CEA Joins Industry Letter to Gov. DeWine & State Officials
Today, CEA joined the following organizations in a letter to Governor Mike DeWine and State of Ohio officials.
- ACT Ohio
- AGC of Ohio
- AGC of Northwest Ohio
- Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council
- Construction Builders Association
- Ohio State Building & Construction Trades Council
- The Builders Association
March 19, 2020
Dear Governor DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Husted, Speaker Householder, Senate President Obhof, Minority Leader Sykes and Minority Leader Yuko:
First and foremost, thank you for your leadership during this crisis.
As we do every day, our employees and companies continue to strive to move Ohio forward. We understand that in this moment of great challenge our companies and workers may be critical for needed construction and emergency building including possibly more hospital capacity. Please know we absolutely stand ready and willing to assist you in your efforts to keep Ohioans safe.
As you know, project workplace safety is a core operating component of our business model. Few if any of Ohio’s other industries can compare to our annual investment in apprenticeship and safety training. The purpose of this letter is to reiterate our industry-wide commitment to overcome this challenge through implementation of numerous additional safety measures as recommended by Governor DeWine and the CDC.
Specifically, our construction firms have mandated strict worker distancing of at least six (6) feet during the entirety of the workday. Thankfully, our projects, many of which are open-air, are typically not densely populated, and provide ample space for workers to maintain separation. Construction companies have also instituted increased hygiene mandates and halted group gatherings of staff. Virtual meetings, tele-conferences and increased electronic communication have all been heavily enhanced, and shift implementation to reduce the number of workers on site have been implemented. Finally, our contractors and workforce are already equipped and well-versed in utilization of personal protective equipment (respirators, face protections, gloves) as this is an everyday practice in our industry. Please note that the modifications have strong support from labor and management to ensure safe work practices for contractors and workers.
Please know that the health and safety of our members, their families and their communities are always priority number one. You have our collective commitment to maintain the highest degree of responsibility and professionalism as we work through this incredibly challenging time.
Again, please do not hesitate for a moment if there is a need for emergency construction or if we can assist you in any way.
We collectively thank you for your fortitude and leadership in this crisis.