SOK Advisory to Managements of Construction Sites
Given the concern over the global spread of influenza A(H1N1), all stakeholders are strongly advised to take precautionary measures to maintain high standards of sanitation and food hygiene to prevent the transmission and spread of infectious diseases.
2. The National Environment Agency (NEA) strongly urges managements of construction sites to maintain good cleanliness and hygiene in construction sites that is essential for good public health.
3. By observing high standards, the site management and workers can safeguard their own health and also help to minimize any adverse impact on their operations if they have to stop work due to poor hygiene or sanitation. The neighbourhood would also feel assured, knowing that the construction site and its workers followed strict hygiene standards.
4. The NEA advises the following good practices be adopted:
a) Housekeeping/Refuse Management
· Have an assigned team of workers to do cleaning and housekeeping daily.
· Designate a cooking area for workers, where necessary.
· Provide enough refuse bins lined with plastic bags and tight covers in the canteen areas. The bins must be covered at all times and cleared daily. Clean up any refuse spillage immediately.
· Clean/disinfect all refuse bins within the premises/compound regularly.
· Provide adequate skid containers for construction debris and bulky waste. Remove the skid containers for disposal regularly.
· Ensure wastes in skid containers do not collect water and breed mosquitoes.
· Maintain a register on movement of all waste generated.
· Engage licensed waste contractors to remove food waste/general refuse daily and to dispose of unwanted construction debris and bulky waste regularly.
· Have a programme for cleaning drains and cutting of overgrown vegetation.
Managements of construction sites are encouraged to follow MOH’s Guide on Infection Control Measures for Workplaces (non-Healthcare):
· Environmental/frequently touched surfaces (e.g. chairs, door knobs, windows, sofas, etc) should be washed/wiped with 1:50 diluted (i.e. adding 1 part of bleach to 49 parts of water) household bleach (i.e. sodium hypochlorite 0.1% or 1000 parts per million).
· 70% alcohol can be used to wipe down surfaces where use of bleach is not suitable e.g. metal.
· Soiled surfaces should be cleaned with water and detergent before applying alcohol or bleach.
b) Toilets
Clean toilets regularly, paying attention to areas with high human contact such as water taps, cistern handles, seats and cover flaps, wash basins, door knobs, buttons and switches.
· Provide adequate supply of toilet paper, paper towels (if provided) or hand dryers and liquid soap at all times. Ensure toilet-flushing apparatus is functioning at all times.
· When necessary, provide adequate portable toilets with hand-wash facilities at the site and ensure they do not overflow.
· Clear and disinfect portable toilets daily.
· Ensure that all sanitary pipes and fittings are in good working condition.
c) Pest Control Programme
· Store food provisions in rodent-proof rooms or cabinets. All food items should be covered.
· Look for signs of pest infestation such as rodent droppings/burrows and cockroach droppings.
· Check the site daily and remove all potential mosquito and other vector breeding places.
· Engage a registered pest control operator to implement a pest control programme for the site.
· Carry out oiling weekly and thermal fog the site whenever high mosquito breeding is detected or there is active dengue transmission.
· Ensure no stray animals or crows on site.
d) Personal Hygiene
Contractors are advised to educate their workers:
· To observe good personal hygiene and toilet practices (e.g. wash hands with soap and water before and after meals and after visiting toilet). To take a shower after work.
· Not to discard food waste or discharge wastewater into drains.
· Not to feed strays/crows.
· To report to supervisor if toilet fittings or sanitary pipings are choked or leaking.
· Keep work site and living quarters tidy and litter-free.
· Spit, cough or sneeze into tissue and throw the soiled tissue into litters bin and wash hands.
· Do not share personal items (e.g. toothbrush, razors).
· Participate in clean up projects.
· If ill, report to the supervisor and stay away from fellow workers.
· Give feedback to supervisor about dirty places or unhygienic practices on site.