As the initial step in the government’s 5-phase plan for re-opening, construction and outdoor activities including landscaping returned to work on Monday 18th May.
ECKL as PSCS on all active sites took a particular interest in ensuring that statutory safety and health obligations to staff, suppliers and the public related to the newly emerged risk of COVID-19 were suitably addressed. To develop a considered approach to public advice and to implement a safe and measured re-opening of sites ECKL senior management established a COVID-19 management and response team.
Commenting on the company approach managing director Declan Costello said:
"We identified in the early stages of the pandemic the potential for lasting and long-term impacts on our business and the way we go about things. To ensure best practice was to the fore of our approach we established a COVID-19 team early to assess guidance and protocol and to keep abreast of all requirements issued by government and peer groups. They assessed sites individually and working closely with site management were able to devise safe system of work which could be applied".
To facilitate opening of sites in line with Phase 1 of the government’s plan ECKL devised a structured approach to collating revised safety documents and updated training from staff suppliers and sub-contractors. Declan believes this was key to a smooth transition of sites to the post shut down arrangement. ‘From early in the seven-week shut down we engaged with site management, clients, design teams operatives and subcontractors to ensure they were fully informed of our company’s approach. I must commend them on their willingness to engage and for being proactive in updating their control documents and consideration of mitigation in relation to COVID-19’.
With one week almost complete following re-opening, all sites are running well with high levels of compliance noted. Measures introduced have resulted in a change of approach but generally adoption has been seamless and operatives are glad to be returning to the new normal.
Its good to be back!
Figure 1 - Typical Knee Operated Handwash Stations now installed on ECKL Sites.
