Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare construction has remained an essential service, but even as healthcare construction firms have adjusted to the evolving circumstances, construction projects haven’t necessarily been business as usual as firms strive to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The goals of healthcare construction firms for the last 10 months has been to devise new policies to keep workers and construction sites safe during the pandemic, according to Health Facilities Management. A new ASHE resource, “Planning Successful and Safe Health Care Construction Projects During the Global Pandemic,” addresses four main elements:

contractor and visitor screening; site access and material deliveries; break areas, restrooms and other special areas; and special work execution requirements.

The goal of the resource is to put into writing many of the considerations construction professionals are working through during the pandemic. Some considerations discussed in the resource are new factors brought about by the pandemic, such as worker health screenings and protocols for workers to self-quarantine. Other considerations, such as job site access, material deliveries and hand hygiene, are long-established factors that have taken on a new significance in light of COVID-19. 

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