Construction will resume Friday across Pennsylvania, but crews will have new rules to follow
Centre County construction workers will be equipped with hard hats, tools and masks when they return to work Friday.
Following a push from state legislators, Gov. Tom Wolf announced last week that all public and private construction projects would reopen May 1 — as long as companies follow safety regulations meant to protect employees from COVID-19. Initially, Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine ordered construction to halt unless projects were supporting a life-sustaining business.
“My administration has taken measured, aggressive steps to protect public health and safety, including strictly limiting the types of businesses and projects that may continue to operate during this unprecedented time,” Wolf said last week. “Thankfully, these actions are working, and we are flattening the curve.”
Most states exempted the construction industry from stay-at-home orders, deeming it essential. But in Pennsylvania, businesses could apply for a waiver from the state that would grant permission to operate during the shutdown. The waiver process ended April 3 and received 42,380 exemption requests.
The state authorized work to continue on some Centre County projects, including U.S. Route 322/Potters Mills Gap, Centre Crest, Memorial Field, Mount Nittany Medical Center and emergency repairs to residential and commercial buildings.
The state developed updated guidelines with help from the General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania, which provides universal protocols for all construction work. The plan includes specific guidance for residential, commercial and public projects.
“As we start to take steps to reopen the state, we recognize that the construction industry is vital to Pennsylvania’s economy and may operate safely with stringent guidance in place that will protect employees and the public,” Wolf said.
On sites, workers must stay 6-feet apart when possible, have access to handwashing stations and shifts must be staggered. Employees must limit tool sharing, refrain from coming to work if sick and ensure workers wear masks.
Construction companies are to designate a person to serve as a “pandemic safety officer” who is responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations.
No more than four individuals at any time are permitted on residential construction sites, not including those who require temporary access to the site and are not directly engaged in the construction activity.
The number of individuals permitted on enclosed portions of a non-residential or commercial projects varies depending on the size of the enclosed site. The state recommends large construction firms to develop a written safety plan for each site to be shared with all employees and enforced by the pandemic safety officer.
Worksites are to be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis, according to the state guidelines.
Local governments may elect to implement stricter requirements, but Centre County has not announced plans to do so.
Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, called the governor’s “one-size fits all” approach to shutting down businesses “a failure,” but last week, Corman said he was pleased with the revised plan to open Pennsylvania in phases.
“We need an approach to reopening Pennsylvania that is driven by the understanding of how differently this virus has affected our communities,” Corman said. “We have long called for the governor to set a reasonable approach to allow employers to safely bring people back to work. This was a step toward achieving that.”
