New federal guidance signals construction should continue across the country

by sadia_badhon | March 31, 2020 6:09 am

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Construction officials say the new COVID-19 guidance[2] released by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency[3] (CISA) clarifies construction’s critical role in supporting essential infrastructure and should signal to state and local officials the need to allow construction activity to continue, or resume, during coronavirus-related work stoppages.

The CEO of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to the release of the new guidelines.

“Federal officials have, wisely, heeded our advice and opted to release new guidance that makes it clear that construction activities are included in its list of essential critical infrastructure workers. This new federal guidance should help eliminate the confusion and ambiguity that has led several state and local officials to needlessly order halts to construction activity that is clearly essential.”

“Specifically, federal officials have opted to identify construction and related activities, including the manufacture and delivery of construction supplies and safety equipment and the permitting and inspection of projects, in 25 different parts of its guidelines, compared to four times in its prior iteration. That is because federal officials understand the essential role construction plays in supporting our critical infrastructure and economic activities. They also understand that construction activity can continue to occur in a way that protects workers and the general public from the spread of coronavirus,” the statement continued.

“Moving forward, we are eager to work with state and local officials to help them better understand how to heed this new federal guidance so they can continue, or begin, to allow construction work to proceed in their jurisdictions.”

Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/new-federal-guidance-signals-construction-should-continue-across-the-country/

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