The restart plan outlined that the industry will initially be allowed to plan their return, and then prepare sites from a safety point of view.

The next stage will be a soft start to works, where physical distancing can be maintained and only after consultation with the government to ensure it is safe to do so.

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The six-step phased model for the sector’s return is as follows:

• Phase 0: Planning
• Phase 1: Covid-19 pre-start site prep
• Phase 2: Soft start to site works, only where physical distancing can be maintained
• Phase 3: Steady state operation, only where physical distancing can be maintained
• Phase 4: Steady state operation, where physical distancing can be maintained and/or with PPE use
• Phase 5: Increasing density/productivity with experience

The latest announcement gives the sector an opportunity to plan a return to work with more certainty.

It is noted that the return will include domestic work as well as work on sites.