He said going back to business as usual would be extremely dangerous, and while many safety and health precautions may be inconvenient for some, strictly abiding by protocols being established can make it unlikely for employees to contract the virus in the workplace.
“If you don’t have a consistent, effective and even a somewhat stringent disciplinary compliance plan, you don’t have a program that will work – everyone will be trying to do their own thing,” Hamilton observed.
Hamilton said he visits half of the company’s projects sites each day to see if everyone is following the rules faithfully, and not just wearing a mask around their necks. Oak Grove’s insurance carrier also conducts unannounced onsite monitoring through its own safety inspectors.
“While we are experiencing better compliance, some see these rules as an invasion of their privacy. It concerns me to see a few wearing masks but letting their noses go uncovered. Both nose and mouth have to be under the mask to be effective.”
Oak Grove goes the extra mile by using a device that conducts pulmonary capacity tests and mask fit checks (no beards are allowed) to ensure that respirators are snug on the face, and so that employees do not have issues with reduced air flow. Employees are also instructed on the proper use and care of their respirator (N95 masks).
Carpooling to work sites has been controversial during the coronavirus pandemic and banned by most firms. Oak Grove allows workers to car pool as long as everyone wears a respirator mask, or ride share with a relative.
At headquarters, signs in the common office areas and bathrooms remind staff members to sanitize every surface they touch – including using Lysol in the toilet bowl, on the seat, the lever and door knob. On job sites, a spray bottles containing bleach are available for use in portable toilets along with paper towels to help clean up.
He said company owners and business managers have to set an example and model behavior they want everyone to follow.
“We have a moral and ethical responsibility to demonstrate our commitment and then rise to the occasion by adhering to these rules and guidelines for the sake of our employees, their families and the communities where we work and live.”
Nordby Construction
Fellow panelist Tony Simmons, president/partner with Nordby Construction, said, “Before the shutdown, I took the lead when it came to protocol development with one goal in view – how to make the workplace as safe as possible for employees with guidelines for moving forward while saving both time and money.”
Nordby quickly implemented provisions of a 20-page guidebook on safe work place by training staff and workers at jobsites.
After training, Simmons noted, that it’s all about execution and follow-through. “For our site superintendents, it’s their number 1 priority and involves constant vigilance.”
“We clearly defined what had to change and developed a rationale for what and why specific changes are required. You have to stay vigilant by informing yourself and others. I continue to read articles online and in newspapers as rapid rule revisions are announced. For me, this is the only way to stay ahead of changes and adapt to new situations.”
By conducting personal research, he says you gain confidence to serve as a change leader, but you can’t BS people. “When it comes to peoples’ lives and livelihood, it boils down to finding what the truth is so you can establish high levels of trust among employees, and also so they will believe what you say and consider you to be a credible source.”
Specific job site signs display unique safety rules associated with Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Mendocino Counties. These and other posters are attached to jobsite trailers.
Subcontractors also need to know Nordby’s safety protocols in order to work at a company site.
Nordby places gatekeepers at each location to check incoming supply delivery truck drivers and subcontractors to make sure they are in compliance with the company’s policies. If not, they are loaned PPE and told to bring their own the next time. While this has added to operating costs, Simmons believes it is important to invest the money upfront in order to save money at the back end and avoid negative consequences.
If a Nordby employee develops symptoms associated with coronavirus, he or she must stay home for three days, or until test results are back. If they test positive, the worksite has to be shut for two weeks.
Nordby Construction has an internal COVID-19 Task Force to review rule updates as soon as they occur and convey them to everyone. Online Zoom meetings are held every Friday to go over the latest developments and to talk about new protective equipment and other important issues. Jobsite huddles are held daily to take employee temperatures and make sure they have masks and are aware of any new rule modifications.
For Simmons, taking precautions involves basic respect for your own safety as an individual and for other people.
“As we saw COVID-19 cases rise, it became more critical to inform employees about ways to keep them and coworkers safe by coming to the office wearing masks for their own good. It’s a very simple thing to take precautions and engage subcontractors to do the same while respecting social distancing. Our industry has similar mandates for wearing hard hats and steel-toed shoes. If workers don’t have them, they are not allowed to work. We also found that continuous repetition of the rules is vital for ongoing success. We all have to take these precautions very seriously.”
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'We have to do it right': Protecting North Bay construction workers from coronavirus - North Bay Business Journal
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