Urban Taskforce CEO, Tom Forrest, today welcomed the decision of the NSW Minister for Planning, Hon Rob Stokes MP, to extend the hours of operation for the construction sector to include weekends and public holidays.
https://gazette.legislation.nsw.gov.au/so/download.w3p?id=Gazette_2020_2020-68.pdf
“The property development and construction sector is vital to the economy – representing well over 10% of all employees. Extending the normal hours of operation allows for a spread of on-site tasks which improves safety through improved capacity for social distancing on site”, Mr Forrest said.
Mr Forrest said that the construction sector has a long history and an established culture of prioritising the management of safety risk. PPE is synonymous with construction sites.
New initiatives applied, as appropriate, across the industry include:
• Reduced numbers in gatherings at work sites
• Safe social distancing
• The availability of hand sanitiser
• Staggering start times, break times and finishing times
• Regular safety briefings
• Emphasising the need to social distancing at all times
• Smaller numbers in toolbox talk sessions
• Vigilance in the screening of all staff and visitors for flu symptoms
• Extra site sheds (to reduce numbers at any one time)
• Disinfectant of surfaces
• Facilitated working from home where-ever possible
Mr Forrest said the NSW Government has heard the message from industry that the planning system had already become a burden on the economy prior to the bush fires and prior to the COVID-19 crisis.
“Every initiative taken to remove red tape and kick-start our economy is welcome – particularly now. We can not wait till the virus has gone to reform planning. Urban Taskforce welcomes the new focus of the NSW Government on delivering a pipeline of shovel ready projects are urges the Minister to prioritise economic recovery”, Mr Forrest said.
