Construction and Engineering – Coronavirus (COVID-19)

May 19, 2020September 1, 2020 by Duane Morris

“Reopen Massachusetts” Permits Construction, Manufacturing and Places of Worship to Reopen

On May 18th, the Governor of Massachusetts released Reopening Massachusetts, which provides for a 4-phased strategy to reopen businesses and activities in Massachusetts. The Administration also released a new “Safer At Home” Advisory, which instructs residents to stay at home unless engaging in these newly opened activities. Starting May 18, 2020, Massachusetts will begin Phase 1 of reopening, and workplaces that are permitted to open are required to follow new safety protocols and guidance.

To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris partner Brad Molotsky, please visit the Duane Morris Project Development/Infrastructure/P3 Blog.

May 15, 2020September 1, 2020 by Duane Morris

New York’s Construction Master Guidance Requires COVID-19 Precautions for All Projects

Governor Andrew Cuomo has released interim guidance regarding construction in New York state. These guidelines apply to both nonessential construction businesses in regions that are permitted to reopen and essential construction businesses throughout the state that were previously permitted to remain open.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.

May 15, 2020September 1, 2020 by Duane Morris

UK Construction: Greater Fexibility with Site Opening Hours

Throughout the lockdown in the UK, the construction industry has been allowed to remain open for business providing that compliance with the Public Health England measures is maintained. However, most national house builders at least had taken a decision to close sites. Boris Johnson on Sunday 10^th May, in his long awaited press briefing on the potential relaxation of social distancing road map, made clear that those in construction and manufacturing should go back to work, if they could.

To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris partner Vijay Bange, please visit the Duane Morris London Blog.

May 13, 2020September 3, 2020 by Duane Morris

New Jersey Announces Plan for the Restart of Non-Essential Construction and the Curbside Reopening of Non-Essential Retail Stores

On May 13, New Jersey Governor Murphy announced the permissible reopening of nonessential retail stores for curbside pick up, and drive thru attractions, as well as the authorization for nonessential construction to resume.

To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris partner Brad Molotsky, please visit the Duane Morris Project Development/Infrastructure/P3 Blog.

May 13, 2020September 1, 2020 by Duane Morris

“Lean Thinking” Revisited for UK Construction and Engineering

Lean Thinking as a concept has its roots in Toyota’s production system. One of the primary tenants of this concept is to aim to perfect process, as continuous improvements address root causes of quality issues, and the elimination of waste.

The construction industry, on the other hand, has long been criticised for being wasteful, and failing over the decades to deliver good value. Furthermore, it has a reputation for being an adversarial industry with significant disputes. There have been countless reports over the decades attempting to work out how these ills can be addressed.

To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris partner Vijay Bange, please visit the Duane Morris London Blog.

May 12, 2020September 1, 2020 by Duane Morris

New York Forward Plan Reopens Construction in Phase One

On May 15, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Orders 202.6 and 202.8, which stopped all nonessential work in New York, will expire. New York will then shift to “New York Forward,” the state’s plan to reopen nonessential businesses and return people to work, without triggering renewed spread of COVID-19 or overwhelming the healthcare system.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.

May 12, 2020September 1, 2020 by Duane Morris

UK Construction Remobilisation Considerations, Part 2

Last week we discussed, in light of the encouragement from Robert Jenrick MP (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government) for the construction industry to remobilise, the government’s apparent reluctance to provide confidence and clarity for the construction industry in respect of the safe operation of sites.

In the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on 10 May 2020, he re-stated that encouragement for the construction industry, where possible, to return to work.

To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris attorneys Steve Nichol and Matthew Friedlander, please visit the Duane Morris London Blog.

May 8, 2020September 1, 2020 by Duane Morris

Pennsylvania Plan Allows Reopening of Construction, Vehicle Dealerships and Real Estate Industry

While Governor Wolf extended the “Stay at Home” order until June 4, 2020, by amendment to his earlier order, he also updated guidance on opening businesses in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is employing a regional and industry-specific approach to reopening “non-life-sustaining” businesses.

To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris partner Brad Molotsky, please visit the Duane Morris Project Development/Infrastructure/P3 Blog.

May 7, 2020September 1, 2020 by Duane Morris

UK Construction Remobilisation Considerations

The construction industry in the UK has been afforded the freedom to continue work where it is safe to do so since the lockdown was implemented. It is a freedom that the sector has done its best to exploit where it can, with significant works continuing on a variety of essential and less essential projects. A number of leading construction companies and housebuilders have continued or recommenced work where they are able to do so, and a number of high profile projects are apparently progressing well. Build UK has reported that its members, who comprise some of the largest contractors operating in the UK, are now working on 73% of sites (up from 69% last week). However, the issues for the industry facing the prospect of full remobilisation to all sites have not changed.

To read the full text of this post by Steve Nichol and Matthew Friedlander, please visit the Duane Morris London Blog.

May 6, 2020September 1, 2020 by Duane Morris

Adjudication for UK Construction Disputes During the COVID-19 Lockdown

In the UK, adjudication remains one of the quickest and most cost-effective methods of resolving construction disputes. As most people adjust to the “new normal” of working from home and away from the usual office environment, adjudication may not be at the top of everyone’s agenda. That is somewhat ironic given that the current COVID-19 situation is fast becoming a potential breeding ground for construction disputes.

To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris attorneys Vijay Bange and Tanya Chadha, please visit the Duane Morris London Blog.