Preparing for COVID-19 helped Gord Zaitsoff land a contract. And a detailed health and safety plan for operations during the pandemic allowed him to finish the three-week project “right on schedule with no interruptions,” says Zaitsoff.

The owner of G. Zaitsoff Holdings Co. Ltd. in Castlegar was prime contractor for a drainage holding spill pond project that began in March. "I think one of the reasons I was able to secure the project was because I provided a detailed outline of how we were going to do the job, covering all the concerns about COVID-19," he says.

With twelve crew and nine pieces of equipment on site, Zaitsoff had to carefully coordinate their movements. He contacted WorkSafeBC to review his plan. "They’re a great resource," he says. "If you’re unsure of anything, just ask them questions."

Zaitsoff emphasized the importance of physical distancing and sanitizing. "We covered that every single day for three weeks in our morning toolbox safety meetings," he recalls.

To keep people at a safe distance, workers travelled to and from the worksite by themselves. Vehicles and heavy equipment were parked well apart. There was no sharing of the big machines either. "We made sure the operator was dedicated to one piece of equipment."

Eliminating a common lunchroom, staging area, and site trailer further reduced the risk of workers being too close together.

Sanitizer and wipes were placed in the heavy equipment. Tools were wiped down daily. So were the portable washrooms, including the door handles and slide lock. These measures will continue in future projects for Zaitsoff.

The key to the plan’s success? "Buy-in and input by all on site," Zaitsoff says.

Read about what other employers have been doing to implement the COVID-19 safety plan in WorkSafe Magazine.