Attached is guidance we received from New York State DOT for our construction projects. Hopefully, there is some useful information for your situation. After all, COVID-19 doesn't know the difference between Australia and New York.

• https://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=a4f99b16-9d48-42aa-8481-6

Bridgebuster,

Thanks. This is gold.

you're welcome starflex. Good luck.

One thing that you might not be aware. You'll see a lot of news about people wearing so called masks to protect themselves from catching the coronavirus. Those masks will not protect those individuals unless these masks incorporate HEPA filters. For welders involved in flame cutting of metal parts painted with lead paint, these welders will be assigned respirators fitted with HEPA filters if the concentrations of lead fume are within the acceptable concentration for these half face respirators. These same HEPA filters also can protect people from this terrible virus but don't take my word for it just read the instructions printed by the manufacturers. 3M is one of those manufacturers

I started an informational website
to spread accurate research information

https://coronavirusknowledge.weebly.com/

HEPA filters help, but may not be totally effective. I think that HEPA is 0.3 micron and coronavirus is 0.125. They help, though...

Dik

I think the protection masks provide is underestimated. There are a number of papers in the literature stating that facial protection will reduce the risk of infection, even if poorly worn
HEPA is really only meaningful in the context of high densities of dry, solid particles, since they can "bounce" off walls and structure, but "wet" particles have a high probability of sticking to surfaces they contact. CoV is carried by some amount of spittle or mucus, and cough aerosols tend average 8 um. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC46155...

According to https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi... even an unsealed surgical mask is at least 50% efficient for 1 um particles; the author didn't test anything higher than 2 um, but one can presume that the masks are better than nothing for 8 um average size particles, particularly if we consider that the particles are also wet.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers Entire Forum list http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm

Dik , that is really interesting post of yours. I have never yet seen a reference to the idea that that COVID is is smaller than 0.3 microns , which is supposedly the limit of capture of most HEPA technology. I wouldn't be surprised to eventually learn the 0.125 microns is closer to reality......... the authorities doing everything in their power to suggest they have things in hand and no need to panic.

https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-how-it...

The size of the Coronavirus itself is most likely moot, since it cannot leave the body in that form, but is actually carried from the body by droplets in an aerosol, generated by coughing or sneezing. These droplets average 8 um

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers Entire Forum list http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm

This HEPA manufacturer says they help but it's not a silver bullet

Link

This one says yes, but I'm a bit leery. However, the article agrees with the coronavirus size given by dik

Link

Thanks everyone for such nice and informative information. Being a new member, I though to share something about the same topic. Hope you people will like the contribution: Coronavirus: What are the current restrictions and why are they needed?

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released guidelines for construction workers that are pretty good as a policy template. Link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pMbMK8-bHLjmithM...

Their whole occupational page is at: https://covid19.colorado.gov/schools-workplaces-co...

-----------------------------
Chris Enright
PE, Colorado
Roads and Trains

Not directly related to construction but the CDC has published some guidelines for transportation workers.

Link

Official guidelines etc. aside. On a practical level, the biggest area of concern from talking with a steelworker was construction site restrooms (typically porta-potties). I would imagine it would take dedicated personnel to ensure these facilities are sufficiently disinfected.