As the number of COVID-19 cases reach 45,000 in Harris County as of July 13, 2020, which includes the city of Houston, Governor Greg Abbott has halted additional reopening phases but has been reluctant to extend the “stay home, work safe” order issued for the county in March. Abbott’s reluctance in this regard has little […]
COVID-19 Guidance for the Construction Industry in Harris County
OSHA’s New Construction Webpage Provides Specific Guidance for Employers in the Construction Industry
While the media is currently distracted from the Coronavirus, the economy is still struggling to reopen from the shut downs Coronavirus caused. As businesses reopen, employers are obligated under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (“OSH Act”) to provide a safe workplace for their employees. Failure to consider and take measures to mitigate […]
The Handshake Agreement Should be a Thing of the Past…
As scholars embark on a quest to define the parameters of an acceptable handshake/handshake equivalent and American businesses return to work with a new normal, the handshake agreement should disappear in its entirety from the continuation or start of all commercial construction projects. Jobsite safety, jobsite interaction, screening/testing, the quarantine of sick or exposed workers, […]
Coverage for Business Losses – Property Damage No Longer Required?
Most commercial property insurance policies include insuring agreements that require direct physical loss or damage to covered property as the triggering event. Without establishing direct physical loss or damage, a policyholder traditionally cannot meet its burden to trigger coverage for the economic loss of business income as a result of closing its doors. Today, with […]
Executive Order GA 14 – Summary for Construction Services
Governor Greg Abbott issued a new Executive Order GA 14 relating to statewide continuity of essential services and activities during the COVID-19 disaster. The executive order supersedes any conflicting order issued by local officials in response to the COVID-19 disaster to the extent that such a local order restricts essential services allowed by the executive […]
Construction Industry Alert – Summary of the Dallas County Amended Shelter-in-Place Order
On March 29, 2020, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued an Amended Shelter-in-Place Order (the “Amended Order”). There are important changes in the Amended Order that directly impact the construction industry. The provisions impacting the construction industry can be summarized as follows: All workers and contractors must take their temperature at their residence. If a […]