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FRAMINGHAM – Earlier this week, members of the carpenters union protested for workers’ safety outside the construction of the former Bancroft Building at 59 Fountain Street.
Members of the union want the contractor Dellbrook/JKS Construction to observe the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Baker-Polito Administration which includes social distancing and wearing protective gear when they are not.
The union claims that subcontractors hired for the project, are not following the COVID-19 guidelines.
Those guidelines include
- Prior to every shift each employee will certify to their supervisor that they: Have no signs of fever, or a temperature over 100.3 degrees, a cough, or trouble breathing within the past 24 hours, have not had close contact with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19, have not been asked to self-isolate.
- No congregation policy is in effect, always maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet apart.
- Jobsite cleaning and decontamination procedures that are posted and shared. Procedures must cover all areas including trailers, gates, equipment, vehicles, etc. and SHALL be posted at all entry points to the sites, and throughout the project site.
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- All employees SHALL drive to work site/parking area in a single occupant vehicle. Contractors shall not ride together in the same vehicle.
- 100% glove policy all construction workers will be required to wear cut-resistant gloves.
- In work conditions that social distancing is impossible to achieve affected employees SHALL be supplied with appropriate PPE; facemask, gloves, eye protection.
- Large gathering places on site such as shacks and break areas will be eliminated, and instead small break areas will be used with seating limited to ensure social distancing.
- WASH STATIONS all construction sites without ready access to an indoor bathroom MUST install Wash STATIONS.
“Construction workers are putting their lives at risk everywhere across the Commonwealth and in particular I am concerned for the health and safety of the workers at the Bancroft Building as it appears they are not following the proper safety guidelines,” said David Minasian, Regional Manager Local 336 of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
“Moreover, construction sites like this one have the potential to increase the rate of infection and therefore the rate of deaths in a community. Workers on construction sites frequently travel together and work in close proximity of each other and they often go to local restaurants to eat,” said Minasian.
SOURCE emailed and called Dellbrook/JKS Construction for a statement on this construction project but no response was received as the publishing of this report.
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“They are overcrowding on the site,” said Rick Anketell, of Carpenters Local 475.
“They are carpooling to the site,” said Anketell. “They are going to have lunch together in Framingham restaurants.”
“The workers health & safety not being protecting at that job site,” said Anketell.
“A recent study involving the impact of continuing construction in the midst of calls for social distancing and to stay at home backs-up what everyone already knows – allowing groups within our communities to gather together and work closely with one another is going to increase the spread of the coronavirus. The question isn’t “if”, it’s “how much”?,” said Minasian.
“With the projected peak of daily deaths soon here and with construction shown to increase the rate at which Covid-19 spreads, we hope that Framingham leaders will do the right thing in shutting down construction activity for the health and safety of the workers and of the residents of Framingham,” said Minasian to SOURCE.
Video submitted to SOURCE by the union
MetroWest Medical Center