidance
- Building Safety Programme guidance on remediation and Covid-19
- The HSE has also released a number of Coronavirus updates including:
- Scottish Government construction sector guidance
- Welsh Government guidance on Taking all reasonable measures to maintain physical distancing in the workplace
PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACT GUIDANCE
- CLC statement on payments and contracts
- CLC guidance on contractual best practice
- CICF Contractual and Commercial Considerations for the Return to Site
- Cabinet Office Policy Procurement Notice (PPN) 02/20
- Cabinet Office construction-specific guidance to PPN 02/20
- Cabinet Office responsible contract behaviour
- CMA guidance outlining temporary measures to relax competition between businesses
- Build UK Guidance on Contractual Issues caused by Coronavirus
GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT
- Consolidated financial support information
- Corona Virus Bill and Statutory Sick Pay Provision
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, step by step guide for employers, and online calculator
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
- Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme
- Scottish Government Support for Businesses
- Welsh Government Support for Businesses
ASFP ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES