COVID-19 Resources - Master Builders Association of Pierce County

COVID-19 Resources: This guidance, including sample documents, is provided here to help you comply with the governor’s Reopening Guidance for Business and Workers.

In response to COVID-19, in-person meetings at our facility are currently restricted. Committee meetings will proceed only by telecommunication. Staff will continue to be available during our normal business hours and are happy to answer any questions via email or by phone at 253-272-2112.

Master Builders Association of Pierce County is committed to providing our members with the most up-to-date resources and information available.

As a community, we are experiencing the hard-hitting effects from COVID-19. It’s times like these where we need to come together and help support each other. Master Builders Association of Pierce County launched a program to provide meals for our brave healthcare professionals. >>Learn more

Current Status of Construction: OPEN

Late on June 11, the Governor’s office rescinded the Construction COVID-19 Job Site Requirements, first introduced in May 2020. However, job sites and construction offices must still comply with DOSH Directive 1.70, which outlines Coronavirus safety requirements for all businesses in Washington.

What does this mean for employers in the construction industry?

The following are no longer required:

Having specific COVID-19 control, mitigation and recovery plans at each job site. However, COVID-19 safety must still be included in required Accident Prevention Programs. (DOSH Directive 1.70)
Designating a COVID-19 site-safety supervisor.
However, employers are still responsible for COVID-19 safety compliance. (DOSH Directive 1.70)
Holding weekly COVID-19 safety classes.
However, COVID-19 must be included in other required safety training. (DOSH Directive 1.70)
Wiping down tools shared between co-workers.
However, a sanitation and disinfection schedule of the site is still required. (DOSH Directive 1.70)
Maintaining 10-foot distancing with customers in occupied homes.
Enforcing a quarantine of employees who travel out of state.

Multiple COVID safety requirements still remain

Earlier today, BIAW confirmed with the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) that the following safety requirements do continue for all industries, including construction (DOSH Directive 1.70):

Conducting daily employee screening as the required “system for preventing sick employees to be present at work.”
Providing basic education on COVID-19 prevention, including communicating daily, hanging posters/signs and providing meaningful ways for workers to express concerns and offer ideas
Maintaining six-foot social distancing requirements for unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or those whose status is unknown
Requiring appropriate masks/respirators for workers who work or travel with others and are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or of unknown status
Requiring face coverings of customers or clients unless they are vaccinated or otherwise exempt
Making hand-washing stations available for employees on every construction job site
Maintaining a schedule for, and conducting, adequate workplace cleaning
Verifying vaccination status of employees to reduce social distancing or allow workers to stop wearing masks. Employers do not need to verify status if they choose to continue requiring social distancing and masks for all employees.

Please refer to DOSH Directive 1.70 for more details on the new general safety requirements. Employers can also rely on “COVID-19 Prevention in the Workplace” as additional guidance from L&I.

Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery

Jan. 11, 2021: Inslee signed the “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery” proclamation, detailing his plan for a regional approach to reopening Washington’s economy. > Phase Information
March 11, 2021: Inslee announced he was returning to a county-by-county approach to reopening and moved all counties to Phase 3.
April 12, 2021: Inslee announced three counties (Pierce, Cowlitz and Whitman) were rolling back to Phase 2 due to not meeting Phase 3 metrics. The next review of metrics was set for May 3.
May 4, 2021: Inslee announced a two-week pause, keeping all counties in their current phases. At this point, Pierce County remained in Phase 2.
May 13, 2021: Inslee announced the state is moving toward a statewide June 30 reopening date. All counties in Washington will move to Phase 3 of the Healthy WA: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan effective May 18 until June 30. The full reopening could happen earlier than June 30 if 70% or more of Washingtonians over the age of 16 initiate vaccination.

Construction Eligible for Vaccines

The entire construction industry became eligible for COVID-19 vaccines effective March 31. This includes everyone who works in the construction industry, including administrative staff. You can find vaccine appointments via the DOH Vaccine Locator site: VaccinateWA. Everyone over the age of 16 became eligible for the vaccine starting April 15, 2021

Jobsite Safety Requirements

Pierce County is currently in Phase 3 and is set to fully reopen by June 30. The Governor’s Construction Working Group Requirements (Issued on May 12, 2020 and updated 7/2/2020), authorized all construction to resume, including those activities for which social distancing may not be maintained and the start of new construction projects.

Jobsite Safety Plan Template

A Jobsite Safety Plan, signed by the contractor, must be developed for every jobsite. This plan must also be produced at the request of any employee or regulator. The following is a complete Jobsite Safety Plan template for you to customize for each of your jobsites:

> Jobsite Safety Plan updated 5/22/20 (includes DOSH directive update 5/15/20)

Required Jobsite Postings

The COVID-19 Jobsite Safety Requirements mandate that you post on each jobsite, publicly viewable at all times, the following information.

Required hygienic practices (like those found on this CDC Poster): Don’t touch face with unwashed hands or with gloves; wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, machines, shared tools, elevator control buttons, and doorknobs; cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing as well as other hygienic recommendations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Name and contact information for the COVID-19 Supervisor(s)