This year has been an odd one to say the least, we have all experienced the whirlwind that has been affecting the working lives of so many across the world.ere in the UK, the changing Covid-19 measures have meant that us Site Engineers have had to adapt the way we work to keep up. Here we have listed some of the ways life as a Site Engineer has changed due to the restrictions that have been put in place.
Travelling – Making your way to any site has now become a little more difficult, limiting the number of people who travel together has meant that more transport is required and van sharing has been reduced where possible. As well as this, all inside the van are required to wear masks, as the space is enclosed and compact. This mask wearing can trigger feelings of constraint and panic, which can really affect the way any construction workers feel about going to work in the morning.
Although once onsite masks can be removed, due to being outside, masks are still having to be worn while in break rooms or when coming into close contact with others indoors.
Morning Briefing – What would normally be a full team huddle, where we would all put our heads together to discuss the plans for the day has turned into smaller team briefings from a greater distance apart. Site Engineers are in charge of leading the team, so informing a large group of people all at once is a much more efficient way of making sure that all members of the crew are on the same page.
Meetings can now take place on a video conference instead of in person, with the encouragement from the Government to work from home if possible, those who can have been staying away from the site. Although a video call can work just as well, there are some restrictions with them. One main problem being that those who are working from home cannot physically see the progress that the project has taken, which can have an effect on the time a project can take to complete.
Concern – With new variants of the virus cropping up every few months, there is an ever growing concern that there is a possibility of bringing the virus home to friends and family. This can create feelings of isolation where Site Engineers are worried to speak to coworkers, as more often than not a lot of the team for a project are outsourced from different companies. This means that we are all unaware who they have been working with previously, which brings uncertainty about whether others have adhered to the guidelines at their previous jobs.
Tea Breaks – As well as these changes site workers have also had to rethink the way we take our tea breaks. Breaks are more staggered so that not too many people are in a space at one time. One of the worst things is no more tea rounds, instead we have to make our own cuppa! Which for some is a relief, as we all know the stress that comes with remembering everyone’s individual tea preference!
However every problem has a solution and that solution is a well managed team that can work together to structure a site so that everyone feels content with the way things are running. It is the role of a Site Engineer to guide and advise their crew members to ensure that the best quality of work is being carried out in the safest way possible. With this guidance in mind all projects we have been working on have remained safe and followed guidance from the Government.
There are still discussions going on about the way we will have to work after the festive period. Here at EASE we take these measures very seriously and will always work in a way that puts the safety of not only our staff but our customers first. If you are starting a project and are looking for Site Engineers that you can trust in these uncertain times, get in touch with us today on 01603 211808 or email us at info@easeltd.co.uk for more information on how we can work with you.
