Coronavirus - Safety, Health & Environmental Resources

Latest Updates

Íæż½ã½ã Challenges the Broad Application of OSHA COVID-19 Vaccine/Testing Mandate
November 5, 2021
On Nov. 4, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its long anticipated COVID-19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard (ETS).  As anticipated, the ETS requires all employers with 100 or more employees to either mandate vaccinations, or encourage… Read More
Analysis of Latest U.S. OSHA COVID-19 Safety and Health Guidance
February 3, 2021
On Jan. 29, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new guidance on protecting workers and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.  Per OSHA, the guidance is not a standard or regulation, creates no new legal obligations and the recommendations are… Read More
OSHA Issues Guidance to Help Construction Workers During the Pandemic
May 28, 2020
On May 26, OSHA launched a webpage with coronavirus-related guidance for construction employers and workers. The guidance includes recommended actions—many of which Íæż½ã½ã members have likely already incorporated in their safety plans—to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus. One item… Read More
Íæż½ã½ã Opposes Overly Onerous and Broad COVID-19 Health Standard
May 28, 2020
In response to recent legislative efforts to force the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to create a new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to address the coronavirus, Íæż½ã½ã joined stakeholders in opposing the power grab. Íæż½ã½ã prioritizes worker safety and Íæż½ã½ã and its members have… Read More
OSHA Revises its Recordkeeping Guidance and Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
May 20, 2020
On May 19, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued their latest guidance on recording cases of COVID-19 in the workplace and interim enforcement response plan. The enforcement memos will become effective on May 26, 2020 and rescinds both previously issued memos on each topic… Read More
Íæż½ã½ã Responds to NABTU's and CPWR's COVID-19 Guidance Document
April 30, 2020
Earlier today, April 30, Íæż½ã½ã’s CEO Steve Sandherr responded to NABTU's and CPWR's COVID-19 Standards for U.S. Construction Sites, which outlines minimum standards employers should implement as part of their COVID-19 exposure control plan on all jobsites.  
DOL Considers Employer’s Good Faith Efforts in Enforcement During Pandemic
April 23, 2020
On April 16, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued interim guidance to advise compliance safety and health officers to evaluate an employer’s good faith efforts to comply with safety and health standards during the coronavirus pandemic. This… Read More
New Episode: ConstructorCast COVID19 Special Edition Ep.3
April 16, 2020
Today, our host Leah Pilconis talks with Cory Gattie about how Íæż½ã½ã of America is making infrastructure a key part of our economic recovery suggestions as we work with Congress and the Trump administration to rebuild the economy. Leah also talks with Íæż½ã½ã’s Brynn Huneke about how the association’s… Read More
Maintaining a Culture of CARE During COVID-19
April 16, 2020
Íæż½ã½ã recognizes the serious toll the pandemic has taken on the mental and emotional wellbeing of workers, both professionally and personally. While companies have focused on keeping their workers physically safe, it is equally important to make sure employees have access to the resources they need… Read More
New Íæż½ã½ã Web Page Shows How the Industry is Protecting Workers and the Public
April 15, 2020
Few industries are as well suited to protecting workers as the construction industry. Contractors are used to following complex and ever-changing safety rules and finding ways to make inherently dangerous work safe. The coronavirus has forced firms to change the way they operate to maintain that… Read More
OSHA Further Clarifies Employer Requirement to Record and Report COVID-19 Cases
April 10, 2020
On April 10, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued temporary guidance for recording cases of COVID-19 that provides relief to the construction industry. In an earlier letter to OSHA leadership, Íæż½ã½ã, along with our industry partners on the Construction… Read More
Hundreds Of Construction Firms Across The Country Hold Coronavirus Safety Stand Downs To Protect Workers And The Public
April 9, 2020
Associated General Contractors of America Organized the Nationwide Safety Stand Down to Make Sure Firms and Workers Know, and Follow, All Coronavirus-Related Safety Procedures and Practices Hundreds of construction firms across the country are stopping work today to hold what are called safety… Read More
U.S. EPA Issues Enforcement Policy for Noncompliance Resultant from COVID-19 Pandemic
April 1, 2020
States may take a different approach On Mar. 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) issued a new, temporary enforcement discretion policy for certain noncompliance events that can be documented and tied to the COVID-19 epidemic.  U.S. EPA has emphasized that this new policy… Read More
Íæż½ã½ã, Others, Push OSHA to Stop Treating Coronavirus Positives as Reportable Incidents & Calls for Flexibility for Firms Running Short of N95 Masks
March 23, 2020
Íæż½ã½ã, along with our industry partners on the Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC), is pushing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to re-evaluate its decision to treat cases of employees contracting COVID-19 as â€¦ Read More
OSHA Provides Guidance on Recording Workplace Exposures to COVID-19 after Íæż½ã½ã Intervention
March 16, 2020
On March 10, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provided guidance requiring the recording and reporting of workplace exposures to COVID-19. The guidance, while well intended, did not consider all of the potential negative impacts on the regulated community. On March 12, Íæż½ã½ã of… Read More

United States Department of Labor (DOL) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

This section highlights OSHA standards and directives (instructions for compliance officers) and other related information that may apply to worker exposure to the coronavirus, COVID-19. While there is no specific OSHA standard covering COVID-19, some OSHA requirements may apply to preventing occupational exposure to COVID-19.

Other DOL/OSHA COVID-19 Resources

  • Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 [, ]
  • Prevent Worker Exposure to COVID-19 [, ]
  • Worker Exposure Risk to COVID-19 [, ]

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  • ​
    •  (to help regions implement the temporary enforcement policy as it relates to NPDES reporting)
  • (including, but not limited to, the Superfund program, RCRA corrective action, TSCA PCB cleanup provisions, the Oil Pollution Act, and the Underground Storage Tank (UST) program)
State-Specific COVID-Related Enforcement Resources
Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) has compiled state specific information on environmental policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Approximately two dozen states have implemented policies.  Some have adopted U.S. EPA’s approach, others have created forms or special channels to contact the state with compliance related concerns.  Access the state resources here: (organized alphabetically by state).

 

Íæż½ã½ã of America, Íæż½ã½ã Chapter and Member Developed Resources

To assist members with protecting their employees from exposure to COVID-19, Íæż½ã½ã, its chapters, coalition partners and members have created construction-specific resources that may be incorporated into their existing safety and health programs.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Businesses must prepare for the continued spread of the coronavirus in the United States. In order to assist you in these preparations, you are encouraged to take the following steps:

What Should Employers Do?

  • Educate your employees
    • Hygiene and health is key - Practicing standard sanitation and hygiene regimens is a top priority.
      • Encourage frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water .
      • Hand sanitizer, with at least 60% alcohol content, is a secondary option.
      • Remind everyone to keep noses and mouths covered when coughing or sneezing .
      • Avoid touching in and around the eyes, with unwashed hands.
      • Everyone who has not yet had a flu shot should get one as soon as possible.
  • Follow the CDC recommendations for employers: 
    • Employer Guidance: .
    • Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette, and hand hygiene by all employees.
    • Perform routine environmental cleaning.
    • Update your absenteeism policy and communicate the requirements.
    • Update your work from home policy and communicate the requirements.
  • Planning Considerations
    • Prepare for increased absenteeism
      • Cross train employees to handle other functions
      • Encourage employees to develop contingency plans for child care in the event there are long term closures of schools and day care centers
    • Prepare for business interruption
      • Identify alternative suppliers
      • Prioritize certain customers
      • Prepare to shut down certain functions

Other CDC Resources

Additional Resources

  • Mental & Emotional Health (via )
  • Cleaning & Disinfection
    • CDC: 
    • EPA: 
    • Milwaukee: Cleaning of Tools to Help Prevent Spread of COVID-19 [English, Spanish]
  • Fisher Phillips COVID-19 Workplace Safety Issues FAQs
  • Willis Towers Watson Best Practices COVID-19 Survey
  • World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Information & Guidance
    • WHO: 
    • WHO: 
  • U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) COVID-19 Updates