COVID-19 Resources


NEW! Fall 2021: Resources about the two Federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates can be found on the left-side menu under "COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates."
 


Sample COVID-19 Return-to-Work Checklist - This document can serve as the template for a basic checklist to help utility construction employers establish a safe protocol to return their employees to work. This also contains sample temperature scan protocols and a subcontractor certification-of-safety form. MS Word | PDF

Sample "Essential Letter" For Company Employees Traveling in Quarantine Areas
Members can download a sample letter for employees to carry with them on essential company business when traveling through areas under "Stay-at-Home" orders or quarantine. Please print your letter on your company letterhead. (MS Word)
Sample Written Pandemic Flu Policy
Members can download NUCA's sample written Pandemic Flu Policy to create their own best practices or to use as a template to create your company's program.

Additional Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources Available To NUCA Members:
These resources have been gathered by NUCA National and NUCA Chapter staff to provide our members a central online place for information about protecting your employee's health, legal advice on business continuity, workplace reguations, and many other vital topics. Start with these pages when you are ramping up your company's response during this national emergency.

OSHA COVID-19 Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace (1/20/2021) - This CISC summary of OSHA's new guidance includes a recommendation for implementing a workplace COVID-19 prevention program (available below), as well as descriptions of applicable mandatory OSHA safety and health standards.  However, this guidance does not create new legal obligations for employers.

COVID-19 Resources From The US Government (12/2020) - OSHA's Allentown, PA office compiled a wealth of government and industry information resources on OSHA regs, COVID management in the workplace, returning to work, state standards, PPE standards, transportation, and much more.

Bouncing Back: A List of Statewide Return-to-Work Protocols From JDSupra.com, a list of COVID-19 general reopening plans and orders that have been issued as of October 2020 at the statewide level.

Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) Recommendations
: COVID-19 Exposure Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Plan for Construction. Includes template letters, jobsite checklist, and toolbox talk. MS WordEnglish | Spanish

USDOL: COVID-19 Paid Leave Policies. The 2020 paid leave law requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions applied until December 31, 2020. This USDOL page further explains an employer's obligation under this law.

OSHA: Guidance for Construction Employers and Workers With Potential Occupational Exposures to COVID-19. This OSHA website contains many recommendations as well as descriptions of mandatory safety and health standards on complying with these new safety and health standards in the construction industry, and COVID-19 risks on the jobsite.

OSHA:  Discretion in Enforcement when Considering an Employer's Good Faith Efforts During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.  In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA understands that some employers may face difficulties complying with OSHA standards due to the ongoing health emergency. OSHA's April 16th memo instructs enforcement officers to evaluate whether the employer made good faith efforts to comply with applicable OSHA standards.

DHS CISA Guidance on "Essential Workers" - Guidance that identifies workers involved in the construction industry who are typically essential for maintaining and reparing critical infrastructure. | Earlier CISA version 2.0.

FEMA: How to Help - information and links regarding FEMA's charitable efforts and how your company can assist in the effort.

OSHA Information Pages - A wealth of COVID-19 information for employers and employees covering many topics. Also in Spanish.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - What employers and employees need to know about COVID-19 and Latest U.S. updates on this disease.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Tookit - Includes workplace graphics on staying healthy, what to do if employees get sick, information on keeping businesses and homes safe, and much more.

Engineering News-Record - Latest coverage of Coronavirus issues affecting the US construction industry.

DHS-CISA: Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce. Discusses the importance of essential infrastructure employees in disaster management, such as "water and wastewater" and "public works" employees.

FEMA Coronavirus (Covid-19) Response - Fact sheets, rumor control, FAQs, best practices, and more information available on FEMA's emergency management webpage.

Disclaimer: The sample Pandemic Flu Policy may be used as a guide to create a program for your company. The suggestions, procedures, and precautions set forth in this document are distributed by NUCA for the use by their members. While the authors have done their best to ensure that the information in this guide is accurate, no liability or responsibility of any kind is accepted by the authors, the National Utility Contractors Association, or its employees for its use during declared pandemic flu situations, or other similar national public health emergencies.
NUCA Toolbox Talks on COVID-19: English | Spanish





 
Past NUCA Legislative and Regulatory Actions

March/April Utility Contractor - "A Letter To Our Members," by NUCA CEO Doug Carlson

March 30, 2020 - "Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce" DHS List Distributed to NUCA Membership, by NUCA CEO Doug Carlson

March 22, 2020 - Letter to DHS CISA Director Krebs on "Essential" Designation for Utility Constrution Industry, by NUCA CEO Doug Carlson
 
OSHA's extensive COVID-19 topic page can be found here.
Construction Industry Resources for COVID-19 Paid Leave Legislation:
(This legislation [HR 6201] was signed into Federal law by President Trump on March 18, 2020.)

NUCA Fact Sheet - Legislative Summary of HR 6201. A comprehensive summary of the new national paid leave requirements.

JoA: How To Report Taxes for COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave (August 2020)
IRS: Guidance on Reporting Qualified COVID-19 Sick Leave/Family Leave Wages (Notice 2020-54)
ENR: New U.S. COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Law Has Lots of Gray
Law360: USDOL Hits 'Critical Issues' In Coronavirus Paid Leave Law Guidance
Cohen Seglias: Coronavirus Employment Law Update: Paid FMLA, Paid Sick Leave, and Other FAQs
ConsensusDocs: Emergency Paid Leave for Construction Employers with Fewer Than 500 Employees
JDSupra: COVID-19 Relief Bill Provides Payroll Tax Credits for Emergency Paid Leave
Buchanan Ingersoll-Rooney PC: FAQ for Employers: Families First Coronavirus Relief Act & Its Paid Leave Requirements
Construction Dive: Trump signs emergency coronavirus bill granting paid leave opposed by construction group
GRF CPAs & Advisors: President Trump Signs Coronavirus Relief Package into Law Extending Paid Leave Benefits
State Economic Resources:

(This list is not exhaustive.)

Multistate: COVID-19 State and Local Government Policy Tracker

Washington State: Governor Inslee Memo on Construction Industry Guidance & "Essential" Projects
Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce: Business Resources for Coronavirus
NUCA of Pennsylvania: Proposed industry waiver for statewide shut-down order on utility construction industry (MS Word)