We are constantly adapting to the ever-changing nature & Governmental response to the COVID-19 Pandemic currently plaguing the United States. Nevada’s timeline of events is as follows:
- On March 13th, 2020, Nevada’s Governor Sisolak issued a Declaration of Emergency due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- On March 18th, 2020, Nevada’s Governor Sisolak ordered the closure of all Non-Essential Businesses, Schools, and similar enterprises through April 16th, 2020. At this time, Construction is deemed an “Essential Business”.
- On March 26th, 2020, Jess Lankford, Chief Administrative Officer for Nevada’s OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) issued a letter to Governor Sisolak outlining multiple instances of Nevada contractors not complying with the Social Distancing and other requirements of the Governor’s Emergency Declaration #3. (Included with this memo).
- On April 1st, 2020, Nevada’s Governor Sisolak ordered a “Stay at Home” Order, requiring all Nevadans to reside in their home unless leaving for an approved use (Work for an Essential Business, Groceries, Pharmacies, Banking, Etc.). The April 16th non-essential business closure was extended through April 30th, 2020.
- On April 8th, 2020, Nevada’s Governor Sisolak expands state shutdown to include religious gatherings, golf courses, basketball courses, and other restrictions. Construction is not listed and therefore still considered an Essential Business.
We at Tanamera Construction, LLC have been taking as many proactive measures as is feasible to protect the health of our employees, our trade partners, and their suppliers and to remain in compliance with the Governor’s orders outlined above. Some of these measures are as follows:
- On March 15th, 2020, 5 days before the Governor ordered the closure of non-essential businesses, we directed staff who can work remotely to do so and supported them in any effort to make this possible (i.e. Most of our Office staff).
- On March 15th, 2020, we directed all field staff to acquire additional handwashing stations for their jobsites, promote 6’ minimum Physical Distancing between workers, eliminate jobsite tailgate meetings at indoor locations and other methods to reduce possible transmission of COVID-19 on our jobsites.
- On March 27th, 2020, upon receipt of the OSHA Letter to Governor Sisolak (attached) we dispersed this information to our employees and trade partners to further emphasize the importance of adhering to the proper guidelines (Social Distancing, etc.).
- On April 1st, 2020, through the support of our regional partners BANN (Builder’s Association of Northern Nevada) & AGC (Association of General Contractors) we issued a Stand Down order to all our jobsites on April 3rd, 2020, to stop all work and commit up to 1 hour to discuss, in an open forum with proper social distancing, all precautions, and rules that we will be enforcing on our jobsites.
- On April 9th, 2020, with further knowledge of new COVID-19 cases in Nevada continuing to accelerate and in response to the Governor’s expansion of business closures, we have directed all field staff to eliminate, where prudent, all overlapping subcontractor trades where sufficient spacing isn’t available to minimize the risk of contagion.
In response to the above actions taken to “do our part” to mitigate the risk of spread of COVID-19 and in the protection of everyone, it is very likely our schedules will be impacted in some capacity to adhere to these new guidelines.