March 31, 2020 -- Noon PDT
CalAPA COVID-19 Update No. 8 -- March 31, 2020
Important Notice: This CalAPA "Member Alert" is an exclusive benefit of CalAPA membership and should not be shared outside a member company without prior permission from CalAPA.

SUMMARY:
The California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA) is closely monitoring events related to the Coronavirus / COVID-19 virus outbreak to assess what impact it will have on the asphalt pavement industry in California. What follows is the latest information gathered on the topic by the association since our previous Member Alert sent on March 27, 2020. Links to our previous Member Alerts are at the bottom of this report.

WHAT IS NEW:
  • Safety of workers in the construction industry continues to be a primary focus during the coronavirus epidemic. Specifically, top priority is ensuring that all workers adhere to "social distancing" and hygiene recommendations. At a conference call of California construction trade association executives on Monday (March 30), several initiatives were highlighted to reinforce this message. AGC of California, for example, is coordinating a safety "stand down" for Wednesday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., where COVID-19-related safety information will be reinforced to all workers. United Contractors, meanwhile, is promoting a "Safety First / Zero Tolerance" campaign to impress upon companies the importance of ensuring workers are following all proper COVID-19 safety protocols. All other organizations are promoting safety-centric themes. Various organizations are coordinating with trade unions and other entities to ensure consistent goals and messaging.
  • The asphalt pavement industry, nationally and locally, continues to distribute industry-specific information to member companies to assist them in updating safety plans and communicating essential information to employees and their families. Many resources are stored on the National Asphalt Pavement Association COVID-19 resource page HERE. A highly regarded safety program developed by a consortium of construction trade associations in South Carolina, may be downloaded in PDF format HERE.
  • Transportation California, supported by CalAPA, sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 30 reinforcing the construction industry's commitment to health and safety of workers and their families. A copy of the letter is HERE.
  • The U.S. Department of Labor on March 28 released new guidance with regard to labor laws and how they may be impacted by the COVID-19 crisis nationally and in the states, as well as the impact of recent federal legislation to assist companies and individuals. More information is HERE.
  • CalAPA will host a "webinar" on Wednesday, April 1 of the various regional technical committees in California, which are composed of CalAPA members and agency personnel. In addition to a general COVID-19 update, a regular technical presentation will be featured. The webinar is free, but advanced registration is required. Details are HERE.
  • Rogers, Joseph, O'Donnell, a highly regarded San Francisco law firm that specializes in representing the construction industry, has published helpful white papers on key aspects of the COVID-19 situation and made them available on the law firm's website. The articles include concise examinations of labor law HERE and HERE, environmental and safety considerations HERE, and potential benefits to businesses in the newly passed CARES federal legislation HERE.
  • CalAPA continues to contact agencies and members to assess the impact of the health emergency statewide on operations and will continue to compile and summarize that information in upcoming "Member Alerts" as conditions warrant. The March 24 "Member Alert" can be found HERE.

BACKGROUND:

Guidance from government officials continues to be issued at the local, state and federal level with regard to the COVID-19 flu virus, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus, which originated in China late last year and has been spreading quickly to other countries, including the United States. California is one of the states impacted, and the governor has declared a state of emergency as state and local governments mobilize resources to understand the nature of the flu-like virus, how it is spread, and what health implications it will bring with it. Business operations have already been disrupted as "shelter-in-place" orders are issued. Road construction has so far escaped most of these most severe restrictions as it is considered work related to "essential services" to protect vital infrastructure. CalAPA continues to seek out guidance from government and elected officials on how the public health emergency will impact the construction industry, and is monitoring supply chains to identify and assess upstream disruptions.

RESOURCES:

CALAPA RESOURCES :
CalAPA is constantly updating its clearinghouse of COVID-19-related resources of interest to the asphalt pavement industry in California on the CalAPA Safety Page HERE .

The March 30, 2020 edition of the "California Asphalt Insider" newsletter, featuring a roundup of COVID-19 issues and impacts to the asphalt industry, is HERE.

The March 29, 2020 CalAPA "Member Alert" Update No. 7 on this topic is HERE.

The March 24, 2020 CalAPA "Member Alert" Update No. 6 on this topic is HERE .

The March 23, 2020 CalAPA "Member Alert" Update No. 5 on this topic is HERE .

The March 23, 2020 edition of the " California Asphalt Inside r" newsletter, featuring a roundup of COVID-19 issues and impacts to the asphalt industry is HERE .

The March 20, 2020 CalAPA "Member Alert" Update No. 4 on this topic is HERE .

The March 18, 2020 CalAPA "Member Alert" update No. 3 on this topic is HERE .

The March 16, 2020 CalAPA "Member Alert" update No. 2 on this topic is HERE .

The March 16, 2020 edition of the " California Asphalt Insider " newsletter featuring a roundup of COVID-19 issues and impacts to the asphalt industry is HERE .

The March 10, 2020 CalAPA Member Alert with the initial assessment of potential impacts of the coronavirus to association operations and the asphalt pavement industry as a whole is HERE .

A March 2, 2020 CalAPA California Asphalt Insider newsletter article on crisis communications tips is HERE .

OTHER RESOURCES :
The State of California, Department of Public Health website devoted to providing updated coronavirus information in California is HERE .

The California Department of Industrial Relations COVID-19 webpage is HERE .

The National Asphalt Pavement Association COVID-19 information page is HERE .

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage with information on COVID-19 is HERE .

For more information on this “Member Alert,” contact CalAPA Executive Director Russell W. Snyder, CAE, at (916) 791-5044.


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California Asphalt Pavement Association | (916) 791-5044 | www.calapa.net
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