Assemblyman Peters: Construction Should Remain Open. Here’s How. – InsiderNJ

BY ASSEMBLYMAN RYAN PETERS

If theres a real-time lesson we can learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and response, its thatone-size-fits-all approaches dont work.

It would be either arrogant or political opportunism to attack leaders who are making decisionson the fly aimed at protecting people against a once-in-a-lifetime viral outbreak. I believe ourpresident and countrys governors are doing the best they can to save lives while trying to avoida recession that will affect millions for years to come.

This cant be an easy tightrope to walk. Thats why I commend Governor Murphys balancing actin seeing New Jersey through our current situation. Credit has to be given where it is due. Thegovernor has faced the media every day, has consistently implemented new strategies and hasmade many hard-but-fair decisions through executive orders.

Although I agree with many of the social distancing guidelines hes put in place, lockdownsarent a zero-sum game. Not every lockdown leads to a loss in economics balanced out by anequal win for the health of citizens.

That brings me to one of the governors more recent lockdowns putting an end to most privateconstruction. I would never criticize Governor Murphy on doing what he thinks will save lives,but as legislators, we must speak out when we feel one of these lockdowns could have a veryminimal or flat positive impact compared to its great negative impact.

A construction site isnt a restaurant where new people are coming in and out of every day. Itsnot a warehouse where hundreds of people work in close quarters. It is not even a regular smalloffice, which would most likely lack the type of PPE needed to be at work in the vicinity of otherpeople. Construction generally involves the same bubble of people working mostly outdoors,making social distancing possible in most circumstances.

Weve spent years regulating the construction industry in New Jersey to protect workers fromvarious airborne substances that could cause damage to them. OSHA and other workplaceregulations in place have led to the existence of PPE at construction sites before PPE was anationally known term.

As a country and a state, we have fought this pandemic from home. It has been a necessaryretreat based on science and the adherence to medical professionals, but at some point wemust advance forward and fight the pandemic head on. Now is not the time to return to normal,but I believe controlled fields like construction are the appropriate places where an offensivestrategy can be implemented.

With that being said, here are some suggestions on how to keep construction open in a safeand responsible way.

Temperature checks: All workers must adhere to temperature checks before startingtheir days. Anything above 99 degrees and that worker is sent home. This is somethingmany countries that are reopening are doing.

Mandatory PPE: all workers must wear masks and gloves throughout their shift something most all construction sites already implement.

Mandatory social distancing: a construction site must change its worker schedules tofollow social distancing rules. If a job cant get done under social distancing guidelines,then it should be shut down.

No congregating during lunch breaks. Workers must eat alone.

Construction is a giant locomotive. Once it slows too much, it is notoriously difficult to get it backand moving in the right direction. I believe these steps are a clear way to keep the train movingin a safe manner that is currently unique to only certain industries.

The game plan is that every non-essential activity should be shut down. But paying the bills isessential. Large engines of the economy are essential. We must only place lockdowns onindustries where the lockdown will have an effect on saving lives. If we can develop offensivestrategies to save lives and keep things chugging along, we shouldnt shy away from it becauseit goes against the current headwinds of the news media.

Construction is uniquely suited for an offensive strategy.

Assemblyman Ryan Peters represents LD8.

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Assemblyman Peters: Construction Should Remain Open. Here's How. - InsiderNJ