COVID-19: What managers can do

Crane and heavy lifting companies across the country have been feeling the effects coronavirus, or COVID-19, is having on the construction industry. Whether it’s downtime at the site, sick employees, or lack of supplies—managers are doing whatever they can to keep their workers safe.

“I’m sure all crane companies throughout Canada are trying their best to balance financial obligations, and job site and contract commitments, while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of their employees and families,” said Sheena Baker, operations manager at Canadian Crane Rentals in Ontario. “We have implemented extra health and safety protocols to help reduce the spread and risk to our employees and customers.”

Baker said some of those protocols include; not slip seating, same operators will continue to run the same cranes daily; extra cleaning measures, operators have to disinfect their cranes daily; safety talks centred around social distancing and proper hygiene practices; Canadian Crane Rentals has provided extra personal protective equipment for workers, hand sanitizers, gloves, disinfectant sprays and wipes; and radios are being encouraged to communicate onsite, so operators can work safely from their cabs in isolation.

“Our shop facility has implemented daily disinfecting protocols for all common areas, tools, tool boxes, light switches, workbenches, phones, keyboards and all other main touch surfaces. Extra hand washing stations have been setup and we provided gloves to reduce the risk of spreading the virus or contracting it,” explained Baker.

It’s not just the rental companies that are doing what they can to slow the spread of the virus. Baker said Canadian Crane Rentals is grateful to their suppliers for quickly implementing safeguard measures to focus on keeping their workers healthy and safe, while continuing to provide customer services and product delivery.

“We’re trying to do our part in reducing the spread and the risk to our workers. Healthy workers are productive workers for our customers,” she said, adding if an employee gets sick to stay home and call your doctor or Telehealth.

“Canadian Crane Rentals understands the seriousness of COVID-19, it is a world-wide pandemic and everyone needs to work together to reduce the spread and the strain on our healthcare system,” said Baker. “We will continue to follow the advice of our prime minister and provincial premier. We can continue to operate our business with safeguard measures. We’re fortunate that our customers are still calling and continuing to work with extra precautions being implemented on-sites.”

Here is what Canadian Crane Rentals is suggesting its employees do at home:

• Clean your hands often.
• Avoid crowds, stay home as much as possible. Keep in touch with family though social media outlets, FaceTime, etc.
• Try to avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places. Elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after touching surfaces in public places.
• Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs.
• Avoid all non-essential travel.