What Will Commercial Construction Look Like from June to December 2020?
/“As an 18-year veteran in the commercial construction and corporate interiors industry, a certified Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) and a long-standing member of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC Georgia), I can honestly say there has never been an occurrence like COVID-19 that will have such long-lasting, and likely permanent, effects on how commercial construction projects are built and completed.
I know it has been said a million times, but these are truly unprecedented times. I feel lucky to work at a nimble and flexible company like Macallan Construction, a division of The Macallan Group, where we can continue to move large and smaller projects forward and keep our teams and workers safe.
As Georgia and other states begin to re-open, these are the top three considerations developers and construction companies must keep in mind when building and completing commercial projects through year-end.
1. Protection is Required
While much of commercial construction takes place outdoors, often, construction workers will stand shoulder-to-shoulder to support their co-workers or to study an issue or even just have lunch. Construction workers must feel safe.
It will be incumbent on the general contractor and construction supervisors to bone up on the latest OSHA requirements and provide what is needed on the job site, including masks or face shields, gloves, temperature checks and the ability to wash hands, etc. – whether the job is outdoor construction or interiors. In addition, suppliers who may come and go from the site should receive information on how to protect themselves and what procedures must be followed for their visit to the site.
Given the fact that there may be a resurgence of the virus in the fall, personal protective equipment (PPE) will be essential for workers to feel safe. In addition, they will need to know how to safely dispose of this equipment and where PPE can and cannot be placed for disposal.
2. Adjusting Work Hours
Most active construction sites and interior buildouts are constantly working against the clock to finish on time or even ahead of schedule. With the unpredicted outcome of the virus this fall, now is the time to negotiate with the developer on adjusted work schedules, where you may have longer hours on the job site with fewer workers.
3. Communication is Critical
Post health and wellness information in multiple locations around the job site, be it at time clocks, break areas, bathrooms, etc., reminding workers of the importance of following healthy habits.
Use technology to your advantage – be it group text services, Microsoft Teams, Zoom calls or a mass email to workers. If a worker shows up with signs of the virus (cough, high temperature or any of the four other signs), the job site must be prepared to have a number of dedicated people focused on contact tracing with every person who may have been near that co-worker.
To ensure you’ve thought of everything, I highly recommend using the great resources available at OSHA. In addition, ABC Georgia has COVID-19 Resources, including links with useful information and access to online webinars.”
Bill Tracy, General Superintendent and Safety Trained Supervisor for Macallan Construction
Tracy is responsible for coordinating all aspects of project completion in a timely and cost-effective manner, as well as enforcing all safety and quality control policies and procedures as they apply to Macallan Construction projects. Tracy’s 18 years of construction experience has led to successes in many commercial markets from corporate interiors to higher education classroom buildings and is experienced in constructing buildings with the latest in “smart” technology. As a Safety Trained Supervisor, he brings expertise in leading teams to zero harm on his projects.
