Worker at Western Construction Project Tests Positive for Coronavirus

A carpenter working on a project at Western’s Ridgeway Commons dining hall tested positive this week to coronavirus. Also, another construction worker at the University’s new Interdisciplinary Science Building this week reported direct exposure to coronavirus from a family member.

The carpenter was part of a three-person crew at Ridgeway Commons. Both the carpenter and the other two members of the crew are in quarantine. The Ridgeway Commons dining hall is being upgraded for increased disability access.

The worker at the Interdisciplinary Science Building also is in quarantine.

Work on the Ridgeway Commons dining hall and the Interdisciplinary Science Building is continuing under existing health and safety protocols for coronavirus. There are not many people now on campus, with summer session instruction entirely online and most Western employees working remotely from home.

Western has a number of health and safety measures in place at these construction sites, including site-specific COVID-19 supervisors; appropriate personal protective equipment for workers; monitoring of worker and staff health, and sanitation and cleanliness requirements including regular cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces and frequent handwashing. For more information about COVID-19 site safety protocols, see: fdcb.wwu.edu/covid-19-construction-site-safety-protocols