COVID-19’s Impact on the Construction Industry

During the COVID-19 crisis, millions of construction workers are working on job sites, while others are not. The construction industry is trying to balance performing essential services and taking measures to avoid spreading the disease.

In February alone, 7.6 million Americans worked a construction job. In New York, construction workers are still working on skyscraping condos, despite stay-at-home orders.

Construction jobs require large groups of people in tight spaces, which can quicken the spread of the coronavirus.

Union representatives move to protect construction workers

Union representatives across the country are trying to find a balance for their members. If job sites remain open, members must continue to work in order to keep their jobs and earn their paychecks. These blue-collar workers rely on their paychecks to make ends meet.

On the other hand, as long as construction jobs continue, union reps are insisting on increased safety standards.

Recently, the Laborer’s International Union of North America sent a letter to Congress. It urged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard. This standard would protect working people from exposure to infectious diseases like COVID-19.

As of now, OSHA has not issued a specific standard covering COVID 19. OSHA highlighted a few standards that apply to prevent occupational exposure.

These standards require the use of gloves, as well as eye, face, and respiratory protection (29 CFR 1910 Subpart I). These standards also cover the General Duty Clause, which requires employers to create a workplace that is free from recognized hazards.

Congress fails to provide financial relief to construction workers

Clearly, some union representatives would like OSHA to go a step further in providing guidance to employers. Some employers have taken it upon themselves to institute stricter safety policies. Some examples include monitoring their employee’s health by taking temperatures and sending those with symptoms home.

Union representatives also want Congress to provide financial relief for impacted construction workers. This assistance would help workers who get sick or have to take off work to care for sick family members.

Many construction workers do not have Paid Sick Leave or Family and Medical Leave. If workers are sick, they will not have access to these financial assistance programs without help from the government. Union representatives also called on Congress to extend health plans. This extension would cover those employees who lose their jobs when sites shut down.

We rely on construction workers to maintain our cities roads, bridges, and utilities. Many of these workers have continued to work hard despite possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

These workers deserve not only our praise. They also deserve any protections that our government institutions can offer, including increased safety standards and financial assistance.

For more information on how the COVID-19 virus has affected workers and other industries, check out the rest of our blogs.