Construction sites in Ireland have been given the go-ahead to restart, as part of the country’s phased easing of lockdown restrictions.
All outdoor construction sites can reopen from Monday May 18, 2020, while indoor construction work, such as fit-out work, can be carried out as long as workers enforce social distancing, with the exception of renovation work on existing buildings that are currently occupied.
A condition of opening the sites is that all workers must complete a COVID-19 online induction for safe working, which has been launched by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) in partnership with the government.
The course includes information on how to socially distance on-site and what to do should any workers present COVID-19 symptoms. Once completed, workers receive a digital card that confirms they have successfully completed the programme, which is required before a worker can access a site.
Employers can check and verify workers have completed the course on the CIF’s website. So far, more than 125,000 workers have taken part in the process.
The induction is part of a national return-to-work protocol, which involves putting extra hygiene facilities in place on sites across the country, as well as companies carrying out assessments and modifying sites to make it easier to adhere to social-distancing guidelines. Firms have been advised by the government to appoint compliance officers to ensure that sites are safe to return to work.
Commenting on the guidance, Tom Parlon, director general of the CIF, said: “This national protocol will help businesses return to work safely, protecting our workers, our families and our communities. The collaborative approach between industry, union and government is welcomed, and this must continue on the ground to protect workers and the public.”
