This archive report was first published on 23 April 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, construction firms in Kenya are facing new safety guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus at their sites.
On April 16, 2020, the National Construction Authority (NCA) issued guidelines for contractors to follow in order to minimize risks to construction workers.
According to the guidelines, contractors wishing to continue operating during the outbreak must comply with new safety measures, including reducing the number of workers on site and sanitizing equipment.
The agency emphasized that construction workers are a vulnerable group due to their exposure to close-knit and unhygienic work site conditions.
‘Construction workers are a vulnerable group since they are faced with the elevated risk of Covid-19 virus exposure in close-knit and unhygienic worksite conditions. They also need to keep the construction jobs to support themselves and their families as they are majorly casual labourers and self-employed,’ NCA said.
One of the measures is the reduction of the number of workers onsite to a level that can allow workers to keep at least a metre apart.
Administrative controls such as rotating shifts, separating crews based on their work, and creating separate entry and exit gates are also recommended.
Additionally, contractors are required to forbid the sharing of tools and ensure that machines and equipment that are shared are sanitized with each work space having a hand sanitation point within 30 meters of the work area.
Body temperatures of construction workers and other personnel visiting the site should be taken on arrival and when they leave for home using a non-contact infrared thermometer.
Any employee that presents a fever or flu-like symptoms, is vulnerable or is living with someone in self-isolation should not be allowed access to site.
