Rochester Building & Construction Trades Council
COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) UPDATE
April 16, 2020
As word of the coronavirus (COVID_19) spreading through our community continues we would like to provide you with the following information. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and will provide you with updated information.
If you have children who are, or may be in the future, impacted by a school closing and this presents a hardship we encourage you to speak with your employer.
The protocol for protecting yourself and others in the workplace against COVID-19 is outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
Wash your hands frequently
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or outside of your elbow
Avoid touching your face
Maintain appropriate social distancing, as well as cleaning/disinfecting protocols
cover your nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering when in a public place and unable to maintain, or when not maintaining, social distance
Additionally, clean personal workplace items that are frequently touched with cleaning spray or wipes.
If you feel any signs of illness, we encourage you to stay away from your assigned project. If you have a fever and cough, notify your Project Manager and stay home until you receive medical care and recover. Speak with your foreman or superintendent if you have specific questions regarding your absence so that your workload can be distributed or deadlines updated.
If someone in your household has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, or has traveled from a CDC warning level 3 country or a country of heightened risk as determined by the CDC, or will do so soon, notify your foreman or superintendent as soon as possible.
Let's remember, there is no strength without unity.
Please be safe.
GRANT S. MALONE
Rochester Building Trades Council President
NYS Additional COVID-19 Resources and Guidelines
June 16, 2020 - Schumer Statement On New Letter From More Than 100 Economists Including Former Fed Chairs Bernanke And Yellen Calling For Congress To Pass Additional Relief Package To Avoid ‘Prolonged Suffering’ And ‘Stunted Economic Growth’
Construction
All non-essential construction must safely shut down, except emergency construction, (e.g. a project necessary to protect health and safety of the occupants, or to continue a project if it would be unsafe to allow to remain undone, but only to the point that it is safe to suspend work).
Essential construction may proceed, to the extent that:
the construction is for, or your business supports, roads, bridges, transit facilities, utilities, hospitals or healthcare facilities, homeless shelters, or public or private schools;
the construction is for affordable housing, as defined as construction work where either (i) a minimum of 20% of the residential units are or will be deemed affordable and are or will be subject to a regulatory agreement and/or a declaration from a local, state, or federal government agency or (ii) where the project is being undertaken by, or on behalf of, a public housing authority;
the construction is necessary to protect the health and safety of occupants of a structure;
the construction is necessary to continue a project if allowing the project to remain undone would be unsafe, provided that the construction must be shut down when it is safe to do so;
the construction is for projects in the energy industry in accordance with Question No. 14 in the FAQ at: https://esd.ny.gov/sites/default/files/ESD_EssentialEmployerFAQ_033120.pdf;
the construction is for existing (i.e. currently underway) projects of an essential business; or
the construction work is being completed by a single worker who is the sole employee/worker on the job site.
At every site, it is required that the personnel working on the site maintain an appropriate social distance, including for purposes of elevators/meals/entry and exits. Sites that cannot maintain appropriate social distancing, as well as cleaning/disinfecting protocols must close. Enforcement will be conducted by state and local governments, including fines up to $10,000 per violation.
Construction may continue solely with respect to those employees that must be present at the business location/construction site in support of essential business activities. No other employees/personnel shall be permitted to work in-person at the business location/construction site. Any other business activities being completed that are not essential are still subject to the restrictions provided by Executive Order 202.
As noted above, local governments, including municipalities and school districts, are allowed to continue construction projects at this time as government entities are exempt from these essential business restrictions. However, to the greatest extent possible, local governments should postpone any non-essential projects and only proceed with essential projects when they can implement appropriate social distancing and cleaning/disinfecting protocols. Essential projects should be considered those that have a nexus to health and safety of the building occupants or to support the broader essential services that are required to fulfill the critical operations of government or the emergency response to the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Executive Order 202.16
Updated April 12,2020
Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency
WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York; and
WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to be continue;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to issue any directive during a disaster emergency necessary to cope with the disaster, I hereby issue the following directives for the period from the date of this Executive Order through May 15, 2020:
The directive contained in Executive Order 202.16 related to issuance of no-action or no-filing letters is modified to require such letters be issued by the Attorney General.
Effective at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2020 any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering when in a public place and unable to maintain, or when not maintaining, social distance.
Department of Labor Resources
As more New Yorkers face the uncertainty of unemployment and work-related issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I would like to share some resources that may assist you and your family during this difficult time.
The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) has expanded unemployment benefits, including providing an additional $600 per week to qualifying individuals. These benefits are retroactive and will help ensure New Yorkers impacted by COVID-19 can get the help they need and deserve.
Unemployment Insurance Resources
Guidance for Self-Employed Individuals
What You Need to Know About the Cares Act
Other Resources for Workers
COVID-19 Sick Leave Application
DOL Complaint Process Related to COVID-19