BY: David G. Greineder, IOM, ABC PA Director of Government Affairs

On Friday, May 1, employers in the construction industry, if they chose to do so, resumed work on construction projects. Businesses that  are open must adhere to strict construction guidance issued by the Governor. The guidelines require employers to develop, implement, and enforce safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as enforcing social distancing, providing hand washing stations, and identifying a “pandemic safety officer.”

To assist members in developing protocols, ABC Pennsylvania created a COVID-19 Construction Safety Task Force made up of experienced safety experts across all five chapters. The Task Force generously shared their collective resources aimed to protect employees and jobsites from COVID-19. The Task Force released a comprehensive report that includes best practices, sample check lists, and templates for employers to use. I encourage ABC members to reference this document if they have questions on how to protect their employees or what questions to ask about their health.

There is no doubt COVID-19 has impacted every facet of our personal and professional lives. Throughout the pandemic, ABC Pennsylvania has been supportive of state and federal guidelines to prevent the spread of this contagious virus. We appreciate the calls, emails, and questions from members as we navigate through the crisis. In a time of so much uncertainty, we have been engaged with elected officials at all levels of government to clarify and get direction on the nuances of our industry as it relates to COVID-19 procedures. As we head to May 1 and beyond, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at davidg@abcpa.org. We are here to be a helpful resource, so reach out anytime.