With Wednesday’s move to Alert Level 3, it’s been back on the tools for our tradies.

Third year building apprentice with Brook Carr Building in Cromwell, Brie Cook said the beautiful Central Otago weather had meant an enjoyable lockdown, but she was very happy to be able to get back to work.

Her boss Brook Carr agreed. Level 3 restrictions made it a bit harder, he said, but it was good to be back and working. Both clients and workers were happy with the protocols he had put in place on all worksites.

“It is what it is at the end of the day, but we have made sure they are ok with everything and told them coming back to their job at level 2 was an option.” 

Brook said lockdowns hadn’t been all that bad, and everyone felt lucky to be able to work again in level 3, unlike many other businesses. 

“Sometimes the world gets a bit busy; lockdown made us stop, relax and spend that quality time with our families. 

“For the business, we obviously couldn't make any money and we topped our staff's wages up, but we are okay.” 

Level 3 has seen the return of builders to this Cromwell site, but strict safety measures apply.

Brook said they were all dealing with the new level 3 protocols, but admitted level 2 will mean things run a lot more smoothly with the ability to have other sub trades onsite. At the moment, they were just doing what was needed to move forward he said.

“All materials have to be ordered over the phone with contactless pick-ups once your order is ready. So it's not just popping down to the hardware store and grabbing what you need. 

“I would also like to note that level 3 is just as hard, if not harder, for the hardware stores but they have some great plans in place to keep everyone going.” 

With building materials already in short supply due to global shipping disruptions, Brook predicts supply shortages will worsen.

“A lot of factories are in Auckland, which is still in level 4 and cannot operate, so this will cause a lot of delays. 

But we have put new measures in place to get ahead of our delays, ordering as far out as we can. We still will get the odd delay but we are doing our best. 

“I think the ongoing materials battle is unfortunately going to be the new normal.”  

The Government’s building guidelines for Alert level 3 state tradespeople may enter private homes for work, with appropriate social distancing and other measures.

“Where working remotely is not possible, building and construction work can continue, with appropriate health and safety measures and physical distancing measures in place for workers. Travel between different alert levels is heavily restricted.”

Required measures under Alert level 3 for building and construction include:

Employers must ensure employees are fit for duty by confirming their health status and know how workers will travel to and from work and those who can work from home should.

Workers must decontaminate themselves and their clothing when returning to their homes by showering, making sure to clean hands, wrists, arms, neck, nails and areas that might have been exposed.

Shoes should be left at the door and clothes and bags placed in a container before going through a hot washing machine cycle.

They should also leave non-essential items at work and disinfect items they plan to take home such as mobile phones.

All offices and job sites must implement additional cleaning measures of common areas, additional sanitary measures and cleaning schedules for bathrooms and toilets.

Shared work vehicles must be sanitised after each journey and each work site must be cleaned and sanitised at the end of the working day or end of each shift.

Image credits Mary Hinsen