Flattening The Curve

Posted On:  Apr 30, 2020

By: Rick Biermann, Director of Business Development – St. Louis, MAPA

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to alter our everyday lives, members of the Missouri Asphalt Pavement Association have been working diligently to ensure essential pavement work and infrastructure construction has continued. With a commitment to the safety of their crews, their families, and the community our contractors have been working harder than ever.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of our contractors have developed Workforce Safety Plans. Using resources provided by MAPA and guidance from MoDOT, OSHA and other regional and local health departments our contractors’ first priority has been to insure their work-sites follow the latest Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

These Plans provide guidelines for Awareness and Prevention, Risk Mitigation, and Exposure, Illness and Quarantine. Specific measures include Wash Stations and hand sanitizer provided on every project and job site.

• Employees are encouraged to clean hands often. Equipment and frequently touched surfaces are sanitized every four hours, and equipment operation has been limited to a single employee for that day.  
• If an employee is sick, or has any COVID-19 symptoms, they have been asked to stay home. All employees have their temperature taken at the start of each shift and anyone with a fever is asked to return home.
• Higher-risk employees have been encouraged to seek alternative work arrangements.
• Employers are increasing communication to ensure that every member of their team is up to date with latest information and safety procedures. Everyone has been directed to minimize on-site personal such as subcontractors, QC personnel, and inspection staff.
• Crews are practicing “social distancing” and maintaining a 6-foot distance during meetings and active paving. Communal coolers and drink stations have been removed and congregation during lunch/breaks are not allowed.

MAPA and our membership would like to thank each other and the community for their support and cooperation during this time. As the essential work continues, please remember to follow the guidelines in order to stay safe and healthy!

Thank you to our members E. Meier Contracting, L. Krupp Construction Co., N.B. West Contracting, and Tramar Contracting Inc. for sharing their safe jobsites with us!