Construction site work must continue to follow coronavirus guidelines so essential work can be completed safely, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has underlined.
It follows a letter from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, personally paying tribute to construction site workers this week.
BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “Alok Sharma’s letter makes it clear that the government needs the support of the whole construction industry to build temporary hospital wards, construct the infrastructure that society needs to function and ensure that people have safe and healthy homes to live in.
“But we are also extremely mindful that we are not in a ‘business as usual’ situation. Operations on construction sites and within builders’ merchants and building materials’ manufacturing plants must follow Public Health England guidelines to minimise the risk of transmitting coronavirus and, where people cannot work from home, to provide a safe workplace. The BMF is here to provide support, but our members must make the best decision for their individual business.
“As a member of the CLC we are able to provide our members with the very latest information and advice from government. And, of course, within that forum we are also raising the issues that are causing our members the most concern and finding ways to help overcome them.”