COVID-19: ARE YOU PREPARED?
As reports of the Coronavirus continue to dominate the news and with confirmed cases growing in Massachusetts, people should be continually updated of the facts regarding the virus and how you can keep yourself, your family, and your workers safe.
We have included tips about prevention and treatment of the virus with links to OSHAs and the CDCs guidelines and recommendations.
PROACTIVE MEASURES FOR ADDRESSING COVID-19: PRE-SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE
Employers should ask the following questions to all employees, visitors and vendors prior to allowing access to the workplace and/or jobsite.
MAINTAINING COMPLIANCE with NFPA 241 DURING CONSTRUCTION SHUTDOWN
It is imperative that your site be as reasonably fire safe as possible and the provisions of the State Fire Code 527 CMR 1 and NFPA 241 are maintained. Some key items can be found here>>
Below are some of the key points that must be adhered to:
- It is required that contact information, access keys and plans be updated and readily available nearest the closest entry point to the building or site. The use of the Lifeguard document box (see attached photo) is recommended for sites that do not have an established room. This box uses a standard CAT-30. key which is readily available with our responding members. You can also place a key in the Knox box when those are provided at the site.
- All flammable and combustible liquid and gaseous fuels must be removed regardless if in storage cabinets or other type of controlled area or equipment such as fuel cubes and heaters.
- Dumpsters need to be emptied of combustible products. Other combustible surplus such as wooden products or cardboard packaged items are preferred to be removed to reduce and/or eliminate any risk.
- Fire protection and alarm features must be returned to their state of ready and with appropriate signage. Interim protection must be evaluated and products such as the WES (see attached pdf) or Honeywell Swift may be good solutions.
- Be sure to monitor the status of utilities, such as gas and electric and equipment, such as heaters. Shut off appliances and devices that will not be essential to keep on during the shutdown and remove anything that can burn in the area and beyond to avoid these becoming a heat source or an added fuel source.
- Securing holes and openings in floors, roofs and shaft-ways with appropriate similar rating products. For example wooden floors could cover with wooden products as they would be considered equivalent in rating, however, concrete floors should not use wood and should use non-combustible products to achieve a similar rating.
- Access is a must and the passageway/roadway must be cleared of any obstructing storage. Vehicles and storage need to be moved away in a manner as to not obstruct ingress and egress.
- Security is required and to accomplish this there may be the need for trained security forces, technologies such as cameras to be used or combinations thereof. It is recommended to use the Knox padlock (see attached photo) daisy-chained into your own padlock on fencing. Please let me know if you have trouble obtaining as I have four of these padlocks to loan out.
These are again just a few point items. This is the time where you need to evaluate your own situations and conditions and apply any and all betterments toward maximum fire safety. As always please exercise good housekeeping and commonsense practices at these sites.
COVID-1: PREPARING FOR A SLOWDOWN/SHUTDOWN
Contributed by AGC Oregon Columbia Chapter
This document is solely intended to provide guidance to contractors on the steps that they should be considering when evaluating impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Contractors must continually evaluate projects on a case-by-case basis to determine the best way to proceed in light of the circumstances.
AGC MA TOOLBOX TALK (Provided by OSHA)
AGC of AMERICA RESOURCE PAGE