Site operating guidance developed to help keep local road maintenance workers safe during the Coronavirus pandemic was launched this week by the recently formed Highways Sector Council.
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The new ‘Covid-19 Local Highways Safe Operating Procedures’ document is based on wider construction industry guidance, but goes further to address specific challenges being experienced by the highways sector.
It was developed by the Council’s Covid-19 focus working group and, in particular, considers operational highways activity at maintenance and improvements sites, and highway depots.
Guidance on social distancing and avoiding close working is included as well as detail on hand washing, cleaning, travel, site access and procedures to follow if someone falls ill.
“It is critical that roads, footways and bridges continue to be repaired, that road gullies are emptied to avoid unnecessary flooding and that roadside grass is cut to maintain visibility so that those legitimately still using our local road networks can do so safely,” said Darryl Eyers, the president of Council member the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport.
“That’s why those working in the highways sector are not just key workers – they are critical to the country as a whole.” He added that local authorities have been taking different approaches to highways activity since the lockdown, but emphasised that the sooner the sector can return to business as usual, the quicker it will be able to recover.
CIHT is also a core member of the Highways Sector Council, which comprises prominent professional institutions, clients, contractors and consultants.
The new safe operating procedures come after Transport Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton penned an open letter thanking those working in the highway construction and maintenance sector for their efforts to keep the network moving.
“You are doing an outstanding job under extremely challenging circumstances,” she wrote.
“Thanks to your dedication and commitment, the strategic and local road networks remain open. And as a result, crucial supplies of food, life saving medicines, fuel and other goods can move around the country, while health and other emergency workers can travel to where they are needed most.”
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