Coronavirus and the Construction Industry

We are currently living in unprecedented times. We're being told to 'keep alert' from an invisible virus but we are to try and carry out work as though things are normal. Where does this leave us? What are the new rules that we have to comply with to ensure the safety of ourselves and our employees. I am here to help with Coronavirus restrictions and how to make these work with your site.  Firstly we need to understand the effects of Coronavirus on our businesses. Whether you're a trade, developer, labourer, office worker or anyone living and working in 2020 for that matter, we need to accept the times we find ourselves in. By understanding what we can't change, it will allow us to recognise which areas we can change. Lets do this, lets break through this period of time and get to the other side.... and we will! Every part of the Construction Industry has been affected by Coronavirus from manufacturing to planning to having to social distance on site (and anyone who has had to deal with this knows this is no easy feat.) The time it takes to actually build has been one of the many knock on effects, not to mention once your build is complete, who's there to buy it? Remember what it took to get your business up and running... Remember the hours you put in, the blood, sweat and tears? Remember.. this is TEMPORARY.  Secondly, this might be  a time when, if you're able, you can give your business the overhaul, cleanout and dusting off you don't normally get around to doing. Do you need to sort out the filing, contact suppliers or customers? It's good to keep that communication open, remind everyone that we're all in this together. This is your support network. In a few months time you're going to need a chain of people who have your back and are willing and prepared and looking to move completely past Covid19.  Thirdly, maybe you could take this opportunity to expand your knowledge. Take those courses, brush up on your techniques, watch those YouTube videos or keep a look out for online seminars. There are many ways in which you can expand on what you already know to make sure you're ahead of the game when it's all systems go! Follow others in the construction industry, keep up to date with what is happening, what is hot and what is not. Prepare, prepare, prepare.  Thankfully the housing market for buying and selling has reopened which will be music to many of our ears. Obviously, as with anything at the moment we must comply with all the guidelines to ensure the safety of ourselves, staff, clients and the public. As long as we can adhere to the guidelines then there is no reason why we can't continue to work as before, perhaps a touch slower, but work nonetheless.  These times aren't ideal but if I know anything I know that we're very good at adapting when we have to. As I said, accept what you can't change and change what you can. Humans were born to adapt; it's not always easy but it can be done.  If you're unsure how to work safely and within the Government's guidelines during this time then Build UK has a handy list of procedures or go to the Government website. https://builduk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Site-Operating-Procedures.pdf https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus