Planning To Reopen - Phase 3, Construction

7/28/2020 (Permalink)

As we continue to execute Phase 3 of Governor Charlie Baker's administration's plan to reopen the state of Massachusetts for business it is paramount that we remain steadfast in our resolve to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 when and wherever possible. The following outlines the workplace safety standards pertaining to The following workplace specific safety standards are organized around four distinct categories covering enforcement and oversight and employee health for Construction Businesses.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The following guidance were updated based on the new COVID-19 Travel Order (July 24):

1. Construction (below)
2. Indoor and Outdoor Events
3. Laboratories
4. Lodging
5. Manufacturing
6. Office Space
7. Theater & Performance Venues

As always, work with your local health officials to determine a set of strategies appropriate for your community’s situation.

These standards are minimum requirements only and are not exclusive or exhaustive. The public health data for disease prevention upon which these guidelines are based can and does change frequently, it is the responsibility of each Construction Business owner to stay abreast of any updates to these requirements.

(See our "Planning to Reopen series of blogs for more information regarding CDC, EPA, FDA, Mass EEA and OSHA safety requirements). To review the administration's reopening guidance from the state click here. To view Governor Baker's full report click here).

Enforcement and Oversight

It is the responsibility of approved construction business owners to have the following protocols in place and for staff to adhere to the following at all times:

1. A site-specific COVID-19 Officer (who may also be the Health and Safety Officer) shall be designated for every site except as provided below for construction and remodeling in 1-3 family residences
2. Except as provided below for construction and remodeling in 1-3 family residences, the Contractor’s site-specific project COVID-19 Officer shall submit a written daily report to the Owner's Representative. The COVID-19 Officer shall certify that the contractor and all subcontractors are in full compliance with sections B to D, inclusive (the COVID-19 Construction Safety Guidance)
3. For large, complicated construction projects a city or town may additionally require the Owner to develop and submit a site-specific risk analysis and enhanced COVID-19 safety plan, which may include additional requirements to address risks specific to the project or type of project. The city or town shall review and approve such plan and may require such projects to pause construction until such a risk analysis and plan is submitted and approved. Once such an enhanced COVID-19 safety plan is approved, a violation of the plan shall be treated the same as a violation of the COVID-19 Construction Safety Guidance
4. For all projects undertaken, managed or funded by a state agency or authority there shall be joint enforcement responsibility between the project’s public Owner and the city or town where the project is located. The Owner of a public project has the lead responsibility for compliance and enforcement including frequent on-site inspections by an employee or contractor of the state agency or authority who is familiar with the COVID-19 Construction Safety Guidance and is authorized to enforce that guidance and shut down work at the site if violations are found. The Owner of the project is required to notify the municipality where the work is taking place whenever a site is shut down or of any violations of the COVID-19 Construction Safety Guidance and the resulting corrective action plan, as well as to provide copies of the COVID-19 Officer’s written daily reports upon request. While the public Owner has the lead responsibility for enforcement, cities and towns retain the authority to take enforcement action against public projects found not in compliance with the COVID-19 Construction Safety Guidance, including the authority to order the project to shut down until a corrective action plan is developed, approved and implemented
5. Cities and towns are authorized to enforce the COVID-19 Construction Safety Guidance using their public health staff, building inspectors or any other appropriate official or contractor
6. Cities and towns may enforce the safety and distance protocols including, if multiple violations are found, requiring the Owner and / or Contractor to safely secure the site and pause construction activities until a corrective action plan is prepared, submitted and approved by the city or town 
7. The city or town may require the Owner of a large, complicated private project to pay for an independent, third party inspector or inspection firm (or to pay into a pool to pay for such inspections). The third party inspector shall be accountable solely to the city or town and shall be responsible for enforcement on behalf of the city or town. A city or town may require private projects to pause construction until such a third-party inspector has been secured

Employee Health Protection – ZERO TOLERANCE

It is the responsibility of approved construction business owners and managing staff to implement a ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SICK WORKERS at all times.

1. Owners and managing staff must make employees aware that if they have any signs of illness they must stay home
2. Owners and managing staff must make employees aware that if they become ill or feel sick after arriving at work they must go home immediately
3. Owners must mandate to ALL employees, IF YOU SEE SOMEONE SICK, SEND THEM HOME
4. All employees, if you are exhibiting any of the symptoms below, you are to report this to your supervisor (via phone, text or email) right away, and head home from the job site or stay home if already there
5. All employees, ff you notice a co-worker showing signs or complaining about such symptoms, he or she should be directed to their supervisor (via phone, text or email) and asked to leave the project site immediately COVID-19 Typical Symptoms:
   1. Fever 
   2. Cough
   3. Shortness of Breath
   4. Sore Throat

Self-certify Prior to Shift

Prior to starting a shift, it is the responsibility of all approved construction business employees to self-certify to their supervisor that they:

1. Have no signs of a fever or a measured temperature above 100.3 degrees or greater, a cough or trouble breathing within the past 24 hours
2. Have not had "close contact" with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19. “Close contact” means living in the same household as a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, caring for a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, being within 6 feet of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 for about 15 minutes, or coming in direct contact with secretions (e.g., sharing utensils, being coughed on) from a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, while that person was symptomatic
3. Have not been asked to self-isolate or quarantine by their doctor or a local public health official

Employees exhibiting symptoms or unable to self-certify should be directed to leave the work site and seek medical attention and applicable testing by their health care provider. They are not to return to the work site until cleared by a medical professional.

Additional Link;

Construction Business MA COVID-19 Checklist

While the administration continues to work with communities to implement best practices and protocols we will continue to share with you guidance from the CDC, EPA, FDA, Mass EEA and OSHA and the Governor's office to follow as we prepare for reopening. Also, we at SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley know that not every business has access to the resources necessary to meet these strict guidelines. For those businesses, we are here to help!

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned

The Disaster Remediation Teams at SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley are specialists in cleaning services and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards. We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work of "normal daily cleaning". Call SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley today for a free consultation - (617) 332-9000.

All of us here at SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley want you and your loved ones to stay safe and know that we will make it through this together! Rest assured, we will continue to do our best to keep you up-to-date and informed! Rest assured, we will continue to do our best to keep you up-to-date and informed!