Top 10 COVID-19 checklist for construction equipment operators

With the risk of COVID-19 lasting many more months, a hierarchy of control methods to reduce the risk of anyone using construction equipment will become the new normal. 

Governments around the world are announcing new COVID-19 guidance measures almost on a daily basis that construction companies who operate industrial equipment will need to start adhering too. 

Plus, industry-leading associations such as the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) are publishing great COVID advice and guidelines for their members who are using MEWPs, MCWPs and hoists.  

All organizations will need to prepare a risk assessment of COVID-19 to ensure machines can be used and work can continue while meeting the changing Government guidelines beyond social distancing. 

The importance of good safety and equipment hygiene to reduce the risk of personnel getting infected has never been more top of mind for the leading construction companies.

Construction companies including rental providers need a flexible, secure rental access management solution that provides a suite of controls helping with booking, handovers, operations and end of rental or daily checks.

Top 10 construction equipment operators COVID-19 checklist 

In no particular order, here are some recommendations on helping keep operators of construction equipment safe from COVID-19: 

1. Parking equipment further apart than 2m to keep social distancing and limiting unintended exposure to other vehicles
   
2. Ensure it’s easy to keep 1 driver to 1 piece of equipment (but sometimes a 2nd person is required to ensure safety, therefore, keeping paired employees on all jobs is sometimes necessary)
   
3. Enforce mandatory hygiene training with a sanitization/hygiene checklist that would include all the key areas an operator touches such as: 
   1. Equipment Controls 
   2. Entry/exit/access points 
   3. Guards, railing, etc. 
   4. Cords, cables, chargers, manuals, attachments
      
4. Easy visualization of hygiene inspection history for operators to ensure when vehicles pass from one operator to another it can be verified
   
5. Keeping equipment stored longer between use when possible
   
6. Track operator usage per vehicle in case you need to support quick contact tracing 
7. Implement a ‘call for help’ solution since operators and teams are less in contact and smaller, a helpline for offsites is more critical 
8. Conduct daily COVID reminders to keep up vigilance to ensure operators don’t start to fall back into old habits 
9. Provide an easy way for anyone to submit suggestions or highlight non-compliance 
10. Communicate regularly with your team as everyone will have different levels of concerns that need to be addressed 

Bonus: Take the extra steps of distancing and wearing PPE when interacting with clients as they will feel more comfortable. 

And of course, your list will be more substantial than this.  

COVID’s impact on the construction industry

Like many industries, COVID is impacting the way we currently do business, however, on the positive side it has pushed many companies to accelerate their digital transformation plans.   

Here at Irdeto, we are partnering with industry leaders who are early adopters that recognize that their industrial equipment will require an after-market solution that can adapt to a world where safety, compliance and enforcing the way operators work will be required.   

Digital transformation in construction industry due to COVID

With Irdeto’s Keystone solution for construction rental companies, you can control and enforce all your checklists, pre and post operations, control equipment access and much more.   

From contactless vehicle starting and stopping, to a voice-controlled app, Keystone can be used in many ways to support the industries’ newly found operating requirements.

COVID will accelerate the future of digital and mobile-connected equipment, and once the core secure infrastructure is in place the possibilities for how we operate, control and manage operators, equipment and business processes will open up endless new opportunities and improve health and safety as well. 

So what is your team implementing or learning about COVID?

We would love to hear your thoughts and update this blog with more great ideas companies are learning that work.