WORKERS at the Milburngate development in Durham have new measures in place to reduce the risk of them contracting Covid-19.

The main contractor, Tolent, has implemented enhanced procedures, issued by UK construction industry body, Build UK, to protect staff.

This includes revising work programmes to reduce the number of people on sites as well as staggering shifts and break times.

Temperature checks are being taken of all operatives when they arrive on site and full-time cleaning services have been established.

To ensure effective social distancing modified risk assessments are undertaken, alongside one-way access to work areas.

Andy McLeod, of Tolent, said: “The safety of our staff is paramount and by administering rigorous social distancing and health and safety protocol, we are able to safely continue work in some areas of the site.”

With these procedures in place, some works are continuing on site, including the structural steel erection for the Premier Inn hotel, continued construction of the Everyman Cinema screens building and adjacent restaurant units.

Further foundations for parts of phase one will also continue to be laid, along with drainage and piling works to areas of the site.

Allan Cook, managing director of Arlington Real Estate, which is developing Milburngate, said: “This is a unique and challenging time and we are working closely with Tolent to consistently review and evolve safety procedures, ensuring the safety of everyone on site as we follow government guidelines to continue the construction of Milburngate.”