NIA and the other associations representing the insulation industry are periodically surveying contractors to gain insights on how COVID-19 is impacting our industry, including future projects, supply chain issues, new safety measures, financial effects, federal assistance insights, plus much more.

Thank you to our Contractor members for taking the surveys and providing valuable industry insights! Click here to view current and past survey results.

As Congressional negotiations on new COVID-19 relief/recovery have stalled, the President issued 4 Executive Orders last week, 2 of which directly impact employers: a deferral in the payment of payroll taxes and a reduced pandemic unemployment insurance (UI) benefit. The President’s Executive Order allows employers to defer the payment of the employee portion of federal payroll taxes from September 1 to December 31, with the presumption that employers will pass the savings on to their employees. This Executive Order defers the tax, but it does not forgive it. Both the President and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin have indicated that the tax might be forgiven later, but employers could face a significant tax increase at the end of the year if they pass the tax savings on to their workers and the government does not make the deferral permanent. Click here to read more.

As the U.S. Small Business Administration has been offering loans to businesses and other groups affected by the pandemic, it has become a target for impersonation in phishing attacks. A report published Monday by security firm Malwarebytes tracks some of the different phishing campaigns that have sought to exploit the SBA. Click here to read more.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam last week announced the launch of COVIDWISE, an exposure notification app that will alert users if they have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. Virginia is the first state in the country to design a COVID-19 app using Bluetooth Low Energy technology developed by Apple and Google, which does not rely on personal information or location data. Users opt-in to download and utilize the free app.

OSHA encourages America’s workplaces to commit to workplace safety and health by participating in Safe + Sound Week, August 10-16, 2020, which recognizes the successes of workplace safety and health programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe. Visit www.osha.gov/safeandsoundweek for more information, resources, and tools.

Due to COVID-19, NIA's Thermal Insulation Inspector Certification^™ Program went virtual! Last week, we launched our Introduction to Mechanical Insulation course, and this week, participants completed the virtual Thermal Insulation Inspector Certification course.

If you are interested in becoming a Certified Insulation Inspector, the next online interactive class takes place in October. This 4-day 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.

This will include both live and pre-recorded sessions.

To become a Certified Thermal Insulation Inspector™, class participants must complete both Part 1 and 2, and receive a passing grade on the final examination at the end of each level. All course materials will be shipped to participants before the course.

Email training@insulation.org for questions. Click here to learn more and register.

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.

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.

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.

NIA Informs Archive

Looking for something you read in NIA Informs? Find past issues on NIA's COVID-19 web page.

NIA Informs newsletter provides updates to help your business find resources to recover faster during COVID-19.

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