NIA Informs
COVID-19 and related information for the insulation industry.
Sept. 3, 2020
In this Issue:
NIA General Counsel Shares Insights on 3 DOL Answers on Childcare-Related Leave under FFCRA
OSHA Q&A on Training Requirements
NIA's Trending Webinars: Now Streaming for Free
NIA Virtual Courses: Train Employees & Get Certified
More News:
Extended! A Free Call on Safety with Legal Counsel for NIA Members

3 Reasons to Keep Training Now
NIA Informs will continue to provide information as needed to help you make business decisions during COVID-19. Please visit our web page for all previous updates.
Important Update on Childcare-Related Leave under the FFCRA

Aug. 31 Update from NIA Legal Counsel, Auman, Mahan & Furry
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced its position on 3 questions regarding schools and employees’ leave eligibility under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The answers are important, and some may surprise you. Most notably, the DOL’s position is that employees who have chosen remote learning for their children, when given a choice between that and in-person school, are NOT eligible for paid FFCRA leave. The DOL’s reasoning is that these children’s schools were not “closed” due to COVID-19-related reasons; they were open for the children to attend. This is significant because if these employees are not eligible for paid FFCRA leave, then employers also would not be eligible for tax credits if they provide the paid leave to an ineligible employee.

The DOL announced this and other positions as part of 3 new Q&As that the DOL posted to its FFCRA Q&A website on Aug. 27. The Q&As are linked on NIA's website, and the full list of Q&As can be accessed on DOL's website.

As a reminder, employees who ARE eligible for childcare-related leave under the FFCRA can receive 2/3 pay for up to 12 weeks, subject to statutory caps. Employers then become eligible for and can apply for certain tax credits based on having provided the paid leave to eligible employees.
OSHA Rules on Training Requirements during the Pandemic

Q: Will employers have additional time to complete annual training requirements because of mandated social distancing and other restrictions enacted during the coronavirus pandemic?

A: OSHA issued interim guidance on using discretion in enforcement when employers make good faith efforts to comply with OSHA standards during the pandemic. Click here to read more.
Watch the Top Trending Webinars for Free!  

Since March, NIA has hosted almost 20 free webinars reaching nearly 3,000 viewers! These webinars are recorded for your team to watch at their convenience. Here are the trending webinars:



Interested in Sponsoring a COVID-19 Response Webinar?  
We offer a variety of options! Contact webinar@insulation.org.
COVID-19 Exposure Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Plan

The Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) developed and shared a plan with steps that construction employers and employees can take to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. The plan describes how to prevent worker exposure to COVID-19, protective measures to be taken on the job site, personal protective equipment and work practice controls to be used, cleaning and disinfecting procedures, and what to do if a worker becomes sick. Also included in the plan are:

  • Letter for Essential Industry Employees who are traveling to construction job sites;
  • Employee Notification letter if a confirmed case of COVID-19 occurs at work;
  • COVID-19 Checklist for Employers and Employees; and
  • COVID-19 toolbox training talk.
Training during COVID-19: Registration Deadline Is Sept. 18
Introduction to Mechanical Insulation, Part 1
The 2-day intro-only online course is excellent training for new employees to educate them about the mechanical insulation industry and products. Give your remote workers a new understanding of the industry in just 2 days online, Sept. 30–Oct. 1.

Certification Level Course, Part 2
If you are interested in becoming a Certified Insulation Inspector, the interactive class will continue with Part 2 on Oct. 6–7. This course will educate participants on how to inspect and verify that the materials and the insulation system have been installed in accordance with the mechanical insulation specifications.

3 Key Reasons to Continue Construction Training amid the Pandemic

Proactive, successful companies have historically managed to maintain training through difficult times. It may not look the same and may be adapted, but progressive companies will not quit training. Here are 3 reasons why:

  1. The skills shortage won’t disappear.
  2. Training increases productivity.
  3. It’s strategic to leverage the downtime to train and retrain your workforce.

This momentary slump cannot affect the construction industry’s vision for the future. As an essential business, the world needs construction, from quickly building hospitals to donating personal protective equipment. We remain the industry that builds America.
Extended for NIA Member Companies: A Free Call with Legal Counsel

Now through Sept. 30
In the spirit of aiding all of our members during this critical time, NIA Legal Counsel Gary Auman of Auman, Mahan & Furry has offered to respond to 1 safety matter question, per NIA member company, via telephone call or email. Thank you, Gary, for your generosity and your safety expertise.

Contact Auman, Mahan & Furry at 937-223-6003.
Stay Safe with Virtual or Private Hosted Training Courses from NIA

Choose from NIA's Introduction to Mechanical Insulation Course (2-day course) or the full Thermal Insulation Inspector Certification Course (4-day course). Both training courses can be held virtually or at the location of your choice and you can invite your employees, members, and guests.

Contact training@insulation.org for pricing and more information. Discounted pricing is available to NIA members, Gold-Elite Foundation contributors, and engineers. Click here to download a flyer with more information about the benefits of hosting a course.
New Avenues to Connect during COVID-19

In this time of social distancing, are you looking for new ways to promote your brand? NIA is now offering the opportunity to provide branded items (notebooks, pens, hand sanitizer, etc.) to individuals taking NIA's Thermal Insulation Inspector Certification course. This includes online and in-person courses! For more information and pricing details, please contact training@insulation.org.
NIA Informs Archive

NIA Informs newsletter provides updates to help your business find resources to recover faster during COVID-19. Looking for something you read in NIA Informs? Find past issues on NIA's COVID-19 web page.

Note: We know you are receiving a lot of emails and this newsletter will help us streamline our communications to you. Please don't unsubscribe or NIA will not be able to send you any emails in the future.
National Insulation Association