UPDATED: Occupational Health & Safety Advice for Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Aggregate Pits Go back

Thursday, April 30, 2020

The Alberta Sand & Gravel Association has prepared this list of recommendations to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 at aggregate pits. If a conflict between this document and the advice or policy of the Chief Medical Officer for the Government of Alberta presents itself, please defer to the Chief Medical Officer.

This list was originally prepared by the OSSGA and NSSGA, with edits by ASGA’s Occupational Health & Safety Committee.


- Alberta has expanded testing to all Albertans, whether they have COVID-19 symptoms or not. Employers and employees are strongly encouraged to book a test appointment if there is any reason to believe there has been exposure to COVID-19, or even as a precaution. Testing can be booked on the Alberta Government website.   

- Social distancing is paramount. Workers must make a concerted effort to maintain a two metre distance at all times.


- Encourage workers to stay home if in a at risk/illness category.

- Wash your hands primarily with soap and water, or alternately with hand sanitizer, according to the WHO guidelines.

- A hazard/risk assessment need to be performed when the possibility of employees exists of employees coming within two metres of each other.

- If through the hazard assessment process, a task must be completed where 2M of Physical Distancing cannot be maintained for a prolonged period of time, control measures such as additional 

- PPE such as masks/respiratory protection should be worn. 

- Eliminate time clock – have a single person key in times from a distance.

- Eliminate congregation in lunchrooms; create outdoor areas for breaks.

- Ask shared services (i.e. technical services) that if you don’t need to be there, don’t show up to site. 

- Signs on site to prohibit access to any non-essential visitors. 

- Skeleton crews whenever possible and keep the crew composition consistent. Stagger shift changes to avoid congestion. 

- Develop procedures for employees interacting with drivers to avoid contact. 

- Using self-service loading; if paper tickets, use gloves when handling. 

- Split plant staff to reduce risk. 

- No unauthorized visitors – in scale house or anywhere else on property. 

- Stop all internal travel – no site visits, suspend inspections by regulators where feasible. 

- Develop procedures for verbal confirmations vs signing whenever possible. Some companies are using a dated phone picture to show who is present. 

- Isolate shifts – have each use separate washrooms where possible or clean between shifts. 

- Deep cleaning of offices – consider 3rd party specialist if an employee has been ill. 

- Maintain inventory of all cleaning supplies. 
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- Have operators disinfect equipment prior to shift/during/end of every shift – and properly dispose of cleaning materials. 

- Each operator to operate a designated piece of equipment as much as possible. 

- Ensure an adequate supply of masks, cleaning supplies if possible/collect inventory from all sites. 

- Consider video conferencing or other broad communication tool for all employees. 

- Frequent email /texts with workforce to alleviate concerns. 

- Ensure employees are aware of Employee Assistance Program if experiencing anxiety due to COVID. 

- Carefully respect privacy of employees who are ill. 

- Consider policies for sick leave/childcare leave/layoffs before you need them. 



Aggregate Facts

Did you know that it takes approximately 60,800 tonnes of aggregate to construct a 1 lane-km of a four lane highway.