Pa. Home Building Slated to Reopen on May 1

Though home builders were federally designated as essential workers, local governments can make their own rules regarding what sectors can stay open. After a month of many building projects put on hold in Pa., all public and private construction sites can reopen on May 1 as Gov. Tom Wolf works to cautiously reopen some segments of the economy. As long as teams uphold social distancing, appoint a “Pandemic Safety Officer,”and maintain sanitary measures, Gov. Wolf feels that building is a good place to start due to workers' ability to spread out.

Masks are about to join hardhats as hallmarks of construction sites in Pennsylvania.

All public and private construction sites can reopen May 1, as long as they adhere to safety precautions meant to protect workers and the public from the spread of the coronavirus, according to guidance Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration outlined Thursday evening.

On job sites, construction businesses must keep workers six feet away from each other when possible, provide hand-washing stations throughout, regularly clean and disinfect areas that are high risks for spreading infection, limit gatherings to no more than 10 people, stagger employees’ shifts, limit tool sharing, prohibit sick workers and unnecessary visitors, ensure workers arrive separately and wear masks, and appoint “Pandemic Safety Officers” to enforce the administration’s safety guidance.

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