Covid-19 Delta Variant in the Construction Industry

The state of New York is approaching yet another chapter of uncharted ground for private enterprises to traverse in the midst of this continuing public health catastrophe. Should employers be concerned about this new threat, given how readily Delta is spread?

At the moment, this variant accounts for around 83% of new cases in the United States. It is accelerating its spread in places with low vaccination rates, like as the Midwest and higher Mountain States, where cases and hospitalizations have lately increased.

According to virologists and epidemiologists, evidence is emerging that the Delta strain is capable of infecting fully vaccinated persons at a higher rate than earlier variants, and worries have been expressed that they may transmit the virus to very susceptible, unprotected groups.

To safeguard workers, construction industry have mainly implemented their own, unique variants of safety procedures. Certain locations need masks to be worn at all times, while others demand them exclusively for unvaccinated personnel or site visitors. While some continue to adhere to the six-foot social distance standard, others have eliminated it entirely.

While the rules for building sites in the city may not always apply to sites throughout the state, the industry frequently observes a ripple effect throughout. At this point, every firm should conduct a review of its present site work safety practices and evaluate whether or not workers are satisfied and feel protected. Now is also the time to check in with the team via an in-person meeting or a digital anonymous survey.

While health experts and politicians point to growing worry about the new Delta strain, it is ultimately up to the staff to choose the best course of action for the organization and work culture.

COVID-19 has been a humanitarian disaster that upended global corporate strategies. Regrettably, the pandemic is not going away anytime soon. As a result, companies and their employees must continue to be agile in their response.