Expand AllClick here for a more accessible versionMay new construction
projects be started, or does this order only allow existing projects to
continue?
Yes, new construction
projects may start, provided that the protocols in the Construction Guidance and the DOH Business
Safety Measures and Worker
Safety Order are followed.
A construction site isn’t following the safety
requirements to prevent COVID-19. How do I file a complaint?
All complaints
against a business not following required COVID-19 protection measures,
including a specific construction site, should be made using the Pennsylvania Department
of Health (DOH) Complaint
Form.
Will the Department investigate a complaint if the name or location of the jobsite is not provided?
No, the name and
address of the business must be included in the complaint.
Is my employer required to provide masks/face
coverings, or is that my responsibility?
Yes, your employer is required to provide you with the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The DOH has provided guidance on employers providing masks, and the ability for employees to use their own masks if a mask from the employer is unavailable, in the Business Safety FAQs.
Can my employer force
me to work if they do not provide PPE or have safeguards in place that follow
the Department of Health’s guidance?
Employers are allowed to make business decisions only within the boundaries of the law.
Employment in Pennsylvania is "at will," unless you have a contract with your employer, or you are a member of a union with a collective bargaining agreement. If you are a member of a union, contact your union representative. If you believe that you have been terminated inappropriately, you may wish to consult with an attorney familiar with labor and employment law.
You can make a complaint against a business not following required COVID-19 protection measures using the Department of Health's Complaint Form.
If I do not feel comfortable reporting to work, do
I need to report to the worksite?
If you are in a
population particularly susceptible to COVID-19 and are directed by a medical
professional or government official to quarantine or self-isolate, you may be
eligible for Unemployment Compensation (UC) or existing paid leave available
through your employer. Visit our COVID-19 Guidance
& Resource site for more information on UC.
If I arrive at a
construction site and notice the worksite is not adhering to the Construction
Guidance, what should I do?
If you are concerned
for your health and safety on the worksite, you should talk to your employer
about following COVID-19 safety measures, including the Construction Guidance and the Worker
Safety Order. You can make a complaint against a business not following the
required COVID-19 protection measures using the DOH Complaint
Form.
If a sick employee
arrives on site, what options do I have?
Sick employees,
including employees with a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, should
immediately be separated from other employees and sent home. Employees unable to work due to COVID-19
related reasons may be eligible for Unemployment Compensation (UC), or existing
paid leave available through the employer. Visit our COVID-19 Guidance
& Resource site for more information on UC.
Should I send home employees who were exposed to a sick employee?
If a jobsite or
business location has been exposed to person who is a probable or confirmed
case of COVID-19, the location should follow the protocols in the DOH Worker
Safety Order, which includes closing any areas where the infected person
was working and beginning monitoring of all employees once the location has
re-opened. Employees without symptoms
(asymptomatic) may be allowed to continue working after the location has been
closed and sanitized according to the Worker Safety Order.
Is jobsite screening
mandatory?
Construction jobsites
should follow the guidance in the DOH Worker
Safety Order and the associated Business Safety FAQs. If a person who
is known to have COVID-19 or is presumed to have COVID-19 has visited the
jobsite, screening, including temperature checks, is mandatory.
Where can I obtain information on jobsite
screening services or equipment?
You can find a list of suppliers that provide PPE and
COVID-19 supplies on DCED’s Business-2-Business
Interchange Directory.
Am I required to wear gloves while using tools?
Gloves and enhanced cleaning procedures are required for shared tools and equipment. CDC has established guidelines for employers and workplaces. Follow the guidance in the DOH Worker Safety Order and the associated Business Safety FAQs.
My construction firm has not established a written safety plan. Is
the safety plan mandatory on a commercial construction site?
While not mandatory, written safety plans are
strongly encouraged for all businesses in operation, including all types of
construction.
What qualifies a pandemic safety officer, and what qualifications must
the pandemic safety officer possess?
The pandemic safety officer is the individual designated by the business to provide information about how the employer is complying with all relevant orders and guidance. This individual should be familiar with all relevant orders and guidance and be able to provide workers on site with accurate, reliable guidance in this regard.
Can the pandemic safety officer both serve as
the safety officer and also be a working member of the construction crew?
Is the pandemic safety officer required to be on site at all times?
Is a pandemic safety officer a requirement for residential construction?
If a residential construction project is over
2,000 square feet, can the same non-residential guidelines apply?
No. Residential
projects must follow the residential guidelines.
May outside visitors come on to the job site, such as spouses bringing lunch or potential clients?
Outside visitors to
the job site should be strictly limited. If an outside visitor is absolutely
necessary, all visitors should follow CDC guidance for preventing the spread of
COVID-19 and the DOH Business Safety Order, including wearing a mask,
practicing social distancing, and staying home if they are sick.
My worksite is not following the COVID-19 safety
requirements. What should I do?
Concerns should first
be raised to the worksite’s designated pandemic safety officer for commercial
jobsites, or to the worker’s supervisor for residential jobsites. If a remedy is not reached, a complaint can
be made using the DOH Complaint Form.
Does the Department have any say in which local
public construction projects are allowed to continue?
For publicly funded
projects, the state or local government entity funding the project must
determine if the project should proceed.
May my organization’s construction training or
apprenticeship program resume?
Yes, as long as all activities follow the safety
guidelines in the Guidance
to Construction, and that any classroom portions of the training follow
safety measures in the Worker Safety Order.
When is a tilt up project considered enclosed? When is
the roof is on?
A structure is considered enclosed when the roof is
on.
Is constructing a roof structure with no walls, such
as a pavilion, considered exterior?
A pavilion is an unenclosed structure.
Can a contractor open its office location to conduct
business?
Yes, as long as the safety measures in the DOH Business Safety Order are followed. When possible, those who can telework should do so.
Is a construction business permitted to operate in its permanent work/office location?
Yes, as long as the safety measures in the DOH Business Safety Order are followed. When possible, those who can telework should do so.
Are modular homes and manufactured homes considered “construction” activities and may they resume?
Yes, activities related to modular and manufactured homes, including their sale, may resume.