Covid19 heath and safety protocols must be in place before Council sites reopen
Labour Party Councillor and Chair of Dublin City Council Strategic Policy Committee on Housing, Alison Gilliland, has said that Construction site Covid19 heath and safety protocols must be agreed and made public before any Council housing sites are reopened.
Cllr Gilliland commented:
“I’m hearing reports that some local authority social housing construction sites may reopen as early as this coming week.
“It this is to happen, Covid19 heath and safety protocols must be agreed and made public before any of these council sites are reopened.
“The housing crisis has not gone away and we need to increase our local authority housing stock but it is imperative that workers, their families and out wider communities are fully protected from the spread of the coronavirus.
“Government, public health experts, unions and employers at national level, should develop clear protocols aimed at ensuring safe working conditions on any construction site.
“I am calling that these protocols include testing for all workers ahead of presenting on site and daily temperature/health checking. I’m calling for a designated health and safety representative to be employed for every site and a strict, independent health and safety inspection regime to be implemented to ensure protocols are complied with.
“It would also be imperative that protocols be clearly displayed on and around sites and a support helpline be put in place to allow workers to confidentially disclose any breaches that might happen on a site.
“Site contractors along with the local authorities must take responsibility for putting appropriate sanitation facilities in place on sites to allow for appropriate hand washing etiquette and the provision of masks, gloves and other necessary personal protection clothing required.
“Before any Dublin City Council construction site reopens adherence to these protocols must be guaranteed and workers and unions need to be involved in ensuring ongoing compliance with the protocols once work has commenced.”