“Employers can no longer conduct business the same way as they did in the past,” Goldberg Segalla partner Michael Rubin, chair of the firm’s national OSHA and Worksite Safety practice, told Construction Dive. “Especially now, they need to be flexible and in many instances, creative, as they think of new ways to perform certain tasks that they have performed in the same way for many years in the past.”

In “The New Normal: Eight Ways the Coronavirus Crisis Is Changing Construction,” Michael provided Construction Dive with developments in workplace safety laws and regulations at the state and federal level, and how recent and anticipated developments will force construction employers to adapt. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), for example, could require employers, including construction companies to develop written infectious disease preparedness and response plans—especially if the current pandemic comes in “waves,” as many experts have predicted.

Michael said the he expects the current emphasis on social distancing to continue. “We can expect to see less group activities and more clearly defined procedures and protocols for even some of the most routine work tasks,” he said.

Read the article:

• “The New Normal: Eight Ways the Coronavirus Crisis Is Changing Construction,” Construction Dive, April 30, 2020

More about Goldberg Segalla’s Michael Rubin:

Michael, chair of Goldberg Segalla’s OSHA and Worksite Safety practice, advises and represents employers across multiple industries and around the country in connection with OSHA inspections, investigations, and enforcement actions. He also develops and audits safety programs and policies and counsels employers on related risk-management strategies. He has hands-on experience managing accident investigations—including those involving multiple fatalities—and regularly represents employers before, during, and after the OSHA inspection process. He also provides practical insights as the author of a monthly OSHA column for Modern Contractor Solutions and serves as co-editor of Goldberg Segalla’s OSHA: Legal Developments and Defense Strategies blog.