Abstract
The PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study on transmission and environment is a UK-wide research programme improving our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), is transmitted, and how this varies in different settings and environments. This improved understanding is enabling more effective measures to reduce transmission, save lives and get society back towards ‘normal’.
Construction workers across the UK have played a vital role in keeping the country running during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research report describes a scoping study aimed at improving understanding of the construction sector’s efforts to build a ‘COVID-secure’ workplace.
The study was carried out by researchers from the Thomas Ashton Institute and was completed in July 2021. The researchers carried out: a rapid review of previous studies investigating transmission; a survey and interviews with four principal contractor organisations; and interviews with representatives from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)’s Construction Division and the Unite Union.
The researchers identify six key themes in the industry’s response to reducing COVID-19 transmission: contractual partnerships; organisational culture; communication; multi-level challenges; context of the sector; and best safety practice and technology use. The report includes two case studies of construction sites with some of the measures used to reduce COVID-19 transmission.
This report and the research it describes were funded by the PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study on transmission and environment which is managed by HSE on behalf of HM Government. Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect Government or HSE Policy.
Construction workers across the UK have played a vital role in keeping the country running during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research report describes a scoping study aimed at improving understanding of the construction sector’s efforts to build a ‘COVID-secure’ workplace.
The study was carried out by researchers from the Thomas Ashton Institute and was completed in July 2021. The researchers carried out: a rapid review of previous studies investigating transmission; a survey and interviews with four principal contractor organisations; and interviews with representatives from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)’s Construction Division and the Unite Union.
The researchers identify six key themes in the industry’s response to reducing COVID-19 transmission: contractual partnerships; organisational culture; communication; multi-level challenges; context of the sector; and best safety practice and technology use. The report includes two case studies of construction sites with some of the measures used to reduce COVID-19 transmission.
This report and the research it describes were funded by the PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study on transmission and environment which is managed by HSE on behalf of HM Government. Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect Government or HSE Policy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | University of Manchester |
| Number of pages | 106 |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Sept 2021 |
Keywords
- Construction
- COVID-19
- occupational health and safety
- Workplace health
- transmission
- environment
- National Core Study
- PROTECT
- building construction
- building safety
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Thomas Ashton Institute
- Work and Equalities Institute
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University of Manchester researchers’ collaboration with the Partnership for Research in Occupational, Transport and Environmental COVID Transmission (PROTECT) project informs policy and practice aimed to reduce risk from Covid-19 transmission
Van Tongeren, M. (Corresponding participant), Rhodes, S. (Participant), Wilkinson, J. (Participant), Gittins, M. (Participant), Coleman, A. (Participant), Gartland, N. (Participant), Johnson, S. (Participant), Arden Armitage, C. (Participant), Lewis, C. (Participant), Clayson, A. (Participant), Verma, A. (Participant), Bourne, N. (Participant), Cheung, C. (Participant), Clarke, S. (Participant), Kirkham, R. (Participant) & Yunusa-Kaltungo, A. (Participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing, Policy, Awareness and understanding