The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has released its first version of the COVID-19 Standardized Protocols for All Canadian Construction Sites and is encouraging all construction firms to implement them in their entirety.

“Our position is that compliant sites should be open and those that cannot consistently comply with measures and guidelines of public health authorities should shut down,” says Mary Van Buren, CCA president.

The CCA says companies must also remain aware of rapidly changing best practices and integrate those with the CCA Standardized Protocol Instructions and requirements from Health Canada and local public health authorities.

The Standardized Protocols provides best practices and a consistent national approach for both employers and employees to follow in order to protect themselves and the public and help minimize the spread of COVID-19 so work can be continued safely. According to the CCA, these protocols include measures on prevention, detection and rapid response, based on information and recommendations from respected public health authorities.

CCA plans to keep this document up-to-date and publish new versions as required, as the situation evolves and new best practices emerge. CCA also plans to “keep an open dialogue with stakeholders to ensure the industry remains proactive to any emerging risks”.

The CCA says the industry’s top priority is its “commitment to the health, safety and well-being of our workers, families and friends, and the communities we operate in”.