RAND COVID-19 Update: New York City Phase 1 Reopening

Governor Cuomo has officially declared New York City ready to enter phase one of reopening as of June 8. Under phase one, all construction - essential and non-essential - can resume, while practicing proper safety measures. All construction sites must continue to strictly comply with all CDC, WHO, local, federal, and state guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The state of New York has published reopening construction guidelines that include mandatory and recommended practices for the safety of all workers on job sites. Moving forward, all construction sites must adhere to the New York State Department of Health's Interim Guidance on construction activities, until the State rescinds or amends its Executive Order and related guidance.

Key Safety On-Site Guidelines:

Ensure 6 feet distance between personnel, unless the work activity involved requires a shorter distance.
Where social distancing is not feasible, wear a cloth-based face covering, disposable mask, or, if the work requires stricter PPE, N95 respirators.
For work occurring indoors, limit workforce presence to no more than one worker per 250 sq. ft. on site, excluding supervisors, unless additional personnel measures are implemented (e.g. face coverings at all times).
Limit in-person gatherings to essential meetings conducted in open, well-ventilated spaces, with appropriate space for social distancing. Whenever possible, substitute in-person meetings with tele- or video-conferencing.
Limit the sharing of objects, such as tools, machinery, and materials, as much as possible. When in contact with shared objects or frequently touched areas, wear gloves, wash hands thoroughly, or sanitize with at least 60% alcohol-based sanitizer.
Limit sites to only personnel necessary for the current tasks, to help create adequate space.

NYC Department of Buildings, Phase 1 Guidance
Additionally, per the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) Safety Guidance, during the first 30 days of reopening, DOB will solely focus on the education and implementation of the new standards and procedures; violations issued during the 30-day reopening period will have no financial penalties. Following the 30-day period, violations will result in financial penalties, and further non-compliance may result in Stop Work Orders and summonses with accompanying civil penalties of up to $5,000 for each offense.

To ensure all work sites are complying with the new health requirements, DOB inspectors will be conducting safety inspection sweeps of every permitted site in NYC, and following up with additional periodic checks of active work sites.

Phase 1 Reopening Construction in New York City FAQ further covers common questions on reopening non-essential construction, Stop Work Orders, site safety, non-compliant workers, and more.

RAND Is Here For You
RAND is committed to moving forward with a new and safer normal. Throughout the NYC on PAUSE shutdown, we have been regularly updating our operating and safety procedures in accordance with CDC, WHO, local, state, and federal guidelines, and will continue to do so as we resume our projects and work to ensure the safety of our staff and clients while doing our part in reducing the spread of COVID-19. We continue to focus on performing our work in as safe a manner as possible; all staff members are provided with appropriate protective masks, gloves, and sanitizers, and are asked to practice social distancing whenever possible.

RAND is now fully operational on all projects, and we will be reaching out to clients whose projects were put on hold during the PAUSE. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns regarding the resumption of your project.

Thank you to all of our clients, vendors, associates and staff for your on-going cooperative spirit and camaraderie during this challenging time.