Beginning on Monday, July 13, OSHA-MN will begin enforcement of the COVID-19 Preparedness Plans for all construction-related businesses. As you are aware, these plans are now required for all businesses in Minnesota, including all construction businesses.
Housing First Minnesota has worked with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry to further clarify the rules, increase their communication and training, and to delay enforcement until July 13. We are pleased with the Department’s increased communications and training, along with the delay in enforcement. However, we believe that there needs to be additional clarifications regarding their requirements, and the Department has acknowledged that these conversations will continue.
Until we have further updates, all construction-related businesses must operate under the rules as written. The following resources are available for all Housing First Minnesota members:
MN Department of Labor & Industry COVID-19 Preparedness Plan Template
MN Department of Labor & Industry COVID-19 Webinar PowerPoint
Housing First MN Legal Analysis for members to complete and edit their COVID-19 Preparedness PlanSignage (English & Spanish)
COVID-19 Preparedness Plan Basics
1. Identification of sick workers and ensuring sick workers stay home
2. Social distancing (engineering and administrative)
3. Worker hygiene and source controls
4. Workplace building and ventilation
5. Work place cleaning and disinfection
6. Drop off, pick up and delivery
7. Communication and training
Establish screening procedures for all workers entering the worksite.
Are you experiencing symptoms?
Have you tested positive for COVID-19?
Have you had close contact with another person with COVID-19?
Must be conducted daily upon arrival and check in. If “Yes,” workers must be sent home immediately, told to quarantine and consult a medical professional.
Communication and Training
All workers and members of management must be trained and paid for said training. Communicate required rules, protocols and practices. Workers must comply with required provisions. Businesses must enforce required provisions.
If a worker is confirmed to have COVID-19, the protocol must include informing the business’s other workers who have been in close contact with the infected worker, without violating HIPAA. Generals MUST make sure actual instances of COVID-19 get investigated. However, they are NOT required to do the investigation themselves.
Further Questions
If you have individual questions and concerns please share those with the Department of Labor of Industry – OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation at OSHA.consultation@state.mn.us or at 651-284-5060.
We will communicate any updates from the Department regarding construction industry requirements as soon as they are available. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to construction industry safety.
