+ Construction

State Updates Guidance on Temperature Checks, Symptom Monitoring after Industry Raises Concerns

Reminder: Continue Wearing Face Coverings on Jobsites

As the state transitioned last week to its "Safer At Home" regulations, there were critical inconsistencies between the guidance for construction firms as an essential industry and the new regulations. The most concerning was new guidance that appeared to require all employers take the temperature of all employees at each site. The Colorado Association of Home Builders worked with our construction-industry partners to communicate concerns with this guidance and was successful in getting changes made to allow more flexibility. In addition, CAHB has continued to work with several of our local HBAs and construction partners to track the different regulations and requirements issued through orders from the state and local governments.

Due to these efforts, the state updated its "Safer at Home" order yesterday (5/5) to address face coverings, temperature checks and symptom checking policies for businesses. The revised Public Health Order has a guidance document available by clicking here. The updated rules from the state includes specific guidance for construction on temperatures:

Construction firms should implement symptom monitoring protocols (including workplace temperature monitoring and symptom screening questions) where possible. Best practice is to implement a temperature check station at the entrance to the construction site. If this is not practicable, employees will check for symptoms at home and report symptoms either electronically or on paper per the system created by the construction firm. Resources are available on the CDPHE COVID-19 resources web page. Per the public health order, employers must retain the screening logs for at least 3 months and provide them to public health upon request.

The updated Public Health order has changed to the following:

For Critical Businesses, Critical Gov't Functions, Non-Critical Office-Based Businesses, Personal Services, Limited Healthcare Settings & Non-Critical Retail shall follow protocols: Employers and sole proprietors shall take all of the following measures within the workplace to minimize disease transmission: deputize a workplace coordinator(s) charged with addressing COVID-19 issues; maintain 6 foot separation between employees and discourage shared spaces; clean and disinfect all high touch areas; post signage for employees and customers on good hygiene; ensure proper ventilation; avoid gatherings (meetings, waiting rooms, etc.) of more than 10 people; implement symptom monitoring protocols, conduct daily temperature checks and monitor symptoms in employees at the worksite to the greatest extent possible, or if not practicable, through employee self-assessment at home prior to coming to the worksite. A sample form can be found here. If an employee reports any symptoms, refer symptomatic employees to the CDPHE Symptom Tracker and take all of the following steps: send employee home immediately; increase cleaning in your facility and require social distancing of staff at least 6 feet apart from one another; exclude employee until they are fever-free, without medication, for 72 hours and 7 days have passed since their first symptom; and if multiple employees have these symptoms, contact your local health department; and eliminate or regularly clean and disinfect any items in common spaces, such as break rooms, that are shared between individuals, such as condiments, coffee makers, vending machines.

Face Coverings:

The state of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has advised our industry to continue to follow the Multi-Industry Construction Guidance document released on April 1. That document is available on CAHB web site by clicking here.

Please continue to follow this document on jobsites-and please pay attention to the guidance on face coverings, highlighted below. With individual jurisdictions, such as Denver, having their own face-covering rules, its important that our industry adhere to this guidance. The current guidance from the state on face coverings includes: Use of personal protective equipment for hygiene and safety: employees should wear all standard worksite personal protective equipment (PPE), especially eye protection and gloves, as well as other standard safety equipment (e.g. reflective vests or jackets). In addition, workers should wear a mask or cloth face covering at other times if consistent with OSHA and other applicable safety requirements. PPE may not be shared between members of a work team.

Self-certify here: https://forms.laplata.co.us/Forms/BusinessCert

+ Real Estate

COVID-19 Guidelines for DAAR Realtors

May 8, 2020 PDF CLICK HERE

The following guidelines, compiled from SJBPH, CDPHE, and the Governor’s Office, are being offered to members in order to provide consistency and clarity amongst agents while conducting business in a pandemic environment. As specific guidelines and requirements are released from our regulatory agencies, we will distribute as we receive and update these guidelines, as necessary. We understand that while some brokerage firms have implemented their own internal set of guidelines, there is a need within our Realtor community to alleviate some confusion and aid those seeking resources in order to comply with local and state requirements. This document was created to help provide best practices for Realtors, their clients and customers while out in the field. Please understand THIS IS NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. Transactions and interactions need to be approached differently in order to follow the current requirements from state and local authorities. If Governor Polis or San Juan Basin Public Health deem it necessary to increase or pull back on restrictions, they can and will do so. Every listing is unique and will require additional tasks from all parties in order to prepare for showings, and to ensure personal and client safety. These are strictly guidelines and in no way are intended to be regulatory or an enforceable policy of the Board. As citizens and business leaders we have the ability and the right to self-police our communities and protect our industry.

Showing Guidelines

Liability- it is the liability of both the LISTING and SELLING agent to coordinate and ensure a property has been properly sanitized after EVERY showing, and their BROKERAGE’S responsibility to enforce it. It is important to provide assurance of proper sanitation protocols to eliminate any potential surface contamination through the touch of a non-resident of the property.

Inquiries Prior to Showing Appointments- Agents must inquire whether properties include individuals symptomatic for COVID-19 (or have been in contact with known positive cases), and must also inquire if their clients are symptomatic. If they DO have a home where someone has been in contact or showing symptoms, the showing must be postponed.

Tracking- Health orders require agents to maintain a detailed log of ALL customer interactions to enable contact tracing (if ever needed). The log should include name, date, and location of contact, as well as the contact’s phone number and/or email address.

1. Showing Log- Agents must maintain a detailed log of all in person interactions to enable contact tracing if it becomes necessary. The log must include date and name of the showing broker as well as the broker’s phone number and/or email address.

2. Buyers Log- Agents must maintain a detailed log of all in person interactions to enable contact tracing if it becomes necessary. The log must include name, date and location of Buyers as well as the Buyer’s phone number and/or email address.

Physical Social Distancing- Agents need to stay at least 6 feet from others, refrain from touching, and wash hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap is not available.

Protective Wear- Wear masks, gloves, and shoe covers (or remove shoes) prior to entering a property. In order to comply with all local and state orders you are required to wear a mask AT ALL TIMES when interacting with the public. It is recommended to advise clients to bring proper face protection, and if a client shows up for an inperson appointment of any kind and is not wearing a mask or appropriate face protection you should not enter the property and reschedule.

Electronic Forms- Documents should be provided to clients electronically if at all possible to avoid the need for paper.

Working with Sellers- When allowing in person showings, an agent must comply with the following:

1. If the property is tenant occupied, the seller will need to make arrangements with the tenant for inperson showings and appointments. If the tenant is uncooperative, Brokers must advise sellers and await resolution from the seller. You may NOT ask tenants to leave the property or otherwise attempt to force tenant compliance.
2. Advise the occupants of the home to turn on all lights and open all bedroom doors and open some cabinet and closet doors to minimize items the prospective Buyer or buyer broker may need to touch.
3. Leave specific instructions for buyers including, but not limited to: 1) wear masks and gloves at all times; 2) wash hands when first arriving and again when leaving the property; 3) do not touch anything in the property. Follow seller/tenant requests while in the home.
4. Be careful not to include any requests or instructions that may discriminate based on a protected class in accordance with Fair Housing laws.
5. Ensure that the property is disinfected between each showing.

Working with Buyers- Agents should minimize the number of properties buyers visit in person as much as possible. When conducting in-person showings, agents must:

1. ALWAYS wear masks and gloves and require buyers wear masks and gloves while viewing the property.
2. Encourage buyers to minimize the number of people present for in-person showings (e.g.: only those signing the contract).
3. Only allow one set of buyers in the property at a time. If you miss your set showing window, reschedule the showing with the listing broker to ensure showings do not overlap.
4. Discourage buyers from touching anything in the property including, but not limited to, counters, cabinets, appliances, fixtures, switches, tables, chairs, doorknobs, sliding glass doors, front door, bedroom or bathroom door handles, windows or window coverings.
5. Discourage buyers from sitting on any furniture or using the bathroom.
6. Maintain six feet of distance between all who are present at all times.

+ Resources

Home Builders Association of Southwest Colorado- COVID-19 Resources

Page 6 of Safer at Home Guidelines

Self-Certification Foom https://forms.laplata.co.us/Forms/BusinessCert

CAR Seller COVID-19 Advisory

CAR Buyer COVID-19 Advisory