COVID-19 Testing On Construction Sites

A new initiative launched by Incolink, a joint venture of employer associations and industry unions for the construction industry in Victoria & Tasmania, will see construction workers getting access to dedicated mobile COVID-19 testing facilities. Backed by the Victorian Government, the Incolink Health Bus will launch this week at West Side Place, Melbourne’s $2 billion apartment and Ritz Carlton Hotel project by ProBuild.

Are Constructions Sites Safe?

Construction is one of Victoria’s biggest industries making up around nine percent of all jobs in the state. Understandably, both unions and companies have resisted a complete shutdown insisting that their worksites are safe. However, with all the different contractors required on a construction site, often working in close quarters, social distancing measures can be very difficult to observe.

After a construction worker tested positive for coronavirus on March 26 , the building industry faced further questions about whether it was safe to keep construction sites open. The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) responded with a statement insisting it was safe for work to continue:

“Currently, the national cabinet’s stance is that the building and construction industry is deemed an essential service and the CFMEU and industry bodies will continue to work through this challenging period, abiding by all government rules and enforcing strict social distancing and hygiene practices on all sites to ensure the health and safety of workers and their families.”

The new mobile testing initiative is a positive step forward in keeping workers safe and preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Mobile COVID-19 Testing

All construction companies in Victoria can express their interest to have the Incolink testing bus come to their site on Incolink’s mobile COVID-19 testing page. A testing date will be organised and each worker given an appointment. Test results will be available within 48 hours.

“Incolink is delighted to deliver this initiative funded and backed by our industry and the State Government. The health and safety of workers is paramount. This initiative will help construction continue to operate and ensure we can be at the forefront of the recovery of the economy” – Incolink CEO Erik Locke

Workers showing symptoms are already encouraged not to attend work and if a test returns positive, the worker will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.