In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, Shawmut built on its world-class safety program and developed a robust plan to minimize coronavirus exposure—rolling out safety protocols, new job-site innovations, and an exhaustive risk assessment and response strategy for all project sites across the country.

In New York City—an area particularly impacted by the pandemic—the firm has doubled down on its commitment to ensure safety remains the absolute top priority. Partnering with some of the most high-profile clients in the New York Metro area—including prestigious higher education institutions, world-renowned museums, prominent healthcare systems, global retail brands, Michelin-starred restaurants, award-winning hotels, and high-powered clienteles’ residences—Shawmut recognized the need for an enhanced, safe, and transparent client experience.  

Through technology partnerships, pilot programs, and grassroots innovation by project team members in the field, Shawmut created effective safety procedures that have been rolled out to all sites throughout the region, including underway projects at Pace University, Parker New York Hotel, The Glasshouse, Tiffany & Co., and Cultural Services of the French Embassy, to name a few. Each site has adopted these enhanced protocols that include:

Shawmut Vitals

A new custom technology platform designed to check for COVID-19 symptoms and manage contact tracing to minimize and control infectious disease spread. Through grassroots innovation, forward-thinking team members created the platform, which allows employees and subcontractors to self-certify daily health screenings by scanning a job-specific QR code, then filling out a health survey. This software solution, built entirely in-house, is easily integrated into existing Shawmut systems, allowing team members to access information on their mobile devices at a much faster rate.

Smartvid.io

Having rolled out SmartVid.io across all projects over a year ago, Shawmut is also maximizing the use of the technology’s new capability to detect if people on job sites are not properly social distancing. Smartvid.io uses a combination of cameras and various deep learning approaches for computer vision, an area of artificial intelligence where machines are trained to analyze images.

Project-Specific Social Distancing

Through critical pre-task planning, teams are working with subcontractors to prioritize social distancing when executing tasks while requiring enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks and shields when in close proximity with others. Shawmut is also piloting the use of wearable devices that buzz and alert team members if workers are within six feet of one another.

COVID-19 Crisis Team and Virtual Command Center

Shawmut has deployed a cross-functional COVID-19 Crisis Team in place with a virtual command center that is constantly monitoring developments by the minute—helping to guide actions as necessary. By proactively tracking conditions, the command center can provide constant guidance and communications to on-site client and office teams and ensure everyone is following all federal, state, and CDC recommendations.

Additionally, Shawmut’s plan outlines stringent guidelines for self-awareness and reporting, hygiene protocol, disinfecting equipment and high-contact areas, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), site safety requirements, on-site communication, and emergency procedures.

Shawmut continues to drive a culture of safety throughout the industry—and while each site has adopted these enhanced protocols, project teams are engaging in real-time, adapting to new requirements instantly and incorporating guidelines from the CDC.