NHBRC issues guidelines to fight COVID-19 on residential construction sites for public comment

Today, the housing regulator issued guidelines addressing the management of COVID-19 in residential construction sites for public comment. This is part of our efforts as the regulator in the homebuilding industry to ensure the spread of the virus is contained and protect the health and safety of our employees and stakeholders on residential construction sites, and any other persons who may be directly affected.

The draft Guidelines to Manage Non- &v Government Housing Projects During and Post COVID-19 Lockdown can be accessed from our Web site: http://www.nhbrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/COVID-19-draft-guidelines-for-management-of-housing-construction-sites-1.pdf

These draft guidelines are informed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85/1993); Construction Regulations 2014; Disaster Management Act, 2002; and Regulations issued in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002.

Stakeholders in the built environment (ie, developers, home builders, contractors, professionals and their respective organisations) are particularly encouraged to submit their comments on the draft guidelines by 12pm on Wednesday, 27 May 2020 via e-mail to [email protected].

The NHBRC, as a statutory body, advocates the adherence to the Disaster Management Act, 2002: Amendment of Regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) due to COVID19 lockdown. We are able to provide limited services from home such as enrolments, registrations, renewals and customer complaints handling through dedicated provincial e-mail addresses. We're currently unable to issue enrolment/registration certificates through e-mails for security reasons and risk mitigation against cyber fraud.

All home construction sector and sub-sectors are envisaged to be impacted, including:

1. Rapid Informal Settlement Support Programme (RISSUP); 2. Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP); 3. Social Housing Rental Programme; 4. Transitional Residential Units (TRAs); 5. Permanent Residential Areas (PRAs); and 6. Commercial developments.

As an agency of the Department of Human Settlements, we support all the national COVID-19 interventions aimed at providing citizens with dignified accommodation and access to clean water, thus contributing to reducing the risks of infection associated with overcrowding. Physical distancing, general screening and monitoring, provision of PPE and good hygiene practices are some of our preventative strategies in the fight against COVID-19 at work sites.