ABC Keystone continues to prioritize your safety to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We are continuing to offer valuable updates, resources and services* to our members, and we encourage you to reach out to our team via their emails located here.
Click here for the full Coronavirus section of our website
(Resources and Updates from ABC Keystone and ABC National, Virtual Training & More)
*The information contained in the Coronavirus Update and Resources webpages is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney. We encourage you to reach out to your attorneys, accountants, insurers and other parties for advice. You can access a listing of ABC Keystone member associates here.
Below are recent updates from the Chapter regarding the COVID-19 crisis.
Please scroll down to see all updates.
8/30/22
ABC Keystone Members,
ABC has been working for YOU!
On August 26, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled ABC Members exempt from the Federal COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate.
“The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit on the federal contractor COVID-19 vaccine mandate case is a major victory for ABC and our members as the court has made it clear that ABC members and state plaintiffs ‘need not comply with the vaccination requirement in their capacity as contractors, and they are not responsible for including that requirement in lower-tier subcontracts,'” said Ben Brubeck, ABC vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs. “ABC will continue to lead efforts to push back on the Biden administration’s executive overreach harming federal contractors with respect to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other anti-competitive and costly policies targeting federal contractors, such as the proposed rule implementing President Biden’s Executive Order 14063, which requires controversial union-favoring government-mandated project labor agreements on federal construction projects of $35 million or more.”Learn more about the August 26th ruling here.
We are here to help you and keep you informed. As always, we strongly encourage you to consult with your legal, insurance, and financial teams when making decisions for your company.
Please reach out to us whenever you feel a need.
Stay safe and healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
1/14/22
ABC Keystone Members,
ABC Cheers Supreme Court OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate Ruling:
ABC today applauded the U.S. Supreme Court for reinstating the stay on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard, which applies to employers with 100 or more employees. On behalf of the construction industry, ABC filed one of the emergency appeals to the Supreme Court leading to this successful outcome.
“ABC is pleased that the Supreme Court blocked OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS,” said Ben Brubeck, ABC vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs. “ABC is proud to have played an important role in preventing OSHA from causing irreparable harm to the construction industry.”
This is a big win in removing compliance hurdles for the construction industry, which is facing multiple economic challenges, including a workforce shortage of 430,000, rising materials prices and supply chain issues. ABC continues to support vaccinations and encourages members to use its COVID-19 vaccination toolkit to keep workers safe on construction jobsites.” Read ABC’s press release.
In a separate ruling issued by the Supreme Court today, the court lifted injunctions, allowing the government’s vaccine mandate for workers at federally funded health care facilities to take effect nationwide.
We are here to help you and keep you informed. As always, we strongly encourage you to consult with your legal, insurance, and financial teams when making decisions for your company.
Please reach out to us whenever you feel a need.
Stay safe and healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
1/10/22:
ABC Keystone Members,
Please be advised that as of today, the Supreme Court has not yet issued a decision on the appeal to reinstitute a stay of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard, which applies to employers with 100 or more employees.
Effective Jan. 10: OSHA will issue citations for noncompliance with any requirements of the ETS, but will not issue citations for noncompliance with the standard’s testing requirements before Feb. 9, “so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard.”
Under the OSHA ETS, covered employers are required to do the following:
- Establish vaccination and testing policies. Policy templates are available on the OSHA Vaccination and Testing ETS website.
- Determine employees’ vaccination status and comply with OSHA’s ETS recordkeeping requirements.
- Support vaccination by providing employees paid time off for the vaccine and for recovery from side effects.
- Ensure that each employee who is not fully vaccinated is tested for COVID-19 at least weekly (if in the workplace at least once a week) or within 7 days before returning to work (if away from the workplace for a week or longer).
- Require employees to promptly provide notice when they receive a positive COVID-19 test or are diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Immediately remove from the workplace any employee, regardless of vaccination status, who received a positive COVID-19 test or is diagnosed with COVID-19 by a licensed healthcare provider, and keep the employee out of the workplace until return-to-work criteria are met.
- Ensure that each employee who is not fully vaccinated wears a face covering when indoors or when occupying a vehicle with another person for work purposes, except in certain limited circumstances.
- Provide information to employees. The ETS requires covered employers to provide employees with the following in a language and at a literacy level the employees understand: (1) information about the requirements of the ETS and workplace policies and procedures established to implement the ETS; (2) the CDC document, Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines; (3) information about protections against retaliation and discrimination; and (4) information about laws that provide for criminal penalties for knowingly supplying false statements or documentation.
- Report work-related COVID-19 fatalities to OSHA within eight hours of learning about them, and work-related COVID-19 inpatient hospitalizations within 24 hours of the employer learning about the hospitalization.
- Make certain records available for examination and copying to an employee (and to anyone having written, authorized consent of that employee) or an employee representative.
Covered employers should consult the OSHA standard for full details.
We are here to help you and keep you informed. As always, we strongly encourage you to consult with your legal, insurance, and financial teams when making decisions for your company.
Please reach out to us whenever you feel a need.
Stay safe and healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
|
11/10/21:
ABC Seeks to Overturn OSHA COVID Vaccination and Testing ETS
On November 9, Associated Builders and Contractors and its Alabama chapter filed a petition for review with the U.S. Court of Appeals in the 11th Circuit against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for its COVID-19 vaccination and testing Emergency Temporary Standard, which applies to employers with 100 or more employees.
We are here to help you and keep you informed. As always, we strongly encourage you to consult with your legal, insurance and financial teams when making decisions for your company.
Stay safe and healthy,
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, November 10, 2021 –
9/10/21:
ABC Keystone Members:
Biden announces new vaccine requirements affecting those who do work on federal contracts and employers with 100+ employees.
In response to the surging COVID-19 numbers and slowed pace of vaccinations across the country, President Biden is prepared to sign an Executive Order expanding current vaccination mandates. In our effort to keep you informed, we encourage you to read the following information.
Contractors Doing Business with the Federal Government:
- Workers will be required to be vaccinated with no option to test out
Employers with More than 100 Workers:
- Workers will be required to be vaccinated, or
- Tested for the virus weekly
Expected to come from OSHA is a rule that will result in fines of $14,000 per violation. More information will be forthcoming regarding when the rule will go into effect, and it is expected that the date of compliance will allow time for vaccinations to occur.
We are here to help you and keep you informed. As always, we strongly encourage you to consult with your legal, insurance and financial teams when making decisions for your company.
Please reach out to us whenever you feel a need.
Stay safe and healthy,
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, September 10, 2021 –
11/24/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
It’s been some time since I’ve sent a COVID-19 Update, as we all were adjusting – as best we could – to the new safety regulations, and work was moving forward well. While construction continues to move forward, case counts are rising, and I want to stress how vital it is to continue to educate employees on proper COVID-19 safety practices and to continue to diligently follow these practices on the jobsite and in your offices.
The upcoming holiday might potentially bring you some challenges in the next couple of weeks, as employee exposure rates might possibly rise during celebrations. Please do not become complacent in the weeks ahead, and please continue to take measures to ensure the safety of your team.
We are here to help you. Whether you need guidance understanding or implementing safety measures, or whether you simply need an ear, ABC is your resource for assistance during this time. Please reach out to us whenever you feel a need.
Stay safe and healthy,
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, November 24, 2020 –
7/2/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
We’re Open!
I encourage you to continue reaching out to the Chapter with your questions. We’re here to help. Enjoy the 4th of July holiday!
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, July 2, 2020 –
6/30/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
From the Governor’s press release:
Additional Details:
Stay safe and healthy,
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, June 30, 2020 –
6/11/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, June 11, 2020 –
5/14/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
Please be aware: The Governor’s initial COVID-19 Safety Guidance for the Construction Industry allows political subdivisions to impose additional guidelines that exceed the Governor’s.
As of Tuesday evening, the Lancaster City Council has adopted additional construction industry safety policies at their recent meeting. We shared with you previously that Philadelphia was the first to adopt additional guidelines with the policies found here, and now Lancaster City has done so as well. This means that if your jobsites are located within these cities, you must read and follow these guidelines.
Furthermore, please be certain to continuously check for any additional policies put in place by all of the municipalities in which you are working. The penalties for not doing so can be severe. As you will find in the recent document from Lancaster City, these penalties can include fines, the loss of permits, and even jail time.
I can not stress enough how important it is that you continue to seek the guidance of your attorneys, accountants, insurers and financial institutions regarding the decisions you make when operating jobsites during this crisis. You should be in direct contact with this team of advisors, and we are also here to answer your questions and to provide you with information. We are committed to ensuring that we keep you informed of these ever-changing COVID-19 developments.
Please stay safe and healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
Note: The second round of PPP Loan funds has not yet run out. There are funds available at this time, and should you choose to apply for funding, please do so soon and under the guidance of your advisory team.
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, May 14, 2020 –
5/8/20
ABC Keystone Members:
We hope this first week back at the jobsites was a productive and safe one for you. Please remember, each one of us has the responsibility to set the example for the construction industry to help ensure that the opportunity to be open for business continues on in the midst of this pandemic. That means that every safety protocol in the COVID-19 construction safety guidelines must be followed.
The majority of the questions we have received are regarding masks. Please understand – masks are not optional on jobsites. This requirement needs to be a part of your written safety policies and strictly enforced. This policy must be communicated clearly to each and every employee.
We are here to answer your questions. Reach out and utilize this member benefit. Don’t let confusion or frustrations keep you from doing what is safe and expected of us in order to keep our employees safe. We simply can not lose this opportunity due to any unsafe jobsites.
I’d like to also remind you that there are a number of valuable, member-exclusive, no-cost virtual trainings available that are open for registration offered by the Keystone Chapter and by ABC National. These opportunities provide you with information and tools to help guide you and your company through the COVID-19 crisis.
Please review the new, updated information from OSHA below and the listing of webinars available to you during the month of May.
Stay safe and healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
Updates from OSHA:
Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus
New respirator video and posters demonstrate how to properly wear and dispose of a respirator:
New OSHA alert for the construction industry:
Additional information on COVID-19 guidance can also be found on the OSHA webpage.
ABC Keystone No-cost Virtual Education & Training:
- Executive Leader Contractor Peer Group (CEO/Owners/Executive Leadership), 5/12, 19 & 26
- Dealing with the 6 Feet Rule in Construction: A Discussion of OSHA’s Fall Protection Standard and Industry Standards, 5/14
- Building a Better You During a Difficult Season, 5/20
Access All No-Cost Virtual Training from ABC Keystone
ABC National No-cost Webinars:
- Safety Technology: Innovative Tools to Create a Safer Jobsite During COVID-19 and Beyond, 5/12
- COVID-19 and the State of the Surety and Subcontractor Default Insurance Markets, 5/13
- COVID-19, Construction and Regional Economic Recovery: Where are We and Where are We Headed?, 5/20
- Coaching Through a Crisis: Solving Employee Issues in Real Time, 5/26
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, May 8, 2020 –
5/1/20
ABC Keystone Members:
The safety guidelines issued by Governor Wolf for construction to operate safely during the COVID-19 crisis include the requirement of appointing a “Pandemic Safety Officer.” Many of you have questions as to what that position should entail and how to enforce safety guidelines among employees.
On Tuesday, May 5, our Director of Safety Services, Kevin Keith, will host a no-cost live discussion webinar answering your questions regarding the Pandemic Safety Officer Position. You can register for this discussion here.
Please submit your questions to kevin@abckeystone.org by Monday, 5/4, at noon. An agenda for this discussion will be sent to you via email on Monday afternoon.
Register Today for Tuesday’s Live Discussion
Stay safe and healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, May 1, 2020 –
5/1/20
ABC Keystone Members:
Today, May 1, we are pleased to see construction allowed to reopen in Pennsylvania. To say this has been a grueling six weeks is an understatement. We recognize how difficult this has been as so many of you have seen your jobsites shut down due to COVID-19 and the stay at home order from the Governor. As difficult as it has been, the number one priority has been, and will continue to be, safety.
We look forward to seeing active construction sites again, and we continue to be available to provide you resources and services. I know that there will be a number of questions that will continue to surface regarding the additional COVID-19 safety protocols now in place, and I invite you to reach out to us. Our Director of Safety Services, Kevin Keith, can also provide you with the clarification you may need as you implement these safety measures on your jobsites and at your office locations. Please reach out to him at: kevin@abckeystone.org. Please understand, that if you can not properly follow the safety guidelines issued by Governor Wolf, you should not reopen until you can do so.
Welcome Back to Work, ABC Keystone Members!
Let’s Build Pennsylvania Together!
Watch a brief video message from Dave Sload, President-CEO:
FDA-approved Face Masks Available Exclusively to Members! Limited Quantity: Purchase Your Masks Here
Construction Reopens TODAY!
Reopen Safely and in Compliance:
- Review the Guidance for the Construction Industry document issued by the Wolf Administration.
- Review the Construction Safety Task Force Report developed by ABC Pennsylvania
Stay safe and healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, May 1, 2020 –
4/30/20
ABC Keystone Members:
As part of our on-going efforts to provide you with resources at this time, ABC Keystone has acquired FDA-approved, disposable face masks that we are able to make available exclusively to members at-cost. This will enable you to purchase this necessary PPE item at a reduced price. Please see details below:
Masks Available At-cost for Members
Order Now – Available for Pick-up May 12
- FDA-approved; 3-ply; disposable masks
- Minimum order: 1 box; Maximum order: 100 boxes
- $30/box; 50 masks per box
- Pick-up details will follow via email upon receipt of order form
Note: We ask that you please follow all social-distancing guidelines and wear a face covering when picking up your masks.
Purchase Your Masks Online Here
Construction Reopens May 1!
Reopen Safely and in Compliance:
- Review the Guidance for the Construction Industry document issued by the Wolf Administration.
- Review the Construction Safety Task Force Report developed by ABC Pennsylvania
Stay safe and healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 30, 2020 –
4/29/20
ABC Keystone Members:
A number of questions have been brought forth regarding clarification of the Construction Industry COVID-19 Safety Guidance document released by the Wolf Administration. For your convenience, please see the Construction Guidance During COVID-19 FAQs recently provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. This is a very helpful review of the document and will be of value as you prepare to reopen on Friday. As always, please feel free to reach out to me if you have additional questions or concerns.
- Download a pdf of the FAQs here.
- Read the FAQs on the Dept. of Labor & Industry’s website here.
Note: For Philadelphia construction please see additional requirements here.
Philadelphia training requirement for Pandemic Safety Officers can be found here.
Construction Reopens May 1!
Reopen Safely and in Compliance:
- Review the Guidance for the Construction Industry document issued by the Wolf Administration.
- Review the Construction Safety Task Force Report developed by ABC Pennsylvania
Stay safe and healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 29, 2020 –
4/29/20: Letter from the Chair
ABC Keystone Members:
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 29, 2020 –
4/24/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
Governor Wolf has issued guidance for the construction industry for your preparations in resuming work May 1. Please review the document fully and begin your preparations to ensure that your employees remain safe when resuming work. If you need clarification of the guidelines, please reach out to me or to Kevin Keith, our Director of Safety. We know you are anxious to return to work, and we are here to help you do so safely. We look forward to seeing construction resume in Pennsylvania and all required protocols being met. Please be certain to read all of the requirements.
- View the full guidance details here
Note: All businesses in the construction industry must adhere to this guidance starting May 1, including those businesses that received a waiver or businesses that were considered life essential.
Please note the following excerpts from the guidelines detailing new requirements:
All commercial construction projects including new construction, renovation, and repair are authorized to conduct in-person operations; however, enclosed projects or portions of enclosed projects, may not permit more than four persons on job sites of 2,000 square feet or less, and
One additional person is allowed for each additional 500 square feet of enclosed area over 2,000 square feet. These numbers are inclusive of employees of both prime and sub contractors, but not inclusive of delivery persons, code inspectors, or similar persons who require temporary access to the site and are not directly engaged in the construction activity. Enclosed square footage shall include all areas under roof that are under active construction at the time.
Commercial construction firms, including particularly those managing large-scale construction projects, should consider strongly establishing a written Safety Plan for each work location containing site specific details for the implementation of this guidance to be shared with all employees and implemented and enforced by the designated Pandemic Safety Officer.
Let’s return to work safely and in full compliance,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 24, 2020 –
4/22/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 22, 2020 –
4/22/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 22, 2020 –
4/20/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 20, 2020 –
4/17/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 17, 2020 –
4/16/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
As we will soon enter our fifth week of this uncertain time, I want to share with you a number of updates from the Chapter. Our staff continues to work remotely, and we are hard at work for you. Rest assured, the Chapter is adjusting our services to provide you with what you need right now to navigate the impact of this pandemic.
This has certainly been a trying time for all across the globe, and we would like to take a moment to thank those that are battling this virus on the frontlines.
We will all press forward knowing that our industry is resilient. On behalf of the ABC Keystone team, I invite you to reach out to us with questions, comments and concerns.
Watch a Brief Video Message from Dave Sload:
ABC PA Board Chairs Send Letter to Governor Wolf Asking Him to Reconsider His Intention to Veto Senate Bill 613
The Pennsylvania House and Senate passed legislation that would allow businesses to re-open that adhere to federal guidelines for social distancing and other health and safety protocols. The bill would also bring the Commonwealth in line with many other states who follow these same guidelines. Unfortunately, Governor Wolf has said he intends to veto the bill when it reaches his desk. ABC Pennsylvania Board Chairs sent a letter to the governor asking him to reconsider his veto.
Read the letter here
View the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Plan for Construction developed by The Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC)
Chapter Education, Training and Meeting Calendar Changes:
We have postponed in-person classes, events and meetings now through May 31 to ensure the health and safety of you, our instructors and our staff. This also includes a postponement of the June Golf Outing, however we are currently securing a fall 2020 date for this event. Please watch our calendar for updates. We look forward to resuming our in-person events as soon as possible, and we thank you for your understanding as we prioritize health and safety.
Excellence in Construction (EIC) Submission Deadlines Extended:
As we recognize that you have a number of immediate and pressing matters to attend to right now, we have extended the Excellence in Construction deadlines. Please see the updates here.
NO-COST VIRTUAL TRAINING from ABC Keystone:
Exclusive Member Benefits to Help You Navigate COVID-19 Safely
- Lockout Tagout and You: The Basics of Lockout Tagout, 4/20
- Executive Leader Contractor Peer Group (CEO / Owners / Executive Leadership), 4/23
- Assessing the Workplace – How to Do a Job Hazard Analysis, 4/27
- Successful Leadership in Times of Crisis & Rapid Change, 4/28
- Crew Leadership for Effective Teams, Starts 4/29
- Adult AED, CPR & Basic Medic First Aid, May 8 (Hands-on portion offered at later date)
Access No-Cost Virtual Training from ABC Keystone
Special Pricing on Virtual Training Licenses for Members:
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Virtual Training License
Member-exclusive savings available until April 24, 2020; Training must be completed by 5/31
Upcoming Webinars from ABC:
- Planning for Project Shutdown and Remobilization During the Pandemic and Beyond, 4/21
- Preventing Cyberattacks That Target Your Remote Workforce, 4/22
- Protecting your Company and Remote Workforce from Cyberthreats, 4/23
- Construction Shut-downs: Technology to Secure your Jobsite, 4/28
Register for the above webinars and watch for new offerings here.
Visit the Coronavirus section of our website for links to resources compiled by both ABC Keystone and ABC National
Note: Please always seek advice from your accountants, attorneys, insurance providers and financial institutions.
Access COVID-19 Resources
Discover How ABC PA Is Advocating for You in Harrisburg
We hope that you are finding the resources you need to manage this crisis. Please reach out to us and let us know what we can do to be of assistance to you.
Stay healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 16, 2020 –
4/15/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
- Provide masks for employees to wear during their time at the business, and make it a mandatory requirement while at the work site, except to the extent an employee is using break time to eat or drink, in accordance with the guidance from the Department of Health and the CDC. Employers may approve masks obtained or made by employees in accordance with this guidance;
- Stagger work start and stop times for employees when practical to prevent gatherings of large groups entering or leaving the premises at the same time;
- Provide sufficient space for employees to have breaks and meals while maintaining a social distance of 6 feet, including limiting the number of employees in common areas and setting up seating to have employees facing forward and not across from each other;
- Conduct meetings and training virtually. If a meeting must be held in person, limit the meeting to the fewest number of employees possible, not to exceed 10 employees at one time and maintain a social distance of 6 feet.
- Ensure that the facility has a sufficient number of employees to perform all measures listed effectively and in a manner that ensures the safety of the public and employees;
- Ensure that the facility has a sufficient number of personnel to control access, maintain order, and enforce social distancing of at least 6 feet;
- Prohibit non-essential visitors from entering the premises of the business; and
- Ensure that all employees who do not speak English as their first language are aware of procedures by communicating the procedures, either orally or in writing, in their native or preferred language.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 15, 2020 –
4/6/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
- Discover how you can implement programs to protect your workplace from COVID-19
- Gain insight on CDC and OSHA guidelines to assist with protecting your workers
- Obtain answers to your most pressing questions
- COVID-19 and Dealing with a Pandemic – April 9 / 9:00 am
- COVID-19 and Dealing with a Pandemic – April 13 / 1:00 pm
Visit the Virtual Training section of our website for additional virtual trainings.
- Communicating in the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond: Don’t Let 30 Years of Hard Work Get Destroyed in 30 days, 4/7
- New Federal Paid Leave and Stimulus Laws and the Impact of the COVID-19 Virus on the Construction Workplace, 4/9
- Addressing Employee Mental Health During the Pandemic and Beyond, 4/15
- Technology Can Help ABC Contractors as Coronavirus Disrupts the Industry, 4/16
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions. Please stay safe and healthy.
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 6, 2020 –
4/1/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
Watch a Brief Video Message from Dave:
“Please remember to think about the the mental health of your employees during this time.”
- Click here for a copy of the final bill
- Click here for a section-by-section analysis
- Click here to learn about the Senate CARES bill tax provisions.
- Click here to learn about the Senate CARES bill unemployment provisions.
- Click here to learn about the Senate CARES bill small business provisions.
- Click here to learn about the Senate CARES bill distressed industries provisions.
- Contractors and Supply Chain Partners: Thinking and Delivering “Win-Win” Supply Chains, 4/2
- Assessing Your Loan Options Under the CARES Act, 4/3 – Hosted by Fox Rothschild LLP
- New Federal Paid Leave and Stimulus Laws and the Impact of the COVID-19 Virus on the Construction Workplace, 4/9
- Technology Can Help ABC Contractors as Coronavirus Disrupts the Industry, 4/16
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, April 1, 2020 –
3/30/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
- Insights and Strategies to Help Contractors Respond to COVID-19, 3/31
- Coronavirus Impacts on HR and Employee Benefits, 4/1
- Contractors and Supply Chain Partners: Thinking and Delivering “Win-Win” Supply Chains, 4/2
- Technology Can Help ABC Contractors as Coronavirus Disrupts the Industry, 4/16
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, March 30, 2020 –
3/27/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
The bill authorizes $2 trillion in federal funding for programs to support our nation’s hospitals and businesses, including the Paycheck Protection Program that authorizes $349 billion in forgivable loans from the Small Business Administration. PPP loans must be made during the period prior to June 30, 2020.
PPP Loans:
Loan Forgiveness:
Tax Provisions:
Retention Tax Credit. Creates a refundable payroll tax credit for 50 percent of wages paid by employers to employees during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Qualifying Employers are those whose (1) operations were fully or partially suspended, due to a COVID-19-related shut- down order, or (2) gross receipts declined by more than 50 percent when compared to the same quarter in the prior year.
- For employers with greater than 100 full-time employees, qualified wages are wages paid to employees when they are not providing services due to the COVID-19-related circumstances described above.
- For eligible employers with 100 or fewer full-time employees, all employee wages qualify for the credit, whether the employer is open for business or subject to a shut-down order.
- The credit is capped at $10,000/quarter per employee, including health benefits paid.
- The credit is provided for wages paid or incurred from 3/13/2020 through 12/31/2020.
Delay of payment of employer payroll taxes. Payment would be due over the course of two years with half due 12/31/2021 and the balance due 12/31/2022.
Modification for net operating losses (NOL). This provision would allow five-year carryback for 2018, 2019, and 2020 tax years, respectively.
Modification of limitation on losses for taxpayers other than corporations. The 80 percent carryback limitation would be lifted for pass-through entities to harmonize with corporate NOL treatment for 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Modification of credit for prior year minimum tax liability of corporations. This would accelerate the ability of companies to recover AMT credits in the form of refunds.
Modification of limitation on business interest. This would loosen the limitation on interest deduction to 50 percent of EBITDA for 2019 and 2020.
Technical amendments regarding qualified improvement property (QIP). This fix to the so-called “retail glitch” would unlock $15 billion in liquidity for QIP expenses incurred by hard-hit sectors like restaurants, hotels, and retail, among others.
On March 26, the U.S. Department of Labor issued additional guidance explaining paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act:
- Fact Sheet for Employers (Spanish pdf)
- Fact Sheet for Employees (Spanish pdf)
- FAQs
- Poster—Employee Rights
- Posting Requirements—FAQs
- Field Assistance Bulletin—Enforcement Guidance
- March 26 DOL Press Release
- DOL’s WHD COVID-19 and the American Workplace
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, March 27, 2020 –
3/26/20:
“We’re here for you. Stay informed and stay safe.”
Watch a video message from President-CEO, Dave Sload:
Dear Members,
You’ve received a number of COVID-19 Update emails from me over the past week with vital, timely information regarding the current crisis. I wanted to take a moment and reach out to you personally to share with you what’s on my mind, and to let you know that your needs during this time are our top priority here at the Chapter. We encourage you to reach out to us and let us know how we can best serve you as we all get through this together. Please see my video message above, and as always, please feel free to reach out to me with questions, comments, and concerns. Let us know how we can help. We’re here for you.
Sincerely,
David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, March 26, 2020 –
3/26/20:
URGENT Message: DCED Revises Waiver Request Process
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, March 26, 2020 –
3/26/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
Coronavirus Emergency Relief Legislation:
- CLICK HERE to learn about the Senate CARES bill tax provisions.
- CLICK HERE to learn about the Senate CARES bill unemployment provisions.
- CLICK HERE to learn about the Senate CARES bill small business provisions.
- CLICK HERE to learn about the Senate CARES bill distressed industries provisions.
DOL FFCRA Resources:
Additional ABC National Resources:
As new information comes forth we will continue to provide you with updates to help you during this time. Please feel free to reach out to me with your concerns and questions.
– CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, March 26, 2020 –
3/24/20:
ABC Keystone Members:
I would like to share with you some updates to the Governor’s order, issued on 3/19, which shut down all non-life sustaining businesses. There has been some additional clarification from the Governor that states that exceptions to the shut down of all commercial construction are:
- Emergency repairs;
- Construction of health care facilities such as hospitals, long term care facilities and drug and alcohol treatment facilities.
If you are unsure whether your projects fall under these categories, please reach out to the PA Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) at ra-dcedcs@pa.gov
Employers, Please Note: The safety and health of our workforce remains our No. 1 priority.
It is vital during the spread of COVID-19 that employees are kept safe if they are returning to work, and there are a number of safety precautions* put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and ABC National’s Safety Committee that we highly suggest you adhere to for health, safety and legal reasons. Every company performing work at this time should have their safety directors review in full the information below with anyone currently working on a jobsite.
We encourage you to review the updates to the Governor’s Order found here to determine if your projects meet the above exceptions. Please see the following important safety precautions listed below. At the end of this email, please see valuable Unemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation links.
The guidelines below are for informational purposes only and do not eclipse any established local, state or federal guidelines. Please contact ABC National’s Safety Team with any issues or concerns and, as this issue is constantly evolving, please stay updated on information and recommendations from our local government and health department.
ABC National Safety & Health Committee Recommended Best Practices & Jobsite Precautions for COVID-19
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Prevention Recommendations:
According to resources available on the CDC website, there are many steps you can take to protect yourself, including:
Clean your hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Take steps to protect others
- Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.
Cover coughs and sneezes
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Wear a facemask if you are sick
- If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick.
- If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply, and they should be saved for caregivers.
Clean and disinfect
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
To disinfect: Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use disinfectants appropriate for the surface. Options include:
- Diluting your household bleach.
- To make a bleach solution, mix: 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water OR 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
- Alcohol solutions – Ensure solution has at least 70% alcohol.
- Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants – Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).
Complete disinfection guidance
Construction Jobsite-specific Information:
The ABC National Safety Committee created a list of practical things jobsite leaders should be mindful of during the coronavirus outbreak. Recommendations include:
Employee Education
- Provide training for supervisors, employees and other key personnel to recognize signs and symptoms of COVID-19, as specified by the CDC.
- Humanize the virus by asking supervisors to greet employees at the gate or jobsite entry point.
- Schedule daily toolbox talks to communicate news concerning the virus/project, etc. and to visually assess your crew’s health.
- During toolbox talks, remind employees to keep 6 feet of personal space.
- Review, update and communicate your “fit for duty” policy, including the requirement to provide a return to work pass if seen by a physician.
Personal Protective Equipment
- Personal protective equipment should be assigned to an individual, not shared among groups.
- Glove technology has advanced extensively in recent years. Companies should consider a 100% glove use policy.
- Wipe down all tools before storing or at the end of every shift.
For additional information, refer to CDC’s resources on the coronavirus disease.
Personal Hygiene
- Encourage clients/owners to provide access to handwashing facilities onsite, where practical.
- Provide adequate hand washing facilities on projects, particularly at break areas.
- Designate specific break areas on projects.
- Suspend biometric or other fingerprint time signatures.
- Use Portable Bathroom Trailers or ensure daily or twice daily cleaning of portable toilets.
- Provide hand sanitizers at strategic locations throughout the project.
- Water fountains and other gathering points should be disinfected after each use or consider using bottled water.
- Projects should re-consider food truck access to projects.
Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation
Please see the following links for information regarding how COVID-19 is impacting Unemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation:
- Unemployment Compensation Benefits & COVID-19 FAQs for Employees
- Employers & Unemployment Compensation – COVID-19 FAQs for Employers
- Workers’ Compensation & COVID-19 FAQs
- PA Office of Unemployment Compensation – Information for Pennsylvania Employees Impacted by COVID-19
- For a direct link to a list of additional COVID-19 informational resources from the Chapter, please click here.
- To access resources from ABC National, including forms, guidelines, and webinars, please click here.
- To sign up for Voter Voice action alerts, please click here.
To protect the health of our staff, our physical location is currently closed, and staff members are working from home. We are still here to serve you during this time, and we encourage you to reach out to us with questions and for information.
Please feel free to contact me at dave@abckeystone.org (cell: 717-823-7602) or Stephanie Larkin, Vice President of Education, Safety & Workforce Development stephanie@abckeystone.org (cell: 717-727-5326) for assistance.
Thank you and stay healthy,
G. David Sload
ABC Keystone President-CEO
dave@abckeystone.org
(717) 823-7602 (please note this cell phone number correction)
Note: If your business would like to seek a waiver from the current order in place, you may send an email to this address: RA-dcexemption@pa.gov If you have questions about whether your business needs to close, you can email: ra-dcedcs@pa.gov