COVID-19 Update – March 20, 2020
To our Clients, Sub-Contractors, and Material Suppliers,
Most of us have been working together for years, if not decades. We have been through many ups and downs in the construction industry, real estate markets, and economic downturns. We are all still here, because we all acted prudently and fairly, and most importantly, supported one another. This Covid-19 crisis is something none of us have seen before. We hope and pray it passes as quickly as it arose. But in the meantime, we, Fullmer Construction, wanted to let you know what we are doing during this time of uncertainty.
First and foremost, we are protecting our employees, and we are adhering to all government issued guidelines at all levels, and from the CDC. In our Ontario office we transitioned to mostly working remotely from home and alternating day schedules. With those mechanisms and procedures in-place, we will continue to work unless we become aware that our work is creating any type of increased risk for our employees are our business partners, which is you.
On March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order basically restricting the movement of all of California’s population, and then outlined the exceptions to such restrictions. The original Executive Order was unclear, in our opinion, as to if and to the extent private construction work was exempt from the shelter-at-home requirements. However, within a few hours, and at the urging of a construction industry coalition group, the State issued a revised statement on its website. It included verbiage which appears to broaden the exemptions to general construction work, which would include private work in addition to the public work exemption. We do not know if the Governor will issue a formal, revised Executive Order, and we to working under language on the official California website.
The California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health is ordering all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence, except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors, critical government services, schools, childcare, and construction, including housing construction.
Fullmer Construction is not ordering any subcontractors to work. We are letting you know that we will be working, in adherence to the above exemption and while following all CDC recommendations for social distancing, and only providing needed employees for maintaining our operations and jobsite coordination.
The Covid-19 Virus is clearly a force majeure event. Furthermore, the actions and restrictions by the governing agencies, which change daily and hourly are also outside of the control of Fullmer Construction. Each county and city we have jobs in, have their own set of work restrictions in dealing with the Covid-19 Virus. Each may be stricter than the Governor’s Executive Order. Furthermore, cities and counties all across the State have virtually closed, face to face meetings, to the public. Permit processing, plan checks, and site-inspections are available some areas as usual, and on a case by case in others. Obviously, there will be delays for jobs where inspections and permitting is postponed.
To our clients, we want to ensure you, that our priority is to keep our employees safe while continuing work on your projects as effectively and efficiently as possible during these times, and to minimize delays insomuch that such is within our capability.
To our subcontractors, we consider you part of our team, and work alongside you, however, you need to decide on your own, whether to send your employees to the jobsites during these times. Our staying on the job, does not create a requirement that you must follow suit.
As in all adversity we face, this too will pass, and like always, we all will be here when it does, hammering away as we have been since 1946. We are praying for your good health and safety.
Thank you, Bob, Gary, Gered, Paige & Ashley