Health and safety big priority on site
Under Covid-19 Alert Level 3, state highway maintenance activities and work on projects like the SH58 safety improvements resumed. This work restarted with strict health and safety protocols in place for workers and road users.
Construction work on SH58 required a specific COVID-19 plan to work safely at Level 3, which aligned with strict industry standards provided by Construction Health and Safety NZ.
“If work required the crew to be within two metres of each other, then there was special mandatory PPE (personal protective equipment) such as latex gloves and the P2 mask they had to wear,” says Construction Manager Dean Bennett.
“But based on the type of works we were doing, the team probably didn’t have to use additional PPE.”
Work crews were also prepared for emergency situations, which would require them to be within two metres of each other.
“We’d identified potential risks in areas of emergencies and unforeseen scenarios, where they may have needed to encroach within the two metres, so it was compulsory that everyone carried on them a mask, a portable sanitiser, and gloves as well,” Dean says.
Additionally, all the subcontractors were split into three separate work bubbles, with each bubble having a dedicated break area.
With the return to Alert Level 2, there will still be health and safety restrictions in place for the benefit of workers and road users. If you’re driving through the SH58 worksites, please continue to be patient, respectful and look out for our workers safety and wellbeing. These people are doing vital work to help keep everyone safe.
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