What's Happening in Bellville Tyger Valley, Western Cape…

As the Covid 19 pandemic continues on its destructive path and with a second phase promising even greater devastation, the construction sector is battling to save jobs and to revive stalled projects. The bigger challenge, it would seem, is on keeping project sites safe. If infections rise at job sites, it will be harder for the sector to recover.

President Cyril Ramaphosa received a “firm commitment” amounting to billions of rands for the 55 bankable infrastructure projects. Among the 55 projects that government has earmarked for development is an aviation park near Upington, a smart city in Lanseria, a R3.1-billion Space Infrastructure Hub, a 516-hectare citrus farm in the Eastern Cape, and a water project that includes some 160km of pipe, and pump stations to get water to Eskom’s large power stations, Medupi and Matimba, among other projects.

Construction firms have to prioritise Covid 19 safety over the sector’s recovery

With the return to work of the construction sector, the South African government has issued additional health and safety requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Many Quantity Surveyors, contractors, and other stakeholders in the built environment are left grappling to determine the way forward on active construction projects as well as tenders for new projects.

The construction sector is one of South Africa’s major economic contributors, and it will be a sector that government prioritises due to the labour-intensive activities it offers. The new guidelines by the ASAQS will not only assist Quantity Surveyors, contractors, and employers on how to minimise the risks of COVID-19 transmission and illness to themselves and their employees on construction sites, but it will also provide the much-needed clarity on the guidelines, responsibilities, and expense accountability.

While health and safety has always been a part of Quantity Surveyors’ cost reporting, it is now necessary to look at this part of tender documents with much greater scrutiny. Many stakeholders in the built environment, however, are still confused about who needs to enforce the regulations on-site, how the new health and safety specifications should be added to original tender documents, how to determine the cost of implementing the new directives, as well as who is responsible for these costs.

Government wants to ramp up job opportunities to soften the blow of the fiscal crisis that COVID-19 has brought about. With the new infrastructure rollout, Quantity Surveyors and other professionals in the built environment need to make sure they comply with the new directives so that construction activities can move ahead swiftly. Everyone will need to play their part in responding to the impact of the pandemic as well as the country’s economic recovery.

The important role printing services are playing in the construction sector’s Covid response

Printing is an essential business serving critical industries during COVID-19. The construction industry can use Print for construction site signage, public safety Posters and Signs, special notices and letters to residents, and worker safety posters, signs, and guidelines. Property developers, construction owners, Quantity Surveyors, and contractors face many challenges as they navigate through mostly uncharted territory with their projects experiencing mounting risks from the effects of COVID-19.
We now know enough about how the coronavirus to at least curb its spread. The construction industry, so dependant on manual labour absolutely must keep jobsites safe.  At Minuteman Press in Tygervalley we have a line of printed materials that will help the sector enforce health and safety regulations and ensure workers’ safety. Contact us today to discuss your needs.