“With a few adaptations to our work
methods, we have been able to maintain
our production rates and keep our
employees safe at the same time.”
– Michael Schneider, Senior Estimator,
Foundation Constructors, Inc. Michael Schneider
Pile drivers and operating engineers work closely to one another
consistently and although it can be awkward to wear a face covering,
everyone must be diligent in wearing one. This raises some
new challenges for our heat illness plan and duty to ensure that
our employees are protected. Like any other PPE that must be
worn, we are trying different styles of face coverings, attempting to
find the right one that is comfortable and breathable. This is one
piece of PPE that will be around for some time. Six-foot distancing
between workers in the field is challenging and not always feasible.
The face coverings provide an important role in the prevention
against the spread of COVID-19.
Foundation Constructors continues to make improvements to
our plan. While we are maintaining six-foot spacing around the
conference table for any meetings (the overflow of people joins on
telecom system), we are also postponing or canceling group activities
such as industry golf tournaments, the ever-popular PDCA
Pacific Coast Chapter’s Scholarship Shoot, company BBQs, picnics
and even Foundation’s Legendary Annual Horseshoe Tournament
for our employees and vendors. Continuing the efforts of prevention
are tough but not impossible. We send a weekly email that goes
out to supervisors and staff, updating on COVID-19 highlights and
any changes that have come to surface. Site visits focus on all types
of safety, but COVID-19 protocols are now also always included.
According to a July report from John Hopkins (which has
been tracking pandemic statistics and providing regular situation
reports), the pandemic has hit nearly every country across the
world, with more than 10 million reported cases and more than
half a million deaths. Of more than 200 countries and territories
reporting cases, 86 are reporting community transmissions, outbreaks
that can’t be traced to recent travel or other known cases or
known clusters of the disease. Experts agree that it will be at least
SAFETY
a year from now before we have a vaccine that is accessible to most
people. We have been very lucky to report that we have not had
any confirmed cases as a company and only two confirmed cases
of other workers on projects that we have worked on in California.
For us at Foundation Constructors, the key to longevity in times
like this is to do the right thing because we need to and want to, not
because we are being told to. The actions we take effect everyone
around us and their families. Our mentality is that this pandemic
is not going to end anytime soon, especially if we do not comply
with guidance. As we all learn to live and work through a new way
of life, the pile driving industry must understand that change and
education will continue to be necessary in order to prevent this
pandemic from continuing.
I feel we are doing our part at Foundation Constructors.
COVID-19 is dangerous but we must continue to pile drive through
this pandemic in order to work safe and go home healthy. Stay safe
and healthy! t
www.piledrivers.org PILEDRIVER | 123
/profile_leolintang
/www.piledrivers.org
/www.piledrivers.org
