“Trying to tick all the regulation boxes
will be difficult,” said Farrow. “The best
way forward is to learn from one another’s
day-to-day experiences, including sectors
in other countries that have returned to
work. The workforce has a crucial role
to play in providing practical feedback to
management on what works on site and
what does not.
“Our experience has shown that
people are extremely fearful of Covid-
19 and need constant reassurance,” he
continued. “Consequently, not only is
comprehensive training around health
and hygiene regulations essential, but also
ensuring that site workers do not become
complacent over time and continue to
practise the correct protocols.
“Achieving this will require everyone’s
involvement. Site managers and supervisors
should provide Covid-19 training
in conjunction with occupational health
and safety (OHS) officers, who cannot
be expected to neglect their other OHS
responsibilities in favour of dealing with
virus-related issues.”
“Keeping the lines of communication
between management and workers
open, and making sure their feedback
on perceived shortfalls is received
and acknowledged, is the best way to
restrict the spread of the virus on site
and ensure that it remains productive,”
added Merrington.
Bennet called on industry participants to
form relationships with public transport role
players and assist with the transportation
of workers to construction sites.
Addressing the issue of who bears the
cost of implementing Covid-19 protocols
at construction sites, Hoal said the task
team is lobbying government for access to
relief funds. “Various sources of funding,
including possibly the NHBRC and other
relief funds, are being considered.”
Opportunity to Reorganise
and Digitalise
Hoal also pointed to several opportunities
to be harnessed from the Covid-19
experience. “In the wake of the pandemic
outbreak, considerable political will has
emerged around the reorganisation,
transformation and digitalisation of the
construction industry, which is currently
extremely fragmented and to a large
extent, adversarial.
“This will enable the CC19RRTT to
advocate for more private sector intervention
and the formation of publicprivate
partnerships, especially when it
comes to the planning certification and
approval process.”
Bennet urged industry to push for
streamlined approval processes, stating
that current inefficiencies are negatively
impacting investor confidence. “Now is
also the time for industry to begin making
effective use of technology to better
manage order pipelines, specifically
around the demand and supply of
production materials.
“This data should be available to all
industry participants on a central database,
which could ultimately be used to
inform government on the impact of our
industry on the gross domestic product
and the economy as a whole.”
“Databuild could play an integral role
in facilitating the centralisation of data,
as we have access to all the relevant
role players and documentation needed
to make this possible,” said CEO
Morag Evans.
Other factors negatively affecting
productivity and the growth of the
industry are also being addressed by
the CC19RRTT. According to
Hoal, the team has submitted
representations to
government around
the issue of nonpayments
to contractors,
which has
forced many into
business rescue
or liquidation.
Tough
Times Ahead
There is no doubt that the
construction industry faces
tough times ahead, but Bennet
believes role players can minimise the
negative impact by working together.
To this end, the CC19RRTT, which
represents 36 industry participants in
the built environment, has succeeded in
establishing its voice within government.
“Currently the various representative
bodies voluntarily contribute their time and
resources to the task team out of a desire
to assist the industry and communicate
feedback to their members,” said Hoal.
“We are being listened to and firmly
believe there is value in formalising the
task team over the medium term so that
it can continue to work towards generating
the positive change our industry so
desperately needs.”
Article provided by Databuild
www.databuild.co.za
Covid-19 15