Strategies to Mitigate COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts on Health and Safety of Workers in Construction Projects

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. With the global spread of COVID-19, there is a compelling need to improve the health and safety of workers employed in the construction projects (CP). Occupational characteristics, such as interfacing with the public and being in close quarters with other workers, not only put workers at high risk for disease, but also make them a nexus of disease transmission to the community. The objectives of this study are: (1) to evaluate the implications of COVID-19 pandemic on health and safety of workers in construction industry (CI), (2) to analyze the socio-economic-environmental impacts of the pandemic on construction, and (3) to recommend effective ten-point strategy to reduce COVID-19 impacts on the health of construction workers in CP. The required information is collected and analyzed based on the recently published literature, interviews, surveys, and industry experiences. The results reveal that hours of work, wages, workload and stress levels, access to paid leave, interactions with co-workers and supervisors, and health-promoting workplaces have major impacts on the well-being of workers, their families, and their communities. This study will be helpful for the owners, contractors, project managers and owners, and governmental authorities in adopting the effective strategies to improve the health and safety of workers as well as productivity and efficiency in construction projects.