The Department of Homeland Security has announced that the construction of single-family and multifamily housing has been designated as an “Essential Infrastructure Business”, meaning that construction work may continue under stay-at-home orders, pursuant to state and local regulation. To ensure the safety of jobsites where work is ongoing, the National Association of Home Builders and its construction industry partners have developed a Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Plan, which provides COVID-19 prevention guidance for all jobsite workers.
The plan includes manager and worker responsibilities, protective measures, cleaning and disinfecting protocol, how to respond to exposure, and record-keeping requirements.
There are also several shorter component documents that can be separately downloaded, including:
- A poster that can be printed and displayed on a job site with the most important guidance for workers (also available in Spanish and in larger sizes)
- A template authorization letter that employees can use to prove they are essential workers if asked by local authorities (also available in Spanish)
- A job site coronavirus preparedness checklist and toolbox talk
Because of the hyper-local nature of this crisis, NAHB urges members to contact their state or local HBA with questions about their authorization to work on job sites. Some states have adopted more restrictive stay-at-home orders that do not allow construction work to continue.
