OSHA Issues Guidance to Help Construction Workers Amid COVID-19

OSHA's new publication, #4045 - Guidance on Returning to Work, provides general principles for updating restrictions originally put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a webpage with coronavirus-related guidance for construction employers and workers. The guidance includes recommended actions to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

Employers should remain alert to changing outbreak conditions and implement coronavirus infection prevention measures accordingly. The webpage includes information regarding:

  • Using physical barriers (such as walls, closed doors, or plastic sheeting) to separate workers

  • Keeping in-person meetings (including safety meetings) brief, limiting the number participants, and using social distancing practices

  • Screening calls when scheduling indoor construction work to assess potential exposure risks before worker entry

  • Ensuring shared spaces where construction activities are performed have good air flow

  • Staggering work schedules (such as alternating workdays or shifts) to reduce the total number of employees on a job site at any given time and to ensure physical distancing

Additional Resources

OSHA Coronavirus webpage. Includes the latest news and updates, along with information on hazard recognition, control and recognition, and other resources.

OSHA: Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19. Contains recommendations and informational content to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. Important sections include engineering controls, administrative controls, safe work practices, and other administrative facility best practices.

CDC: Guidance for Business Response to COVID-19. Provides interim COVID-19 guidance focused on workplaces in non-health care settings. Key sections include preparing workplaces for a COVID-19 outbreak, reducing transmission among employees, maintaining healthy business operations, and maintaining a healthy work environment.

For further information about the coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Content Reviewed 2/2021