The California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response website contains up-to-date information regarding Governor Newsom’s March 19th Stay at Home Executive Order. The website recently posted this clarification on the order:
How does this order interact with local orders to shelter in place? Does it supersede them? This is a statewide order. Depending on the conditions in their area, local officials may enforce stricter public health orders. But they may not loosen the state’s order. SRBX will continue to work with our local coalition of construction, development and business associations to present the case for consistency in local orders across the Greater Sacramento region. With a regional construction workforce engaged in important works for the health of the Region’s citizenry and economy, it is essential that local Counties, Municipalities and Agencies operate off the same page. If your project is experiencing difficulty in securing permits, inspections or any other governmental approvals, please notify Tim Murphy or Damon Conklin at SRBX immediately. On April 20, XL Construction released an updated version of their Pandemic Response Plan. The plan is a comprehensive document developed as a tool for project teams, staff, trade partners, and clients. It outlines an emergency preparedness and business continuity plan in response to the COVID-19 crisis and addresses the CDC guidelines for hygiene, sanitization, social distancing, and illness protocols.
In sharing this document, former SRBX Board President and XL Project Executive Kelley Cowan said “We can only appreciate that the Governor’s Executive Order allows construction to continue if we know the work will be executed in a safe and healthy manner. Therefore, we are sharing this document for the benefit of our industry and the community.” A coalition of construction associations, including SRBX, determined a comprehensive response from the state was needed to address conflicting permissibility of construction operations in county public health orders/directives.
This coalition prepared and transmitted a policy recommendation which clearly established construction and related services as essential to the well-being of Californians to the Governor Newsom’s office the afternoon of March 19. On the evening of March 19, Governor Newsom announced his statewide stay at home order. Unfortunately, that order did not provide the sought clarity on continuing of construction operations, and regrettably created more confusion. SRBX and representatives of the construction industry immediately engaged with the governor’s office, and a clarifying statement was put on the Governor’s COVID-19 website last night at 11:22 PM stating construction is exempt from the stay at home order. Additional conversations with the Governor’s administration confirms ALL construction is exempt in the Governor’s order. However, our coalition has reports that some local jurisdictions have closed public counters. We are seeking a legal opinion that the Governor’s directive supersedes any order or directive from a County or Local Agency to ensure construction may proceed and is supported by necessary governmental functions (permitting, inspections, etc). SRBX will continue to post updated information on our COVID-19 webpage. Please check the site regularly for news and information important to our industry. Proceeding forward, there are several key points to remember:
Working with health and safety as the primary objective, our industry can continue to meet the objectives of our clients while providing for the economic well-being of our workers and the State of California. Build safe; Build healthy. Tim Murphy, CEO Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange Contractors State License Board Closing its Test Centers Statewide
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is announcing that all eight of its test centers throughout California will close, effective tomorrow, Thursday, March 19, 2020. The closure will last through April 16, 2020. Applicants can reschedule their exams via email at: exams@cslb.ca.gov. They can also reschedule by phone at: (916) 255-3498. (Email recommended) Most CSLB staff remain on-duty, either at its Sacramento headquarters or offices throughout the state, or through teleworking. Sacramento County Issues Shelter at Home Order; Goes into Effect at 11:59PM Tonight
Sacramento County has issued a formal shelter at home order for residents of Sacramento County. Based on input provided by SRBX and industry partners, construction has been listed as an exempt business. The order states: “For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence to provide any services or perform any work necessary to the operations and maintenance of “Essential Infrastructure,” including, but not limited to, construction, airport operations, water, sewer, flood control, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection, processing and removal, internet, and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services), provided that they carry out those services or that work in compliance with Social Distancing Requirements as defined in this Section, to the extent possible. SRBX continues to work with industry partners to address orders that may be issued from adjoining counties and the State of California. Information on these orders will be posted to SRBX’s COVID-19 Information webpage. Please check this resource frequently for current information regarding COVID-19 and the construction industry. Construction Companies Asked to Donate their Stocks of N95 Respirator Masks to Local Hospitals.3/18/2020
***UPDATED 3.23.20 - 1PM
CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES ASKED TO DONATE THEIR STOCKS OF N95 RESPIRATOR MASKS TO LOCAL HOSPITALS At the March 17, 2020 Coronavirus Task Force press conference, Vice President Mike Pence asked construction companies to donate their stocks of N95 respirator masks to their local hospitals and stop ordering more for the time being. This call comes in the middle of a major shortage of these kinds of masks, which get their name from being able to block at least 95 percent of 0.3 micron particles. “These industrial masks that they use on construction sites are perfectly acceptable for health care workers to be protected from a respiratory disease,” Pence said. “What we ask construction companies — which our president knows very well from his background — we are asking them to donate their N95 masks to their local hospitals and also forgo making additional orders.” Because of their ability to filter out these very small particles, these N95 respirators are often used by construction workers on sites where there is a lot of dust. Currently, these masks are in critically short supply. While health agencies discourage the use of masks for the general population, many people have bought them anyway, severely exacerbating this shortage. Sacramento Region Health Care facilities are carefully managing personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to help ensure the safety of the health care professionals caring for our community. Due to this unprecedented crisis, health systems are seeking to secure additional PPE from conventional and unconventional sources, including receiving donations from the construction industry. Health Systems are seeking donations for the following PPE (new and unopened):
Construction companies who are able to provide donations are encouraged to share them and contact the personnel of the following health systems directly to coordinate donations: Dignity Health (Mercy General, Mercy Folsom, Mercy San Juan, Methodist, Sierra Nevada Memorial and Woodland Memorial Hospitals) Alex Podany 575-308-1154 Kaiser Permanente (Sacramento Region Hospitals) Michelle Odell Sutter Health Sutter Hospitals serving Sacramento, Roseville, Auburn, Amador, and the Coast Sonja Grant 916-204-5429 Sutter Hospitals serving Davis, Vallejo, Modesto and Tracy Stacy Jones 209-380-5067 UC Davis Medical Center Charles Schafer Information on Public Health Department Orders
to Shelter at Home and if Construction is Exempted Jurisdictions in Northern California have issued orders asking people to shelter in homes. Counties all over California are rapidly responding with their own directives, and SRBX is compiling information regarding work orders and advisories for our service area. Sacramento County – The understanding is that the Sacramento County Directive allows that local businesses currently remain free to use their best judgment about which essential workers can and should still report for work sites. The announcement from health officials at this point is not an official legal order limiting workplace attendance, but a formal order is anticipated. SRBX is in communication with local authorities to see that areas within construction are included as “Essential Businesses.” For more information: https://www.saccounty.net/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx Placer County – Workplaces and businesses should implement telecommuting for their employees, if feasible. They should also minimize the number of employees working within six feet of one another. Placer County has called for the suspension of nonessential employee travel, require employees to stay home when sick and maximize flexibility in sick leave benefits, and to consider staggering start and end times to reduce large numbers of people congregating. Form more information: https://www.placer.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/43177/FULL-COVID19-GUIDANCE-FINAL-031720?bidId= Yolo County – Yolo County’s order states “any work necessary to the construction, operation, and/or maintenance of “Essential Infrastructure,” including, but not limited to, public works construction, construction of housing (in particular affordable housing or housing for individuals experiencing homelessness), airport operations, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet, and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services), provided that they carry out those services or that work in compliance with Social Distancing Requirements as defined this Section, to the extent possible.” For more information: https://www.yolocounty.org/home/showdocument?id=62364 Solano County – No Shelter at Home directive/order at this time, no limitations on construction activities. Solano County is currently following State of California Public Health guidance. For more information: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Guidance.aspx# El Dorado County – No Shelter at Home directive/order at this time, no limitations on construction activities. Public emergency implemented. For more information: https://www.edcgov.us/Government/hhsa/Documents/COVID-19%20Public%20Health%20Emergency%20Declaration.pdf Amador County – No Shelter at Home directive/order at this time, no limitations on construction activities. Amador County is currently following State of California Public Health guidance. For more information: https://www.amadorgov.org/services/covid-19 Alpine County – No Shelter at Home directive/order at this time, no limitations on construction activities. Alpine County is currently following State of California Public Health guidance. For more information: https://www.alpinecountyca.gov/Index.aspx?NID=191 Information on Local Municipal / Public Agency Planning Department Availability Sacramento County – currently open for regular business hours. County leaders are not prepared to order staff to shelter in place, but they are looking seriously at sending at-risk workers home. The county permitting center is open. The county is planning on having their public meetings with modifications to limit the number of people present to testify and reduce contact. They have had discussions about potentially cancelling meetings until May if further restrictions are put in place. Staff available by phone and email. The Sac County Recorder’s Office is fully open for business. If they were to be ordered to be closed to the public, the public counter service would end but staff will complete recordings and receive packages from delivery services (UPS, FedEx) to do recordation. City of Sacramento – No changes to operations or hours, they are encouraging processing applications and plan requests online and are still handling inspections, plan entitlements, and permit processing. They have not decided to cancel public meetings but will try to limit discussion items to reduce the expected testimony and limit the number of people attending meetings. Staff available by phone and email. Elk Grove – No changes to operations or hours, they are encouraging processing applications and plan requests online and are still handling inspections, plan entitlements, and permit processing. They have not decided to cancel public meetings but will try to limit discussion items to reduce the expected testimony and limit the number of people attending meetings. Staff available by phone and email. Rancho Cordova – No changes to operations or hours, they are encouraging processing applications and plan requests online and are still handling inspections, plan entitlements, and permit processing. They have not decided to cancel public meetings but will try to limit discussion items to reduce the expected testimony and limit the number of people attending meetings. Staff available by phone and email. Roseville – No changes to operations or hours, they are encouraging everyone to submit applications online. Staff available by phone and email. Rocklin – Taking measures to improve hygiene and sanitary conditions and maintain social distancing. The city is encouraging phone calls instead of in-person meetings. They have not decided to cancel public meetings, but will try to limit discussion items to reduce the expected testimony and limit the number of people attending meetings, including the RHNA ROI scheduled for March 24th. Lincoln – Community Development temporarily moved to 1st Floor City Manager’s office. Over the counter permits can be submitted there from 8:00AM – 10:00AM and pick up from 3:00PM – 5:00PM. Staff available by phone and email. Folsom – No changes to operations or hours, they are working to expedite their online submittal and plan check abilities, but currently customers are still required to come to the counter for all business. Placer County – Permit counter closing until at least March 30 but accepting online plan applications. Staff is mostly working from home but reaching out to local engineers to coordinate plan checks. Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator meetings are postponed until further notice, and Board of Supervisors meetings will only include noncontroversial items intended to reduce attendance. Staff available by phone and email. Recorder’s Office open for business. El Dorado County – No changes to operations or hours, they are encouraging everyone to submit applications and plan requests online. Dixon – Closed to public, by appointment only. Staff available by phone and email. Davis – Closed to public, by appointment only. Staff available by phone and email. West Sacramento – Closed to public, staff available by phone and email. Natomas Unified School District – Schools closed through April 5th. Their Administration office that collects impact fees is closed to the public. They are working on a process for payment of school fees. Staff available by phone and email. Elk Grove Unified School District – Will be closed through March 19th, they are working on a process for payment of school fees. Staff available by phone and email. Placer County Water Agency – Will be closed, they ask that anyone doing business with the Engineering Division to call (530) 823-0030. SRBX’s OSHA training partner has provided us with print-your-own Coronavirus posters for use in your places of business. Link here. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SCAMS
Phishing emails related to COVID-19 are circulating and are structured to appear they are coming from official government sources (e.g. the Centers for Disease Control, CalOSHA). These emails often ask users to click on a link or download an attachment to learn more about how to protect against contracting COVID-19. Please remember to look for common phishing indicators such as:
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
At this time, the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has not issued specific guidance for construction workers. The OSHA COVID-19 website (https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/) has up-to-date information for all industries, including those with higher exposure risk levels, including a document to help companies handle workplace safety (https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf). ESTABLISH A DESIGNATED SWEEP AT YOUR JOB SITE / WORKPLACE Identify designated sweep(s) for your office and/or job site trailer site who will be in charge of frequently disinfecting and wiping down high touch surfaces (doorknobs, handrails, handles, desks, sinks, microwaves, etc). This ideally needs to take place every few hours, or on a daily basis at a minimum. The evolving circumstances and health precautions around coronavirus (COVID-19) has compelled the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange (SRBX) and our not-for-profit Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF) to take the following steps in the interest of the health and welfare of our members and staff.
Effective today, the majority of SRBX and CIEF staff will be working remotely and our main office will remain open with limited staffing. All staff are available by phone/email and are fully committed to serving our members and industry at this time. All SRBX/CIEF Board and Committee Meetings will take place via videoconferencing or conference call. Additional details regarding already scheduled meetings will be sent out to those individuals participating in these meetings. The SRBX Plan room is fully operational and we encourage SRBX members to review the more than 1,600 plans currently available online. Staff is available to assist you with any needs. The NEXT St. Patrick's Day Brewfest which was scheduled for tomorrow, March 17th, has been rescheduled for a date to be determined. Information regarding the rescheduled date will be sent out when available. The SRBX Safety Expo scheduled for April 8th and 9th at Cosumnes River College will be rescheduled. Information regarding the rescheduled date will be sent out when available. The CIEF Southern California Design Build Competition scheduled for April 18th and 19th at Reliable Wholesale Lumber has been cancelled. While every effort was made to look at alternative dates for this competition, we do not feel that we could provide the quality needed for this event after students return to schools prior to the end of the school year. We will be providing information about the 2021 Southern California Design Build Competition this summer. The CIEF Northern California Design Build Competition scheduled for May 6th and 7th at Cosumnes River College will be rescheduled. New dates will be determined after students return to campus and revised spring schedules are available. The CIEF Clay Shoot scheduled for May 15th at Camanche Hills Hunting Preserve and the SRBX Spring Golf Outing scheduled on May 29th at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course fall outside the current gathering recommendations by the Center for Disease Control and the California Department of Public Health. As such, both are planned to be held as scheduled. Should the need to postpone these events occur, this information will be communicated to all sponsors and registrants. SRBX and CIEF take your health and safety very seriously. We will continue to monitor announcements and reports from state and national health agencies for additional directives and will take appropriate measures to continue to protect the health of our members, event guests, visitors, and staff. Up to date information can be found online at www.srbx.org . As always, thank you for your membership and support of SRBX and CIEF. |