Introduction
Advice in line with Construction Leadership Council guidelines v5 (currently not applicable)
These are exceptional circumstances and the industry must comply with the latest Government advice on Coronavirus (Covid-19) at all times.
This guidance is intended to introduce consistent measures on our courses as used on construction sites of all types and sizes in line with the Government’s recommendations on social distancing and ensure employers and individuals make every effort to comply. The health and safety requirements of any course activity must not be compromised at any time. If an activity cannot be undertaken safely, it will not take place.
Self-isolation
Anyone who either has a high temperature or a new persistent cough or is within 14 days of the day when the first member of their household showed symptoms of Coronavirus (Covid-19) should not come to the course, but must follow the guidance on self-isolation.
Person at increased risk
Anyone who is at increased risk of severe illness from Coronavirus (Covid-19) is strongly advised to stay at home and should be particularly stringent about following social distancing measures.
Persons defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
Anyone identified as extremely vulnerable will be advised by their health authority and must follow the guidance on shielding and protecting extremely vulnerable people.
Living with a person in one of the above groups
Anyone living with a person who is at increased risk of severe illness, or an extremely vulnerable person who is shielding from Coronavirus (Covid-19), should stringently follow the guidance on social distancing and minimise contact outside the home.
If someone falls ill
If a delegate develops a high temperature or a persistent cough while on course, they should:
- Ensure their course tutor or supervisor is informed
- Return home immediately
- Avoid touching anything
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue and put it in a bin, or if they do not have tissues, cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow.
They must then follow the guidance on self-isolation and not return to work until their period of self-isolation has been completed.
Travel to the course venue
Wherever possible delegates should travel to the venue alone using their own transport. If delegates have no option but to share transport:
- Journeys should be shared with the same individuals and with the minimum number of people at any one time
- Good ventilation (i.e. keeping the windows open) and facing away from each other may help to reduce the risk of transmission
- The vehicle should be cleaned regularly using gloves and standard cleaning products, with particular emphasis on handles and other areas where passengers may touch surfaces
- Parking arrangements are available for vehicles and bicycles
- To consider other means of transport to avoid public transport
- Make arrangements to get home if taken ill
- Where public transport is the only option you should consider avoiding using public transport during peak times (05:45 ‐ 7:30 and 16:00 ‐ 17:30)
When on course
CTS will endeavour to provide a safe environment when you are on our training course. We ask that everyone is considerate to each other to maintain good health at all times. Considerations that will include
- Share tasks with the same individuals and with the minimum number of people at any one time
- Wherever possible maintain a distance of two metres and avoid touching faces
- Maintain good ventilation in the training room (i.e. keeping the windows open) and if practical face away from each
- Wash hands for 20 seconds using soap and water or hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available before entering and returning to the lecture room
- Stop all non-essential visitors
- Consider introducing staggered times to reduce congestion and contact when leaving the lecture room
- Plan access to the field for practical tasks (if applicable) to enable social distancing
- Allow plenty of space between people when walking to the field (if applicable) to enter working areas
- Use signage or floor markings, to ensure 2 metre distance is maintained or 1 metre plus risk mitigation between people when queuing for refreshments
- Regularly clean common contact surfaces in the lecture room
- Regularly clean contact surfaces of survey equipment and associated tools
- Allow regular breaks to wash hands
- Provide additional hand washing facilities
- Ensure adequate supplies of soap and fresh water are readily available
- Provide hand sanitiser (alcohol based) where hand washing facilities are unavailable
- Provide suitable and sufficient rubbish bins for hand towels with regular removal and disposal.
Toilet Facilities
- Restrict the number of people using toilet facilities at any one time to ensure 2 metre distance or 1 metre plus risk mitigation is maintained between people when queuing
- Provide suitable and sufficient rubbish bins for hand towels with regular removal and disposal.
Meals and refreshments on course
The Conference Park will provide all food and drinks while you are on course. The UK Hospitality guidelines will be used in all areas.
- The capacity of each restaurant or food area will be clearly identified at the entry to each facility, and where necessary attendants provided to supervise compliance with social distancing measures
- Break times will be staggered to reduce congestion and contact at all times
- Frequently clean surfaces that are touched regularly, using standard cleaning products e.g. kettles, refrigerators, microwaves
- Hand cleaning facilities or hand sanitiser will be available at the entrance to any room where people eat and should be used by delegates when entering and leaving the area
- A distance of 2 metres or 1 metre plus risk mitigation should be maintained between users wherever possible
- All rubbish should be put straight in the bin and not left for someone else to clear up
- Tables will be cleaned between each use
- Crockery, eating utensils, cups etc. will be washed and dried between use
- Payments (if applicable) should be taken by contactless card wherever possible
- Canteen staff will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food
- Canteen staff and delegates may use rest areas if they apply the same social distancing measures
PPE on course
It is requested that delegates arriving on course should bring their own PPE as commonly used on their own sites. CTS will have disposable gloves and masks available if required. Other considerations will be:
- Where it is not possible to maintain a distance of 1 metre plus risk mitigation, each activity will be risk assessed
- Re-usable PPE should be thoroughly cleaned after use and not shared between delegates
- Single use PPE should be disposed of so that it cannot be reused
Behaviours
The measures necessary to minimise the risk of spread of infection rely on everyone on the course taking responsibility for their actions and behaviours. We encourage an open and collaborative approach between everyone on the course where any issues can be openly discussed and addressed.
First Aid
While on the course delegates will be informed of areas where first aid facilities can be accessed. We ask for your support and consideration so we can make the course a safe environment.