We are at a moment where there is both an eagerness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as well as hesitancy in receiving a vaccine. While public health agencies are leading the charge to respond to the public’s spectrum of interest and concern with COVID-19, their work can be dramatically amplified – and vaccine participation accelerated - if employers help lead the effort. Never in history have employers witnessed just how much public health can impact their bottom line: new and continuing precautions, possible shutdowns, and curtailing of business as well as social and community events.

Working with public health agencies, employers can:

 

Employers can model what it is like to be part of the solution to ending the pandemic and its effects in the Commonwealth. Taking action will pay dividends now by getting people back to work faster and reviving our local and state economy. In addition, employer-led work will build the infrastructure needed should we be required to overcome similar challenges in the future.

Below are examples of how several businesses have already taken steps. Although these are national businesses and may have resources not available to other businesses, they offer instances of how employers can signal trust in the vaccines and accommodate their employees in participating in vaccination efforts.

We are very interested in the stories you can share about you and your members work in Massachusetts so that we can inspire other employers around the Commonwealth. MAPC’s Public Health team can also be available to speak with you about this work or to capture your stories (Barry Keppard, Public Health Director, can be reached via email at this link).

Pursuant to an Executive Order signed by President Biden, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published new guidance for employers on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

The new guidance is available in full online at this link. The new guidance is intended for planning purposes. Employers and workers should use this guidance to help identify risks of being exposed to and of contracting COVID-19 in workplace settings and to determine any appropriate control measures to implement.

This guidance is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. It contains recommendations as well as descriptions of existing mandatory safety and health standards. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content, and are intended to assist employers in recognizing and abating hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm as part of their obligation to provide a safe and healthful workplace.

Employers should implement COVID-19 Prevention Programs in the workplace. The most effective programs engage workers and their union or other representatives in the program's development, and include the following key elements: conducting a hazard assessment; identifying a combination of measures that limit the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace; adopting measures to ensure that workers who are infected or potentially infected are separated and sent home from the workplace; and implementing protections from retaliation for workers who raise COVID-19 related concerns.

The guidance provides additional detail on key measures for limiting the spread of COVID-19, starting with separating and sending home infected or potentially infected people from the workplace, implementing physical distancing, installing barriers where physical distancing cannot be maintained, and suppressing the spread by using face coverings. It also provides guidance on use of personal protective equipment (PPE), when necessary, improving ventilation, providing supplies for good hygiene, and routine cleaning and disinfection.

OSHA will continue to update this guidance over time to reflect developments in science, best practices, and standards, and will keep track of changes for the sake of transparency. In addition, OSHA expects to continue to update guidance relevant to particular industries or workplace situations over time.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) plans to hold a pre-Request for Responses (RFR) informational conference call to discuss ideas for potential projects before the FFY2021 604b RFR is issued. It is recommend that all potential grant applicants participate in the call to discuss ideas for new projects.

 

The call will be held on February 10th at 10:00 AM. To participate you must register in advance; click here to register. 

 

For FY21, MassDEP will focus 604b grant funds on nonpoint source assessment and planning projects that result in the following:

MassDEP expects to have approximately $220,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to put towards new projects in FY21. Match is not required for 604b projects, however, either cash or in-kind services may increase the competitiveness of a proposal by demonstrating local commitment to the project. Projects are expected to utilize firms that qualify as Disadvantaged Minority Owned Businesses (4.2% budget) and Disadvantaged Women Owned Businesses (4.5% budget). Typically, successful proposals are in the $30,000 to $50,000 range and MassDEP makes 4 to 5 awards each year.

Eligible entities include:

 

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact MassDEP before the RFR issue date to refine project ideas and obtain feedback. Click here for additional program information.

 

Please contact Patricia Arp, the Interim Section 604(b) Grant Program Coordinator, at patricia.arp@mass.gov with any questions or to discuss ideas and program objectives.

in 495/MetroWest Panel Discussion on February 9th

The Energy and Sustainable Development Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership invites you to a special forum as part of its series on the impact of COVID-19 on our region, Municipal Government Response to COVID-19 in 495/MetroWest. This panel discussion will focus on how municipal governments across our region have responded to the pandemic.

Our panel of municipal leaders from across our service region will include:

Our panel will address topics that include COVID protocols put in place in their municipal operations, CARES funding allocations, permitting, efforts to support the local business community, working remotely while serving the public, and next steps with vaccination now in sight. Attendees will have an opportunity to submit questions for panelists to address.

This event will take place remotely via Zoom on Tuesday, February 9th at 8:30 AM; click here to register. The event is open to all interested persons, though registration is required.

Next month, the 495/MetroWest Partnership will be re-launching our organization's website. As part of that process, we are collecting photographs of landmarks, including natural resources, from across our region!

We are putting out a request for photographs of historic buildings, public spaces and facilities, trails, bodies of water and other open spaces, or other notable landmarks from any of the 36 municipalities in our service area. These photos may be selected for use on our revamped website, as well as in other Partnership collateral. Requirements:

If you or your organization have photos to provide, please fill out this brief form to let us know! We thank you in advance for your support.