The British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) has revised its Site Handover Certificate to include safety measures introduced by Public Health England (PHE) to prevent the spread of covid-19.
The BCSA said it understood that some main contractors were using contractual threats to retain trades on site after some subcontractors decided to remove workers amid safety concerns.
It added that there was “confusion” over construction sites remaining open and whether they were safe places to work given the Public Health England (PHE) two-metre distancing rule.
Following recent feedback from its members the BCSA said it wanted to remind clients and main contractors of their duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work Act to adopt measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of harm where their activities could result in harming people other than their own employees.
The association has revised its Safe Site Handover Certificate to include the health and safety measures introduced by the PHE to prevent the spread of covid-19. This revision includes the two-metre rule for self-distancing and regular cleaning of the surfaces that are used by many people such as access and egress points (where hand sanitisers are needed), messrooms and welfare facilities.
This certificate has been circulated to all BCSA steelwork contractor members who are advised not to go on site until the client and main contractor have put all the health and safety measures in place and have signed the certificate.
Tim Outteridge, president of the BCSA said: “This epidemic is unprecedented and more than ever at this time it is essential that clients and main contractors understand their health and safety responsibilities and stop putting our workers in danger.”
