PROTECT YOURSELF & OTHERS!
As concern about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) grows, the AGC of Wisconsin is committed to the health and safety of your employees and to supplying our members with the best information you need as an employer.
Please contact the AGC Office (608.221.3821) should you have any safety, legal or labor related needs.
In partnership with the Greater Milwaukee chapter, the AGC of Wisconsin has developed the following resources to help contractors deal with the complexities of  COVID-19 and construction job sites.
COVID-19 Recommended Practices for Construction Job Sites
 Personal Responsibilities
  • It is critical that individuals NOT report to work while they are experiencing illness symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, chills, or fatigue.
  • Individuals should seek medical attention if they develop these symptoms.
Social Distancing
  • Do not host large group meetings. CDC recommends that we avoid gatherings of 10+ people; and when meeting, that we keep a 6 foot distance between people. Perform meetings online or via conference call whenever possible.
  • To limit the number of people on a jobsite, allow non-essential personnel to work from home when possible.
  • Discourage hand-shaking and other contact greetings.
Face Coverings
  • Effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 1 until September 28th all individuals are required to wear face coverings while indoors or in an enclosed space, other than a private residence.
  • Face coverings are strongly recommended in all other settings, including outdoors when it is not possible to maintain physical distancing.
  • "Face covering'' means a piece of cloth or other material that is worn to cover the nose and mouth completely. A "face covering'' includes but is not limited to a bandana, a cloth face mask, a disposable or paper mask, a neck gaiter, or a religious face covering. A "face  covering'' does not include face shields, mesh masks, masks with holes or openings, or masks with vents.
  • Proper use of face coverings, including:
    • Face coverings do not protect the wearer and are not personal protective equipment (PPE).
    • Face coverings can help protect people near the wearer, but do not replace the need for physical distancing and frequent handwashing.
    • Employees should wash or sanitize hands before and after using or adjusting face coverings.
    • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
    • Face coverings should be washed after each shift
Jobsite / Office Practices
  • Communicate key CDC recommendations (and post signage where appropriate) to your staff and tradespeople:
  • Supervisors should ask the following four questions to all employees prior to entering the jobsite. If thermal imaging equipment or laser thermometers are available, they should be considered.  Questions 3 & 4 should be asked at a minimum to attain the presence of fever. If an employee answers "yes” to any, they should be asked to leave the jobsite immediately.
    • Have you traveled internationally in the last 14 days?
    • Have you, or anyone in your family, been in close contact  (within 6 feet) with someone who has a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the past 14 days either at home or on a jobsite, etc?
    • Have you had a fever (greater than 100.4 F or 38.0 C) OR symptoms of lower respiratory illness such as cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing in the past 14 days?
    • Are you currently experiencing a fever (greater than 100.4 F or 38.0 C) OR symptoms of lower respiratory illness such as cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing?
  • *NOTE:
    • If an employee, visitor or vendor answer ‘Yes’ to questions 1, ask them to leave the workplace or jobsite immediately and self-isolate and self-monitor for 14 days.
    • If an employee, visitor or vendor answer ‘Yes’ to questions 2, ask them to leave the workplace or jobsite immediately and self-isolate and self-monitor for 14 days from last contact.If contacted by a contact tracer employee is allowed to return to workplace or jobsite once the contact tracer has said they may return.
    • If an employee, visitor or vendor answer ‘Yes’ to questions 3 or 4, ask them to leave the workplace or jobsite immediately and seek medical evaluation. Employee, visitor or vendor may return to work or the jobsite after a self-quarantine is completed for at least 10 days since symptoms first began and 3 days (72 hours) after symptoms resolve.
  • Instruct employees to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol, or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Provide soap and water and alcohol-based hand rubs in the workplace. Ensure that adequate supplies are maintained. Place hand rubs in multiple locations or in conference rooms to encourage hand hygiene.
  • Wear work gloves when practical. Utilize disposable gloves where appropriate; instruct workers to wash hands after removing gloves.
  • Do not congregate in lunch areas.
  • Do not share tools.
  • Do not share personal protection equipment (PPE).
  • Sanitize reusable PPE per manufacturer’s recommendation prior to each use.
  • Ensure used PPE is disposed of properly.
  • Disinfect reusable supplies and equipment
  • Identify specific locations and practices for daily trash such as: paper, hand towels, food containers, etc. Instruct workers responsible for trash removal in proper PPE/hand washing practices.
  • Provide routine environmental cleaning (door knobs, keyboards, counters, and other surfaces).
  • Do not use a common water cooler. Provide individual water bottles or instruct workers to bring their own.
  • Utilize shoe sanitation tubs (non-bleach sanitizer solution) prior to entering/leaving jobsite.
  • Instruct workers to change work clothes prior to arriving home; and to wash clothes in hot water with laundry sanitizer.
  • Don’t stack trades if possible.
  • Utilize disposable hand towels and no-touch trash receptacles.
  • Request additional/increased sanitation (disinfecting) of portable toilets.
  • Avoid cleaning techniques, such as using pressurized air or water sprays that may result in the generation of bio-aerosols.
  • Clean surfaces of service/fleet vehicles, steering wheel, gear shift, instrument panels, etc.; use aerosol sanitizers inside closed cabs.
  • In regards to shuttling employees, ensure distancing and encourage workers to provide their own transportation where possible.
 Managing Sick Employees
  • Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not return to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [38.0° C]). If an employee answers ‘Yes’ to any of the above questions, ask them to leave the workplace or jobsite immediately and seek medical evaluation. Employee may return to work or the jobsite after a self-quarantine is completed for at least 7 days since symptoms first began and 3 days (72 hours) after symptoms resolve.
  • Separate sick employees. CDC recommends that employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees and be sent home immediately.
  • Communicate your company’s Human Resources practices for managing sick time related to COVID-19.
COVID-19 Resources & Links
AGC of Wisconsin Resources
Brent Miller, AGC of Wisconsin Safety Director
brent.miller@agcwi.org / 608.575.2687 cell
Jim Falbo, AGC of Wisconsin Associate Safety & Workforce Development Director
jim.falbo@agcwi.org / 608.575.9686 cell
Government Resources  State of Wisconsin  Vendor Resources
  • Amphibious Medics: Can provide thermal imagery type camera to detect high temperatures as employees enter jobsites; anyone showing a high temp can be asked to complete a CDC form. Contact: 877-878-9185 x.2001 
  • Commonly-used posters and signs from CDC are available for production. Find your local ARC print center to get any health and wellness signs you may need.