Construction firms issued new safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19

• 22 May 2020
• Local News
• 2212 Views

Cambodia’s construction sector continues working despite concern over the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising concern over the spread of COVID-19 in Cambodia is now the top question from the public community to all industries nationwide. The construction industry continues to adhere to strict guidelines from the Royal Government and the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour.

At Archetype Cambodia, as a private construction consultancy, Health and Safety in the construction workplace has always been a business priority and even more so during this critical situation.

As an immediate response to reduce the risk of possible infections and preserve the safety of all our workers, we implemented the following procedures and guidelines:

1. Risk awareness with safety induction to all workers about the new disease, the possible way of transmission and recommended hygiene practice such as:
hand wash with soap for at least 20 seconds, use of sanitizer, avoid touching face and mouth.

2. Mandatory use of face masks for each worker, including induction on how to wear it correctly and how to remove it safely.

3. Body temperature control at each entrance of the site. Any worker with a body temperature above 37.5 is not allowed to enter the site and the prompt notification to be issued from the security guards to the responsible Site Management.

4. Reduce the manpower or eventually spread the workflow over a longer period of time with different shifts to avoid overcrowding at the gate, hoists, lifts, the canteen, the washroom and any other working area.

5. Reduce the attendance for site inspections by limiting it to 1 person for each party involved.

6. Promote social distancing in a range of 1 to 2 metres.

7. Reduce the number of face-to-face meetings and promote the use of conference call tools. If the meeting is still required, reduce its duration and move it to the open air if possible.

8. Quarantine each worker that has been exposed to, confirmed as or suspected cases of Coronavirus or anyone who has a travelling history to areas of high risk of contagion.

9. Expose clear and visible guidelines all around the site and the connected facilities/office.

10. Maintain an appropriate daily log of each worker and visitor entering the construction area.

All of the above-mentioned procedures and guidelines should be monitored daily by the responsible Safety Officers to ensure they are understood by all the workers and properly implemented. It is also finally mandatory to inspire the same care, consciousness and safety attention outside the working hours with families, colleagues, friends or any other social environment.

“As most of our office staff is working from home and other businesses in the country have changed the way of doing businesses, much of our construction program has continued. We will not compromise any of our COVID-19 exposure control protocols when it comes to anyone’s life” said Michel Cassagnes, Managing Director of the Archetype Cambodia. He added that “It is important to continue critical infrastructure but never put our people, clients and stakeholders at risk.”

About Archetype Cambodia
Operating since 2003, with more than 85 employees, Archetype Cambodia is one of the largest private construction consultancies in the country with core services in Architecture & Planning, Structural, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Process & Piping Engineering, Project & Construction Management along with Cost Management. Archetype Cambodia is a member of Archetype Group—a multidisciplinary construction consultancy firm founded in 2002 in Asia by a group of French architects and engineers.