Health & Safety

It is officially springtime, however it is still the season for coughs and sneezes. Colds, flu, and a new respiratory illness are all reasons to take precaution for contractors and non-contractors alike. This new respiratory illness, the novel coronavirus or officially known as COVID-19, is spread person-to-person through respiratory secretions.

Similar to cold and flu viruses, respiratory droplets from an infected person who sneezes or coughs can travel several feet. Nearby people can become infected if the droplets land on their face or are breathed in. According to the World Health Organization, a person can catch COVID-19 by touching something that has the virus on it, such as an object that an infected person sneezed on, and then touching their own nose, mouth, or eyes.

Symptoms can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. COVID-19 can also result in pneumonia with severe acute respiratory distress. The virus can also be transmitted before an infected person experiences noticeable symptoms of illness.

The amount of people who have become ill from COVID-19 have been increasing significantly. On March 23, 2020, Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 20-12 that includes the temporary closure of businesses, such as hair salons, barber shops, amusement parks, bowling alleys, spas, and gyms, where close contact between people would be difficult or impossible to avoid. Construction is not included in this, but the executive order requires all businesses that remain in operation to adhere to “social distancing”.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, social distancing means to “reduce contact with people, especially in large crowds”. The Governor’s Executive Order specifies keeping a distance of 6 feet from other people who are not members of the same household.

What else can be done to prevent COVID-19 on a job site?

Wash your hands after using the restroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and running water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Keep a safe distance from others while in meetings, training sessions, and job sites.
Don’t shake hands when greeting other people.
Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose with unwashed hands.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or a flexed elbow when sneezing and coughing.
Avoid sharing tools and anything else that might have respiratory secretions from a cough or sneeze. Do not share personal protection equipment.

Residential and commercial construction projects can still proceed safely as long as precautions are kept in place, according to the Oregon Construction Contractor’s Board (CCB). These same precautions not only help prevent COVID-19, but also help to avoid catching other contagious respiratory illnesses. Keep a safe distance of 6 feet from anyone not in your household and stay home if you feel sick except to receive medical care.