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November 30, 2020
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AGC Alert: Keep Construction Essential
As COVID-19 cases spike throughout the country and states and localities impose new shutdowns on businesses, it is critical for you to remind your local, state, and federal officials how the construction industry has worked in a safe and essential manner. The message to send them is clear: continue treating the construction industry and the work it performs as essential.
CONSTRUCTION IS ESSENTIAL: Keeping the men and women of the construction industry mobilized throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has proven necessary to meeting the needs of our communities and economy. Construction workers have built, maintained, and repaired critical infrastructure, health facilities, and data centers, among other projects. Moreover, they have responded to immediate recovery needs before and after hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters.
CONSTRUCTION IS SAFE: Not only has the construction industry built to meet the demands of the pandemic, but it has also maintained a careful eye toward the safety of its workforce. The industry closely monitors and provides guidance on all recommended health and safety job site precautions for construction workers so that proper measures are deployed to ensure a safe work environment for those on the job. The industry’s efforts have enabled it to avoid the kind of workplace coronavirus spreads that hobbled many other sectors of the economy.
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Ohio General Assembly Leadership Teams Named
In informal votes, members of the Ohio House and Senate elected leadership teams for the next two-year session beginning in January. In the Ohio Senate Matt Huffman (R-Lima) is expected to take the gavel as Senate President. Rounding out the majority leadership team is Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) as President Pro Tempore, Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) as Majority Floor Leader and Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) as Majority Whip. The Senate minority caucus has not yet elected its leadership team.
On the House side, Robert Cupp (R-Lima) is expected to continue as Speaker of the House. The rest of the leadership team will comprise of Tim Ginter (R-Salem) as Speaker Pro Tempore, Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) as Majority Floor Leader, Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township) as Assistant Majority Floor Leader, Don Jones (R-Freeport) as Majority Whip and Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) as Assistant Majority Whip.
The leadership team for the House minority caucus remains the same. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) will continue to serve as Minority Leader with Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) as Assistant Minority Leader, Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) as Minority Whip and Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) as Assistant Minority Whip.
Any questions on this or any other legislative item can be directed to Michelle Holdgreve, OCA Legislative Director at [email protected].
Has CDC Changed Recommendations for COVID Quarantines?
Recently, we received a question from an OCA member asking if the CDC published more stringent rules for employers regarding length of quarantine for employees who have been exposed but are asymptomatic. We thought this question and answer worthy of publishing for the benefit of other OCA members. Following is our response:
It is good to hear from you. Thank you for your input and concern regarding this issue.
The 14-day quarantine requirement for employees who have been exposed has been in place in Ohio since at least April. Please click on the following link to the Ohio Department of Health protocols for this scenario. See item 4. Contact Tracing (ohio.gov) I am also including a copy of a timely newsletter article by Nadia Lampton, of Taft Law that was included in today’s e-newsletter and may be helpful.
The November CDC guideline remains consistent with Ohio in effecting a 14-day quarantine for individuals exposed to the virus. However, it does provide an allowance that essential workers can be returned to work if they are asymptomatic, and the following practices are implemented:
Critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue work following exposure to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 provided they remain asymptomatic and have not tested positive. Additionally, the following risk mitigation precautions should be implemented prior to and during the work shift:
• Pre-Screen: Encourage employees planning to enter the workplace to self-screen at home prior to coming onsite. Employees should not attempt to enter the workplace if any of the following are present: symptoms of COVID-19; temperature equal to or higher than 100.4 oF1; or are waiting for the results of a viral test.
• Screen at the workplace: Employers should conduct an on-site symptom assessment, including temperature screening, prior to each work shift. Ideally, screening should happen before the individual enters the facility.
• Regularly monitor: As long as the employee doesn’t have a fever or symptoms, they should self-monitor under the supervision of their employer’s occupational health program or their workplace COVID-19 coordinator or team.
• Wear a cloth mask: Ensure all employees wear a cloth mask in accordance with CDC and OSHA guidance and any state or local requirements.
• Social Distance: Employee should stay at least 6 feet apart from others and practice social distancing as work duties permit in the workplace.
• Clean and disinfect workspaces: Clean and disinfect all areas such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared equipment routinely.
So, fortunately, as an essential business, Ohio contractors do have the option of implementing the above protocols to return exposed, asymptomatic workers to the job, though the CDC does advise:
“Employers may consider allowing exposed and asymptomatic critical infrastructure workers to continue to work in select instances when it is necessary to preserve the function of critical infrastructure workplaces. This option should be used as a last resort and only in limited circumstances, such as when cessation of operation of a facility may cause serious harm or danger to public health or safety.”
Employers should be prepared to clearly demonstrate why the return of an employee is “necessary to preserve the function of the critical infrastructure workplace.”
To date, we have not heard a significant number of comments or complaints from the membership, or from our safety professionals during a recent safety committee meeting indicating that quarantine requirements for employees directly exposed to the virus have been greatly problematic to operations. Obviously, with the recent uptick of positive cases in Ohio, one can surmise that the risk for all Ohio citizens to be exposed is greater than ever. The 14-day quarantine could certainly become more problematic to employers since we now have close to 12,000 new daily cases in Ohio as of today. We will continue to monitor and digest local, state, and federal COVID-19 resources, recommendations and requirements and do our best to pass on the best guidance and assistance to the membership.
Several OCA Chapter Scholarships Currently Available
OCA’s nine Chapters award scholarships at various times of the year throughout the state, totaling nearly $30,000. Scholarships typically range from $1,000 to $2,500 per award. Currently, four OCA Chapters are accepting scholarship applications. Students pursuing construction-related careers in Ohio’s heavy highway industry are encouraged to apply.
Current chapter scholarship applications available are:
Akron-Canton Chapter – click here for the application
Eastern Ohio Chapter – click here for the application
Toledo Chapter – click here for the application
Southwest Chapter - click here for the application
Please help us get this information out to our future workforce! If you know of students working or going to school in any of the above chapter areas that would benefit, please pass this information along. For more information about OCA Chapter Scholarships, please contact Director of Chapter Development Melanie Kitchen at [email protected].
ODOT Announces Work Type 57 Concrete Sealer Training - Online Course and Test
On behalf of ODOT’s Division of Construction Management, please note that the Work Type 57 Concrete Sealer Training course and test are available as online modules.
• Click here for details on how to access the online course and test.
Questions about Work Type 57 can be directed to Troy Timbrook - [email protected],with the Division of Construction Management.
ODOT Announces Work Type 26 Structural Steel Painting - Online Course and Test
On behalf of ODOT’s Division of Construction Management, please note that the Work Type 26 Structural Steel Painting course and test are available as online modules.
• Click here for details on how to access the online course and test.
Questions about Work Type 26 can be directed to: David Flood – [email protected] or Tina Collins – [email protected], with the Division of Construction Management.
ODAS Announces New Platform for Supplies and Service Contracts
The Ohio Department of Administrative Services has announced a new platform for suppliers and bidders to conduct procurement activities with the State of Ohio called Ohio|Buys. If you are interested in opportunities to supply goods and services to the State of Ohio, Ohio|Buys provides an online shopping experience for state agencies to solicit quotes and purchase contract and off-contract items from suppliers. For more information, click here.
ODOT Announces DBE Trucking Disclosure Affidavit - Begins January 1, 2021
As the final measure to close out the FHWA Conciliation Agreement regarding ODOT’s DBE Program, ODI will ensure that Prime Contractors are monitoring DBE trucking/hauling operations on projects with federal funding. ODOT is proposing the creation of a Trucking Disclosure Affidavit. This form will be completed by the Prime Contractor along with each pay estimate and will affirm DBE and non-DBE trucking utilized by each DBE firm performing those duties during that pay estimate period. ODOT is proposing to monitor trucking (updating PN007) with the following requirements for all ODOT-let projects bid after January 1, 2021. The requirements may be found here.
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Welcome |
OCA is pleased to have received applications for membership from:
Company: Belmont Aggregates Inc.
Type: Associate Member
Description: Supplier/aggregates
Primary Contact: Chris Wilson, 740-633-1635, [email protected]
Chapter: Eastern Ohio
Company: Lane Logix
Type: Associate Member
Description: Traffic control/rental equipment
Primary Contact: Chris Abner, 330-313-1444, [email protected]
Chapter: Akron/Canton
Quick Links to On-line OCA Resources
• Current Ohio Contractor Magazine
• Safety Resources
• Labor & Employment Information
• OCA President's Commentary
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