'You can't roof a house from home': Construction chiefs say they await HSE order to down tools

Image: RollingNews.ie Image: RollingNews.ie PRESSURE IS GROWING on the construction industry to down tools and clear sites for fear of workers being infected with Covid-19.

Similarly, one worker at a site in Dublin told this publication that staff have pleaded with their superiors to allow those who can work remotely to do so. Brendan O’Sullivan, general secretary of the Builders and Allied Trades Union told TheJournal.ie that the thousands of members who he represents have been told to minimise their contact as much as is possible, but that it remains a challenge.

While O’Sullivan acknowledged that a lot of those who can work from home ought to do so so long as it is accepted by their superiors, he warned that there are members of BATU who cannot make a living from working remotely. The Construction Industry Federation has echoed O’Sullivan’s statements and says it stands ready to adapt if the HSE changes its guidelines.

The CIF said construction companies are doing all they can to keep their workers in employment in the safest possible environment. Many companies have now embedded social distancing into their daily routines including measures such as staggered work, social distancing in canteens, employees taking lunch individually. They now run induction talks on entry to work and hold regular ‘toolbox’ talks to constantly reinforce new safety guidelines.

AidyLynch

Well now amazing how many people just want to forget the housing crisis and shaft the homeless these problems will be front and center when this finishes with trying to rebuild the economy

I'm working on a site, 200 people, 1 tiny canteen, no running water anywhere except in the 1 toilet that's a 5 minute walk away, and we all use the same metal handled gate to enter and exit. Not even a bit of hand gel at the gate. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤮 HSELive LeoVaradkar SimonHarrisTD

If anyone believes that social distancing is happening on building sites there either extremely naive or just away with fairies.....on paper social distancing is easy,on building sites damn near impossible...lives are being put at risk....to line developers pockets...

Where are THE HEALTH AND SAFETY BOYS NOW. 🙄 Pull the heads out of the sand.

I wrk 4 a small electrical company in old houses with no residents we can easily continue 2 wrk and keep our distance I bring my lunch so no need 4 the shops

Minimum distance is impossible to implement on sites. Inadequate facilities even for washing and eating facilities. Some jobs require close contact also. It’s madness to keep them open if we are serious about this virus.

You'd imagine if your workibg outside the close proximity to someone else for 15 minutes or more would be limited.

Awful situation.

Wear their hard hat and they will be ok,,,,,health and safety is big mantra on sites once it doesn’t cost money

you can if its a self build

But they have a duty of care with health and safety so how's that work then

mjinko_ie Crew cabs with six lads still traveling to work and then home to respective families, you can’t call that social / physical distancing

I think it would be stupid to down tools on all construction jobs, but it should be limited to 2 people on site only

Actually you have to roofing at home 🙃

I can’t provide a Safepass course from home or the lads can’t attend from home.

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