NEWS FLASH: NOVEMBER 2, 2020 |
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GOV. MURPHY EXTENDS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY 30 DAYS
On Saturday, October 24, 2020 Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 191 to extend the Public Health Emergency another 30 days. The original Executive Order No. 103 was signed on March 9, 2020 and has been extended every 30 days since. “Today’s new COVID-19 case count marks our highest daily figure since May,” said Governor Murphy. “As we face a steep increase in cases, it could not be more important to ensure we have access to all available resources. Keeping New Jerseyans safe is our highest priority, today and every day. We are again extending the Public Health Emergency in order to do exactly that.” Executive Order No. 191
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GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 192
TO PROTECT NEW JERSEY'S WORKFORCE DURING COVID-19
Executive Order No. 192, signed by Governor Murphy on October 28, 2020, mandates that as of 6:00 am on November 5, 2020, both private and public sector employers are to follow health and safety standards, and protocols to protect their in-person workforces. Employers are probably already doing these things; but under the Executive Order, all employers, at minimum, are to require employees at the workplace to maintain at least six feet apart from others to the maximum extent possible and requires employees and visitors to wear masks (subject to limited exceptions) at no cost to those individuals.
Employers are also required to:
- Provide sanitization materials to employees and visitors at no cost,
- Ensure employees practice hand hygiene and provide sufficient break time for this purpose,
- Routinely clean and disinfect all high-touch areas in accordance with DOH and CDC guidelines,
- Conduct daily health checks, such as temperature screenings, visual symptom checking, self-assessment checklists and/or health questionnaires prior to each shift, consistent with CDC guidance,
- Exclude sick employees from the workplace and follow requirements of applicable leave laws, and
- Promptly notify employees of any known exposure to COVID-19 at the workplace
The Executive Order also creates a collaborative enforcement mechanism to ensure complaints and noncompliance are properly addressed. The NJDOL will support the DOH’s efforts to address worker complaints and will establish an online intake form on the DOL website for complaints. Additionally, the Executive Order directs the NJDOL to provide training for employers and employees.
“Today’s Executive Order closes that gap to help ensure the health and safety of our workforce during this unprecedented time. I want to thank the many community partners who have been with us throughout this process, and the many employers across the state who have been working with us through the pandemic as we pursue economic health through public health” Murphy said when he signed the Executive Order.
For additional information visit:
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CPWR: COVID-19 EXPOSURE CONTROL PLANNING TOOL UPDATE
Update your exposure control plan to keep construction job sites open and protect workers from COVID-19 using this FREE online guide from CPWR: Exposure Control Planning Tool
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PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS
The Paycheck Protection Program gave out $525 billion in loans with more than $12 billion to contractors. Loans ranged in size from less than $50,000 to over $5 million and loans are forgivable if used according to the program’s guidelines; at least 60% used for payroll costs and 40% to other expenses like rent and utilities, however, there is still some confusion surrounding forgiveness. For more details check out the ConstructionDive article "What we know - and don’t know - abut PPP Loan Forgiveness" .
The original loan forgiveness application is lengthy with complicated directions and worksheets and has proven to be difficult without professional assistance. This is one reason the government decided to simplify the loan forgiveness process for loans of $50,000 or less. On October 9, 2020, the SBA and U.S. Department of Treasury released a simpler PPP Loan Forgiveness Process and Application Form 3580S.
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2020 ICE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING
The 2020 ICE Annual Meetings are being held VIRTUALLY this year on November 17, 2020 and November 18, 2020.
Registration to attend the meetings is FREE! And you can also be an Event Sponsor for only $100!
Visit www.icebac.org for more information on Registration and Sponsorship.
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Meeting Dates & Times:
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Meetings 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Social Event 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Meetings 9:00am - 11:00am
Speakers will be providing the latest updates on:
BAC Int’l Health and Pension Funds
IMI
Job site safety during COVID-19
New Silica Rule Enforcement
Post-election Legislative Landscape
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ARCHITECTURAL BILLINGS INDEX (ABI)
The ABI, a leading economic indicator of nonresidential construction activity by approximately 9 – 12 months, reports “Despite an ongoing decline in architecture firm billings, indicators of future work continue to improve." The September index for Design Contracts is 48.9 compared to 46.00 in August while the index for Billings is 47.0 compared to 40.0 in August.
Despite these encouraging signs, many firms across the country continue to struggle. While billings at firms in the Northeast have moved gradually toward a recovery every month since April, business conditions still remain quite soft. Review the ABI for September 2020.
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MASONRY EDUCATION SERIES:
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LAST CHANCE!
Membership Directory updates
MUST be received
by November 6, 2020
to be included in the 2021 Directory!
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