News from APCA
APCA Journal - 1st Quarter 2021 Edition Available
The latest edition of the Pipeline Contractors Journal is in the mail but you can avoid the wait by reading it online.
We'll preview the 2021-2024 Pipeline and Gas Distribution market, look at the the "New Green Deal" and much more.
Take it with you. The APCA Journal is optimized for reading on your phone or tablet.
OSHA Quicktakes
OSHA inspectors have removed 624,070 workers from COVID-19 hazards during the coronavirus pandemic. OSHA's online newsletter provides the latest news about enforcement actions, rulemaking, outreach activities, compliance assistance, and training and educational resources.
Washington, D.C. Convention Cancelled
APCA Members,
2020 has been the most unusual and challenging year in most of our lives. At APCA our objective has been to get the association back to business as usual as quickly as possible, which is why after cancelling the 2020 convention in the Bahamas, we worked diligently to promote, plan, and execute a rescheduled convention at Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C. Sadly, many of the states and cities in the U.S. have taken a very cautious approach to COVID-19 that well exceeds social distancing and wearing masks. The District of Columbia has been one of the most restrictive jurisdictions in the country, and it instituted a mandatory quarantine period for anyone traveling from 31 states (as I write this). In addition, the city government has failed to move D.C. into phase three, which would have made it legal for APCA to hold its convention in October.
Safe + Sound Partnership News
Thank you for participating in Safe + Sound Week! Receive recognition for your efforts by downloading a certificate and a challenge coin. You can also share your Safe + Sound Week activities on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtWork. If you’re wondering what you can do to show your commitment to safety now that Safe + Sound Week is over, check out the Safe + Sound Campaign resources page to help you continuously improve your safety and health program throughout the year.
The annual Safe + Sound Partner survey is now available.
Safe & Sound Week 2020
OSHA encourages America's workplaces to commit to workplace safety and health by participating in Safe + Sound Week, August 10-16. This nationwide event recognizes the successes of workplace safety and health programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe.
Compliance Assistance Resources: FY 2020 Q3
The U.S. Department of Labor's Quarterly Update on Compliance Assistance Resources: FY 2020 Q3 has been published.
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance to Employers to Help Protect Oil and Gas Workers During the Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released coronavirus-related guidance to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus for oil and gas workers.
Employers with workers engaged in the oil and gas industry should remain alert to changing conditions, and implement infection prevention measures accordingly. The complete news release is available here.
OSHA Offers New Guidance for Construction on Pandemic, Masks
On May 27, OSHA posted new guidance for the construction industry with specific tips for engineering controls, administrative controls, topics for training, and more.
Greg Guidry, Ogletree Deakins, told APCA that the guidance is notable because federal OSHA formally acknowledges that “[c]loth face coverings are not PPE.” This is important because it relieves employers of any requirement to conduct written worksite assessments and training for face coverings. Nevertheless, OSHA recommends their use in construction as a public health measure.
The guidance is at www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/construction.html.
Ogletree Deakins Offers Return to Work Guide
Ogletree Deakins, who has provided invaluable information for americanpipeline.org throughout the pandemic and to APCA for many years, has prepared a detailed Return to Work Guide that will help you develop plans to return employees to work and/or the workplace.
In short, with input from more than 30 highly experienced labor and employment lawyers, the Guide contains more than 45 pages of written analysis and recommendations on common return to work issues, plus 23 templates, flowcharts, and checklists as practical tools to help you craft and implement a strategic and safe return to work process. The firm is hosting a Return to Work webinar (https://ogletree.com/webinars/2020-04-23/return-to-work-a-guide-for-getting-the-workforce-back-into-the-workplace/) this Thursday, April 23, to discuss these and related issues.
OSHA Considers Employer’s Good Faith Efforts When Enforcing Compliance During Coronavirus Pandemic
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued interim guidance to advise compliance safety and health officers to evaluate an employer’s good faith efforts to comply with safety and health standards during the coronavirus pandemic.
Current infection control practices may limit the availability of employees, consultants, or contractors who normally provide training, auditing, equipment inspections, testing, and other essential safety and industrial hygiene services. Business closures and other restrictions may also preclude employee participation in training if trainers are unavailable and access to medical testing facilities may be limited or suspended.
Ogletree Deakins Provides COVID-19 Resources
The following information was sent to APCA by Greg Guidry, of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Guidry speaks at all APCA conventions and mid-year meetings and is a regular contributor to APCA's Pipeline Contractors Journal.
Due to the mountain of information in our COVID-19 Resource Center, we’ve reorganized it by topic and made it more user friendly. It contains new updates from the U.K. and Canada, as well as a summary of OSHA's New Enforcement Guidance and our regularly updated Chart Summarizing Both State & Local Closure Orders and Chart Summarizing Orders to Screen Employees for Symptoms & Provide Protective Measures.
SBA Offers Debt Relief on Existing Loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week, APCA provided information on the CARES Act and the nearly $350 billion it allocated to support emergency loans to qualifying businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program. The Act also includes $17 billion to subsidize existing small business loans.
Page 5 of 11
