As KBS has adjusted to the rapidly changing circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety and health of our employees remains our top priority. Following the current guidance from national industry and health authorities, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as local health agencies, it is safe to keep our construction sites and offices open while observing proper protocols for physical distancing, personal hygiene and disinfecting work surfaces.
We have increased the frequency of cleaning all construction site offices and portable toilets as well as our corporate offices and their bathrooms. Additionally, we are using a special disinfectant daily to clean surfaces office spaces. We are limiting guests at our construction sites and offices. We’ve placed posters in prominent areas in all construction sites and offices to communicate the best practices in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Partnership with Local Distillery to Obtain Hand Sanitizer
As KBS works to keep employees safe and essential operations running during the pandemic, we found an unlikely business partnership with Reservoir Distillery. Reservoir, located just five miles from KBS’s Richmond headquarters, is one of many distillers using their alcohol supply to produce hand sanitizer. When hand sanitizer supplies quickly depleted during the COVID-19 crisis, KBS KBS began purchasing large supplies from Reservoir.
COVID-19 Guidance for Field Workforce
KBS is working diligently to minimize the risk of infection on our construction sites and has implemented these and other preventative strategies as part of our overall COVID-19 management plan designed to keep our construction field workers safe:
- Distributing masks, six-feet apart shirts and hard hat stickers to remind field workers to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Advising workers to avoid physical contact with others and to increase personal space to at least six feet, where possible. All workers maintain social distancing while inside the trailers.
- Promoting personal hygiene by providing additional handwash stations and COVID-19 prevention signs at all construction sites.
- Keeping in-person meetings (including toolbox talks and safety meetings) as short as possible, limit the number of workers in attendance and use social distancing practices.
- Disinfecting portable toilets regularly. Hand sanitizer dispensers are filled regularly. Frequently-touched items (i.e., door pulls and toilet seats)
are disinfected.
Additionally, protocols have been established in accordance with CDC and OSHA recommendations to address a confirmed case of COVID-19 on a construction site or in an office, including isolating the individual, investigating, informing and isolating those who may be impacted, and disinfecting impacted areas.
As the current situation is changing frequently, we are actively monitoring new developments and reassessing our efforts to keep our staff and subcontractors safe and healthy. KBS remains fully committed to operating in accordance with the guidelines set forth by national industry and health authorities and local health agencies.