Construction Industry

Development Authority

Health and Safety Guidelines for

Sri Lankan Construction Sites to be
adopted during COVID 19 outbreak

Version 29th April, 2020

Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply & Housing Facilities

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Health and Safety Guidelines for Sri Lankan Construction Sites to be adopted during COVID
19 outbreak published by Construction Industry Development Authority, Operating under
Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply & Housing Facilities.

Compiled by,

Ms. K.A.C. De Alwis – Attorney at Law- Legal Officer & Board Secretary
Eng. E. Vibusshana – Assistant Director – Research & Development

Reviewed by,

Archt. H.K. Balachandra – Director General

Eng. S.K.S. Amarasekara – Director (Development)

Material contained in this publication is considered as a CIDA Publication which may be reproduced,
fully or partially, with the permission of CIDA.

This information will be made available to interested parties upon request, from CIDA Head Office.
Tel: 94-11-2699801, Fax: 94-11-2699738, Email: info@cida.gov.lk
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Acronyms

CDC Center for Disease Control& Prevention of US

CIDA Construction Industry Development Authority
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease of 2019
CSOH Construction Safety and Occupational Health
EOT Extension of Time
EU European Union
GDP Gross Domestic Product
LD Liquidated Damages
NIOSH US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
SARS-CoV-2 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
US United States
USA United States of America
v/v Volume per Volume
WHO World Health Organization

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Contents
1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4
2.0 About COVID-19 ............................................................................................................................ 5
3.0 Employer/Engineer /Contractor .................................................................................................... 6
4.0 Employee/ Worker .......................................................................................................................... 8
5.0 General ............................................................................................................................................. 9
5.1 Administration .............................................................................................................................. 9
5.2 Meetings........................................................................................................................................ 9
5.3 Using Lift or Elevator ................................................................................................................. 10
5.4 Sanitary Facilities........................................................................................................................ 10
5.5 Lunch Room................................................................................................................................ 10
5.6 Changing Room .......................................................................................................................... 11
5.7 Transport Facilities ..................................................................................................................... 11
5.8 Accommodation .......................................................................................................................... 11
6.0 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................. 12

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 1.0 Introduction
These Guidelines are prepared by the CIDA established under the Construction Industry Development Act No.33 of
2014 with the view to be used as a mandatory Health & safety Guidelines at the construction sites operating in Sri
Lanka during the critical observation period of Coronavirus COVID 19 epidemic, as a precautionary measure, in
preventing the spreading of the virus.
These Health and Safety Guidelines for Sri Lankan Construction Sites to be adopted during COVID 19 outbreak are
not a Rule, Regulation or Legislation and does not create any legal obligations. It contains instructions and
information of mandatory safety and health standards. The instructions are advisory in nature, informational in
contents, and are intended to assist the construction workers working in construction sites within the country,
providing a safe and healthful worksite. The Guidelines are not static in nature and needs revisions and additions to
suit the needs of the situation from time to time. These Guidelines require construction workers to comply with safety
and health instructions and information embedded therein. In addition, the Guidelines requires Contractors/Clients
of the construction project to provide their workers with a worksite free from recognized hazards likely to cause
death or serious physical harm, during the epidemic of COVID 19.
Since the virus has adversely affected many human lives causing thousands of deaths, and millions of infected people
in the world and since the epidemic is gradually raising in Sri Lanka as well, the spreading of the virus shall be
curbed and the COVID -19 shall be eradicated from Sri Lanka.
The Construction Industry is an important industry in Sri Lanka, contributing approximately 10% to the country’s
GDP and providing employment for over 650,000. Construction Projects have to be continuously carried on for the
progress of the work, and timely completion, in order to minimize the Overhead Costs, claims of compensations
resulting EOT, burden of LD upon the construction contractors etc. Therefore, construction workers are required to
be deployed in construction work sites with effective and protective health & safety measures continuously, curbing
the spreading of the epidemic.
In order to curb the spreading of the virus and reduce the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the construction industry,
its stakeholders and the general public associating such stakeholders, it is important for all Clients/Employers and
Contractors of construction projects to introduce and implement Health & Safety Guidelines to be adhered in
construction sites.
CIDA, the Apex Regulatory Agency in the construction industry, has developed this “Health and Safety Guidelines
for Sri Lankan Construction Sites to be adopted during COVID 19- outbreak” in collaboration with the Industrial
Safety Division of Department of Labor and References were made to the WHO- Infection prevention and control
during health care when COVID-19 is suspected- Interim guidance 19 March 2020 and the Guidelines of the OSHA
of USA.

These Health and Safety Guidelines for Sri Lankan Construction Sites are to be adopted during COVID- 19 outbreak.
Employers/Clients, Contractors and construction workers shall adhere to this Guidelines to help identify and curb
the spread of this epidemic in worksites settings and to determine any appropriate control measures to implement.
Additional guidance may be needed as COVID-19 outbreak conditions change, including as new information about
the virus, its transmission, and impacts, becomes available.

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 2.0 About COVID-19

The Disease of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious respiratory disease which is caused by the
SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although there are no confirmed sources as to where the virus has been originated, it has been
spread to most of the countries world over including Sri Lanka. The COVID-19 at present has arisen in an outbreak
becoming a pandemic which has affected all aspects of daily life in Sri Lanka as well as in many countries around
the world, including free travel, trade, tourism, food supplies, and financial markets, which in turn has affected the
National Economy.

2.1 Symptoms of COVID-19

Infection caused by the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, can cause illness ranging from mild to severe
and, in some cases, can be fatal. These symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Some infected
people have reported experiencing other non-respiratory symptoms. The people, referred to as asymptomatic
cases, do not experience symptoms at all.
According to the CDC, symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in a minimum of 2 days up to around 14 days
after exposure to the virus.

2.2 How COVID-19 Spreads

The virus is considered to spread mainly from person-to-person, including:

■ Among people who are in close proximity with one another (within about 6 feet).

■ Through the respiratory droplets produced by an infected person’s cough or sneezing. These droplets
can reach the mouths or noses of other people who are in close proximity or possibly be inhaled into the
lungs.

Possibility is there for a person to be infected by COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that is contaminated
with the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, with such contaminated
hands. However, this is not considered to be the primary way of spreading the virus. Infected persons are
considered most contagious when they are most symptomatic (i.e., experiencing fever, cough, and/or shortness
of breath). Spreading might even be possible before people show the symptoms; there have been reported cases
of this type of asymptomatic transmission with this new coronavirus, but this is also not considered to be the
main way of spreading the virus.

2.3 The survival of the virus

This virus is spread out with droplets when coughing or sneezing and survives in following surfaces for durations
given against, while it remains in Air for 03 hours;

■ Cardboard – 03 hours Paper – 04 to 05 days

■ Copper – 24 hours Wood – 04 days
■ Un-tarnished iron – 02 days Glass – 04 days
■ Plastic – 05 days Aluminum – 02 to 08 days

Therefore, these surfaces shall be properly disinfected, and the construction workers must be educated on
the above facts.

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3.0 Employer/Engineer /Contractor

1. Employer /Engineer/ Contractor shall adhere to the Government Instructions released from
time to time, which will also appear in the CIDA web site to mitigate the spread of COVID-
19 in all Construction Projects operated under their purview, during the entire period
declared as critical by the authorities.
2. Employer of construction sites shall ensure that Public Health Inspectors visit the sites in
order to monitor whether adequate precautions for the safety of the workers and also to
curb the spreading of virus, are being taken at such sites.
3. Contractor shall sufficiently appoint CSOH supervisors at site to closely monitor whether
the instructions are strictly adhered by the occupants of the sites.
4. Contractor may introduce a suitable system imposing a fine for defaulters to maintain the
discipline.
5. Contractor of the construction project shall provide soap, running water and hand sanitizer
at the entrance of the construction site, for the use of workers.
6. Body temperature of the workers shall be checked at the entrance of each construction site,
by a hand held equipment. The Thermal scanner has to be of Medical grade.
7. All precautions shall be used to prevent entry of persons recording a temperature above
98.4 0 F or 37.0 C, whom should be re-checked after 10-15minutes of rest and if positive
for second time sent him/her back.
8. In large projects where number of workers are high which prevents manual body
temperature checking procedures, employers/contractors shall use available latest
technologies such as equipment operating on Infra-Red Rays to check body temperature at
the entrance. One or more equipment shall be fixed based on the number of workers.
9. If any construction worker has developed symptoms of COVID-19 or high fever he shall
be directed to a qualified doctor/ nearest Government Hospital.
10. Contractor shall preferably use a check-list and check whether each worker has symptoms
of COVID-19 such as cough, sneezing, body pains, difficulty in breathing, fever etc. and
direct the worker for treatment, in case of a detection.
11. Employer / Engineer/ Contractor shall make sure unauthorized visitors are not allowed to
enter into construction sites during this critical period unless extremely necessary.
12. When visitors are taken inside the site, the above-mentioned safety precautions / hygiene
etiquettes have to be strictly followed.
13. Employer shall appoint a Health and Safety Committee for every work site, with
representations from the Contractor. The said committee shall be convened at least once a
week and discuss with the workers about the current status of the epidemic, situation in the
construction site and potential threats and decisions have to be taken providing solutions.
14. Employer / Engineer / Contractor shall ensure that Construction workers are provided with
face masks and hand gloves. Masks and gloves shall not be re-used.
15. In extreme situations where the standard of protective mask is a requisite, a particulate
respirator at least as protective as a NIOSH certified N95, EU standard FFP2, or equivalent
shall be used.

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16. If a finger scan machine is used to mark presence at the work site workers shall be
instructed to clean hands in the manner described by the Health authorities, after using the
finger scan machine. Preferably a hand sanitizer (70%v/v alcohol based) shall be placed
near the Machine for an easy operation.
17. The construction site, its machines, equipment, tools, stocks of material have to be
regularly disinfected using a disinfectant.
18. Metal and plastic surfaces could contain virus for number of days; therefore, these surfaces
shall be properly disinfected.
19. All metal surfaces shall be disinfected with minimum of 70% v/v alcohol solution. All non-
metal surfaces be disinfected with 0.1% sodium hypochlorite solution.
20. Construction sites must be kept clean, disinfected with provision of clean air, minimizing
the spreading of the virus.
21. Construction workers shall be educated to refrain from touching their face, eyes, nose or
mouth and shall not touch the mask frequently having worn the same.
22. Posters & Placards promoting respiratory hygiene etc., shall be adequately displayed.
23. All the doors in buildings and structures of the construction site must be opened as long as
possible providing ventilation and fresh air, thereby minimizing the spreading of virus.
24. If by any chance, it is known that one or more workers in the work site is infected
withCOVID-19, he shall be at once sent to a specified government hospital by an
ambulance.
25. The details of the other workers who closely worked or associated with the infected person
shall immediately be notified to the nearest Hospital or to Special Units appointed by the
Health Ministry / President’s Task Force.
26. Until an action is taken, they shall be isolated and be advised for self-quarantining.
27. In such a situation, services of a qualified physician or one or more male nurses shall be
obtained to monitor the symptoms shown by the workforce.
28. Employer/ Contractor shall make sure that the PPEs such as respirators N95 certified or
equivalent, eye protection goggles or a face shields, non-sterile long-sleeved gown and
gloves, waterproof aprons are sufficiently provided as per WHO guidelines for those who
monitor persons having any kind of illness.
29. The instructions of Presidential Special Task Force for COVID-19 shall be strictly
followed by all parties to the Contract (Employer/ Engineer/ Contractor) in this regard.
30. Owner of construction sites must maintain a register and the contact details of all
construction workers at the site.
31. Monitoring and Tracking of the construction workforce will be essential, by manual
operations or using the tracking / monitoring technologies.
32. Construction workers shall be provided by owners of construction sites, warm water to
consume from time to time and such workers shall avoid taking cold water or beverages.
33. Contractor shall ensure to maintain a safe area distribution considering the 1-meter distance
between workers as and when the nature of the work permits to do so, in order to keep a
safe environment.

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 34. All parties to the Contract (Employer/ Engineer / Contractor) shall ensure the Government
Health Guidelines/ etiquettes issued from time to time in order to combat the spread of
COVID-19 or any other epidemic are strictly adhered by the Construction Site staff.

4.0 Employee/ Worker

1. Workers must keep a distance of one meter in carrying out site work and in all possible
occasions such as when checking the temperature, washing hands and when during tea and
dining etc.
2. All construction workers must wash hands with soap or hand sanitizer containing alcohol
and running water when entering the construction site.
3. All workers shall ensure that their body temperatures are checked at the entrance of the
construction site, for their own safety in order to curb the spread of this decease.
4. Construction workers while at work must wash hands at intervals, especially when using
equipment commonly used, with soap / hand sanitizer containing alcohol and running
water.
5. Construction workers must engage in work at site wearing face masks and hand gloves.
After removing the mask, it has to be discarded into a pedal operated closed bin and hands
should be washed subsequently.
6. There should be minimal handling of the mask when removing.
7. Before and after using the finger scanning machine, workers shall ensure cleaning of hands
in the manner mentioned above.
8. Construction workers must use a handkerchief or paper tissue when coughing or sneezing
or at least the inner side of the elbow to be used.
9. Construction workers shall refrain from spitting or sneezing/coughing, putting out the
discharge of phlegm in public places.
10. Contaminated waste and used tissues, hankies shall be either buried or disposed in a pedal
operated closable garbage bin.
11. Disposal of waste shall be carried out as per the guidelines routinely followed except for
the waste of suspected persons which has to be managed in accordance with the guidelines
on waste management.
12. Construction workers shall not be indulged in smoking or consuming any drugs, which
lower the immunity levels.
13. Construction workers shall not get together after finishing the day’s work for discussions,
group games, to consume food, water or alcohol.
14. Each construction worker shall keep separately a plate, water bottle glass/cup, tooth paste,
tooth brush, razor of their own and shall not use these in common.
15. Used hankies, paper tissues, disposable razors, tooth brushes, shall be disposed in a pedal
operated closable garbage bin or be buried.
16. Construction workers shall not touch each other, hand shake, hug etc., during this period
under observation.
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 17. Each construction worker shall keep separately his clothes, suits, towels, shoes, overalls,
etc. and must not borrow these of each other.
18. Construction workers shall not go out of construction site once reported to work in the
morning and before completing work at the end of the day without due permission of
owner.
19. In order to maintain the body immune system healthy, Construction workers shall consume
a nutritious and balanced diet and take a good rest after work and a good sleep.
20. Construction workers shall avoid crowds, avoid visiting public places as much as possible,
during the outbreak under observation.

5.0 General

5.1 Administration

1. All the parties to the Contract shall ensure that the precautionary items elaborated under
this Guideline are adequately adopted.
2. Definitions of parties to the Contract shall be as defined in CIDA Standard Bidding
Documents.
3. Composition of Sanitizing liquids, body temperature values and all other medical
instructions and general work place safety practices shall be as per the Operational
Guidelines on Preparedness and Response for COVID-19 outbreak for work settings -
Interim Guidance 17thApril 2020, published by the Directorate of Environmental Health,
Occupational Health and Food Safety of Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical
Services

5.2 Meetings

1. Avoiding face to face meetings shall be practiced as much as possible. Employer, Engineer
and Site staff, Project Management staff may use latest communication tools such as
teleconferencing / video conferencing whenever possible.
2. Attendance for the meetings shall be minimum as possible whence face to face meetings
are required.

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 5.3 Using Lift or Elevator

1. When construction workers are inside the buildings being constructed, using Electric
Stairways, Lifts/Elevators, they must specifically use face masks.
2. Minimize the spreading of virus by minimizing the use of the Electric Stairways and
Lift/Elevators.
3. The operating buttons and handles of Lifts/Elevators must be regularly disinfected.
4. When using the lift/elevator, the persons so using must face the walls of the same and
thereby minimizing the spread of the virus. The number of persons traveling in the elevator
shall be minimized. A ground plan must be made for this purpose.

5.4 Sanitary Facilities

1. The sanitary facilities in the buildings, structures in the worksite shall be disinfected. The
number of occasions to disinfect shall be decided on the number of workers in a worksite,
and thereby minimizing the spread of the virus.
2. The sanitary facilities, lavatories, bathing rooms etc. shall be provided in the worksites,
and such facilities/places, handles, and taps in them, shall be disinfected. These shall
provide running water, soap, hand sanitizer containing alcohol, detergent etc.

5.5 Lunch Room

1. Lunch room or the eating place of the construction site must always be kept clean and
disinfected.
2. Water taps of the lunch room be automated or disinfected regularly. Automated taps could
be made with the use of a pedal
3. The chairs in the lunch room must be kept at one meter’s distance.
4. The chairs in the lunch room shall be arranged not facing each other but facing the same
direction as much as possible.
5. The number of persons using the lunch room at one time shall be minimized.
6. The lunch shall be provided to the workers who are provided with lunch, as lunch packets.
7. Hygienic and healthy ways shall be adopted by the catering services which provide lunch
and food packets.

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 5.6 Changing Room

1. Changing room shall always be kept clean and disinfected, ventilation shall be provided
properly.
2. Clothes and garments of each worker shall be kept separately, thereby minimizing the
spread of the virus.
3. The chairs of the changing room must be kept at a distance of one meter
4. The number of people using changing rooms at one time shall be minimized.

5.7 Transport Facilities

1. Spread of the virus in the public transport such as buses and trains could be minimized by
providing transport facilities to the workers to the construction site.
2. The workers who travel by public transport such as buses and trains shall always wear the
face mask.
3. A fair distance could be maintained in the bus/train by minimizing number of people
traveling on them at one time.
4. If transport facilities are provided to construction workers to and from work site, workers
shall keep the required distance and shall always wear the masks, while travelling.
5. The vehicles used for providing transport facilities to construction workers, shall be
cleaned regularly and disinfected.

5.8 Accommodation

Spreading of virus through bed cloth, garments in accommodation facilities:

1. The clothes, bed sheets, pillow cases, garments of the workers shall be washed regularly
using a detergent and with warm water (60°C - 90°C)
2. Clothes and bed clothes, washed, shall be dried under excessive heat or direct sunlight.
3. Hostels, Barracks, Dormitories, Lodges and sleeping areas, which are used by the
construction workers shall be frequently disinfected and kept clean and ventilated.

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6.0 Bibliography

(1) WHO- Infection prevention and control during health care when COVID-19 is suspected-
Interim Guidance 19thMarch, 2000
(2) Operational Guidelines on Preparedness and Response for COVID-19 Outbreak for Work
Settings Interim Guidance 17thApril, 2020
Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food Safety
Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services
(3) Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 by US Department of Labour, OSHA
(4) Precautions to prevent Coronavirus infections at workplaces – Note released by Industrial
Safety Division of Department of Labor March, 2020

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CIDA

For more information:

Construction Industry Development Authority

‘Savsiripaya’, 123, Wijerama Mawatha,
Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
www.cida.gov.lk
Tel: 94-11-2699801
Fax: 94-11-2699738
Email: info@cida.gov.lk
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