RPO has been an advocate for the safe resumption of business in New York City. We have secured permission for many of our clients to carefully resume their essential and emergency work. As New York City begins to re-open for business, it is important for businesses to act responsibly and follow all required guidelines. Below are the State guidelines and mandates for resuming construction:
These NYS guidelines apply to all construction businesses that have already been permitted to re-open:
Click to view the NYS guidelines
The NYS guidelines in the link below provide guidance for Phase I re-opening of construction sites, when that occurs. As of this date, Phase I re-opening in NYC is scheduled for June 8, 2020.
This Interim Guidance for Construction Activities during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (“Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Construction”) was created to provide owners/operators of construction projects and their employees and contractors with precautions to help protect against the spread of COVID-19 as indoor and outdoor construction sites reopen. These guidelines are minimum requirements only and any employer is free to provide additional precautions or increased restrictions.
These guidelines are based on the best-known public health practices at the time of Phase I of the State’s reopening, and the documentation upon which these guidelines are based can and does change frequently. Construction sites must adhere to all local, state and federal requirements relative to construction activities. All construction-involved entities are also accountable for staying current with any updates to these requirements, as well as incorporating same into any construction activities and/or Site Safety Plan.
Click to view the Master Construction Guidance
A written Safety Plan is required upon re-opening.
Each re-opening business must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. A business may fill out the template in the link below in order to fulfill the requirement, or may develop its own Safety Plan. This plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval but must be retained on the premises of the business and must be made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.