As a construction worker, how can I protect myself and slow the spread?
Potential sources of exposure include having close contact with a coworker or member of the public who is ill with COVID-19 and touching your nose, mouth, or eyes after touching surfaces contaminated with the virus or handling items that others infected with COVID-19 have touched. Actions you can take include the following:
- Complete the Berg Group COVID-19 response to sickness questionnaire daily before entering the jobsite.
- Notify your supervisor If you answer yes to any question of the Berg Group COVID-19 response to sickness questionnaire. Please stay home if you have symptoms.
- Follow CDC-recommended steps if you are sick. You should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers, your employer, and state and local health departments.
- Follow CDC-recommended precautions and notify your supervisor if you are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.
- Limit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.
- Limit the number of workers in small workspace areas such as job site elevators, trailers and vehicles, and spaces under construction if possible.
- CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas where there is significant community-based transmission of COVID-19.
- Face coverings may prevent people who don’t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as shared tools, machines, vehicles and other equipment, handrails, ladders, doorknobs, and portable toilets. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces periodically throughout the shift but also:
- At the beginning and end of every shift
- After anyone uses your vehicle, tools, or workstation
- Limit tool sharing if possible.
- Practice proper hand hygiene. This is an important infection control measure. With appropriate hand hygiene, you do not need gloves to protect you from COVID-19. When possible, wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- Key times to clean hands include:
- Before and after work shifts and breaks
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After using the restroom
- Before eating and before and after preparing food
- After touching objects which have been handled by coworkers, such as tools and equipment
- Before putting on and after taking off work gloves
- After putting on, touching, or removing face coverings
- Before donning or doffing eye or face protection (safety glasses, goggles, etc.)
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Use tissues when you cough, sneeze, or touch your face. Throw used tissues in the trash and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer containing 60% alcohol if a sink to wash your hands is not available.
- Key times to clean hands include:
If you have questions regarding Berg Group COVID-19 policy, please reach out to Sarah @ 952-448-1138 or Ashley @ 952-448-1106.
Information provided by CDC.gov