Chamber News Article

The construction industry has been given updated advice on how and when sites are able to operate.

Non-essential construction activities which only involve one or two people, and which have safe operating procedures, can operate without requiring Government permission, provided that social distancing instructions are always adhered to. The conditions for being able to work are:

• No more than two people can be working
• There should be a distance of 2 metres between workers at all times, including travel to and from sites
• Maintain good hand and respiratory hygiene at all times – including regular access to soap and water for hand washing
• The work should not be in an occupied dwelling (i.e. work in gardens, to the exterior of buildings, and inside empty properties can be done without permission, but work inside an occupied property must not take place)
• The guidelines for safety relating to lone working (i.e. procedures for working safely alone) must be followed
• Workers should carry documentation (such an employer’s letter) asserting that they are engaged in essential work. Police and other enforcement agents will be monitoring for abuse of essential worker status.

Emergency home and building repair and maintenance continues to be classified as essential work and can be carried out inside people’s homes where it’s necessary, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms. No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household.

The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, Senator Lyndon Farnham, said: “I have announced financial support for a number of areas within the construction sector, but I recognise that the industry wants to work rather than rely on Government support.

“This clarification should enable hundreds of small businesses which are involved in the construction industry to continue to work, if they feel that it is safe and appropriate for them and their employees to do so. My advice to all businesses, however, is to respect the bank holiday and consider the nuisance that might be caused by their work.

“Businesses should understand that our highest priority remains the control of the spread of coronavirus, and they must ensure that they do not compromise social distancing between themselves, their staff, their customers, and anyone else.

“Should I, or any other Competent Authorities Ministers, on advice of officials and the Medical Officer for Health decide at any time that there is too much activity and therefore too much social contact increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19, this sector of the construction industry can and will be stopped again.”

Construction activity which involves more than two people must remain closed, and a permit system will be introduced to enable it to restart, but only once the Medical Officer for Health is satisfied it can be done without the risk of the spread of coronavirus.

Permits have been granted to around 30 sites, which are considered essential. The sites have been given posters to display, so Islanders know that they have permission to operate, provided that they apply social distancing.

Senator Farnham said: “More information on the permit system will be announced once we are satisfied that the measures being put in place on the most essential construction sites are effective.”

Permits have been granted to the following sites, all of which should be displaying posters confirming that they have been granted permission. Some permits are granted with conditions on the time or type of activity. The list is live and changes regularly, and so is for illustration only.