Builders ask why sites are not shut and worry over ‘lack of Covid security’

Builders claim the government is ‘waiting for workers to die’ by refusing to shut construction sites.  

Labourers have slammed ministers for failing to close non-essential sites during the lockdown, despite the mounting death toll. 

Many have warned that Covid is ‘running rampant’, with little protection for workers and have questioned why sites are considered essential places of work. 

This comes amid a coronavirus outbreak at a site being developed as a government tax headquarters in Liverpool. 

Several people at the India Buildings development – where some 550 builders are currently working – have been struck down with the virus. 

One London council has now launched a testing programme for construction workers in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Several positive coronavirus cases were confirmed at Liverpool’s India Buildings, according to the Liverpool Echo today. 

Overbury, the firm refurbishing the offices, has confirmed eight positive coronavirus cases on the site.

Some employees told the ECHO that Covid safety measures not rigorous enough or were not being followed by managers.

They claim workers are failing to get tested weekly and say conditions in the toilets were ‘appalling’. 

The whistleblower also claimed that up to 40 workers were forced to eat together in the canteen.  

Overbury told the paper that employee safety was ‘a key priority.’ 

Meanwhile Nicola Sturgeon faced a backlash this morning after tweeting an image of Europe’s biggest fish market, where exports have been crippled in the wake of Brexit. 

She was met with fury from workers, one of whom accused Scotland’s First Minister of, ‘sending construction workers out like lambs to slaughter,’ after she permitted construction work to continue through the lockdown. 

Another tweeted: ‘Are you just waiting on outbreak of covid to hit building sites or for some healthy young construction worker to die from it when he caught it on site? What makes non essential construction more important than other non essential jobs.’ 

Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain told MailOnline that construction companies should ensure free car parking is available to workers.

He said: ‘Principal contractors and construction clients must recognise and accept their responsibilities to the workers on their sites during this time.

‘During the pandemic they have a duty of care to workers which starts from when they leave their home and does not end until when they return again at night. Throughout that time workers must be able to socially distance.

‘Contractors need not only to start coordinating on staggering start times across major projects in London to ensure that congestion is kept to an absolute minimum but also widen the time frame in which workers arrive at site.

‘There is no point on telling workers to avoid congested trains or stations, unless construction contractors introduce policies which do not penalise or victimise workers who arrive for work late due to following the advice to avoid overcrowding on the transport system.

‘Equally construction companies need to ensure free car parking is available to workers and work with the authorities so that where it applies identified construction workers are exempt from the congestion charge.

‘Such action would create a real option to drive to work, but if they do so then workers must not be tempted to car share which in itself would create a major risk of transmission.

‘Ultimately the challenges faced in keeping workers safe in travelling to and from work will not be resolved by any one organisation working on their own in a silo.

‘It is imperative that construction contractors, Unite, construction clients the Mayor of London and the government work together to ensure that workers are able to safely go to work and return home again without the risk of being exposed to Covid-19.’