11/5/2020

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): PREVENTION PLAN FOR THE SPREAD OF ILLNESS – UPDATE #11

Contributed by Stephen Zemaitatis-President & CEO

As the world health community continues to monitor closely the spread and the resurgence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the disease it causes, named “coronavirus disease 2019” (COVID-19), Riggs Distler is now into our thirty-seventh (37th) week of prevention and preparedness. At this time, no one knows how severe this outbreak will ultimately be, whether a resurgence of infection will continue or return during the School/Fall season, or what ultimate CDC recommendations and government initiatives will be enforced during any specific period of time. Given this uncertainty, and the uncertain deployment date for an effective vaccine, we are continuing with proactive steps to address Employee and business concerns. First and foremost, we want to maintain a safe workplace and encourage and/or adopt practices protecting the health of our Employees, their Families, and our Community as a whole. We also want to ensure the continuity of business operations during this pandemic event.

To date, I can report that there are now twenty (20) confirmed COVID-19 cases of Riggs Distler Employees. I am also able to report that twelve (12) of the Employees have made full recoveries and have returned to work after receiving medical clearance from their physicians and Riggs Distler’s Corporate Compliance Director, Ed Milukas. The remaining eight (8) employees are expected to return to work the week of November 2,2020.

Currently, the vast majority of Riggs Distler’s Projects and worksites are open and the process is underway by our Customers to reopen the few remaining jobsites that are currently closed by the COVID-19 Pandemic. As we continue to execute our work, Riggs Distler’s primary goal is to keep our field Employees working, to continue providing back office support to our field operations, and to provide a safe work environment to all of our Employees.

Due to the continuing emergence of new COVID-19 cases, and the unpredictable impacts of the upcoming Holiday season, Riggs Distler is taking the prudent decision to extend the following Company-wide Policies for the next eight (8) weeks. These Policies will remain in effect through Friday, January 1,2021.

Per CDC recommendation and guidance, Riggs Distler will be providing free seasonal Flu Shots to all Administrative Employees & their Families, as well as to all Front-line Managers & their Families. The Flu Shots were administered by a third party at RDC Facilities and completed during the week of October 26th.

As part of our commitment to keep our jobsites safe, Riggs Distler has implemented the Project Specific COVID-19 Plan (SOP-108A Supplement – Project Specific COVID-19 7.20.20 docx) for all of our projects. This plan is designed to provide measures for protecting workers from exposure to, and infection with, the novel coronavirus COVID-19. This Plan is adaptable to the type of work being performed and exposure risk, including potential for interaction with infectious people and contamination of the work environment.

In the coming weeks, RDC will begin communicating our plan for the safe resumption of some business activities as well as RDC’s Plan to “re-open” our company in a safe and responsible manner. In the meantime, and through January 1, 2021, the following rules and guidelines will remain in full effect:

• Unless pre-authorized by Stephen Zemaitatis, all Administrative Employee travel is prohibited without exception. This includes all work-related meetings, trips, and seminars. All meetings are to be held via teleconference. If necessary, Please contact IT to request additional conference bridge capabilities.
• Any RDC employee that travels for personal reasons is required to complete the RDC COVID-19 Travel Questionnaire. The Questionnaire is accessible by the link and / or QR Code found at the bottom of the Appendix A – Employee Self-Assessment Please note that travel to a recognized hot spot will require a 14 day quarantine upon return. All personal travel quarantine questions should be directed to Riggs Distler’s Corporate Compliance Director, Ed Milukas.
• Unless pre-authorized by Stephen Zemaitatis, all Riggs Distler Facilities are closed to all outside Visitors without exception. This includes all Customers, Vendors, Suppliers, Sales People, Auditors, etc. The RDC Escort for any authorized visitor is responsible for following the RDC Office Visitor Guidelines. This includes delivery drivers, sales representatives and all non-RDC indivuduals.
• Temperature kiosks have been installed in all Riggs Distler office locations. These kiosks will assist in reducing the risk of building access by infected persons so that we can maintain a safe work environment for RDC employees. Employees and pre-approved visitors will be required to have their temperature checked upon entering the facility for the first time each day. A touchless hand sanitizer and entry requirements posting will be accompanying each temperature kiosk. In the coming weeks we will begin to install additional temperature kiosks at identified projects.
• Riggs Distler has completed the installation of advanced air purification systems in RDC offices. This Bi-polar ionization system is designed to safely kill airborne allergens and pathogens; including the SARS-CoV-2 Virus. 
• All Riggs Distler Administrative Employees who feel sick should report their status to their Manager and should Work from Home. If you feel sick, do not report to work.
• All Riggs Distler Field Employees who feel sick should report their status to their Supervisor and should stay home and not report to work. If you feel sick, do not report to work.
• Handshakes are prohibited and all physical contact should be avoided. Please wash your hands frequently with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Utilize hand sanitizer when available.
• All Riggs Distler field meetings to be held at crew size level – “all-hands” meetings are suspended.
• All RDC Offices will remain closed on Fridays to non-essential personnel. All impacted Administrative Employees should plan to work from home.
• You are required to maintain a minimum social distance of 6 feet when working from any RDC Office, RDC Facility, or RDC Worksite. RDC safety will be posting reminders throughout our facility conference rooms, bathrooms, printer stations, coffee/water dispensers, etc. to reinforce RDC’s 6 foot social distancing requirements. RDC will also be removing some chairs from conference rooms, break rooms, etc. to reinforce the minimum social distancing of 6 feet.
• As a reminder, it is required to maintain at l east six feet of distance from one another, to the maximum extent possible’ everyone is to wear face masks, except when an employee is at their workstation at least six feet from others, or is alone in a walled space such as an office.
  • RDC has procured and received disposable non-FR Face Masks. These face masks will be distributed to RDC offices, facilities, and jobsites for Employee utilization.
  • RDC has also procured Non-FR Goggles/Face Shields which are being distributed to RDC jobsites. These Face Shields / Goggles are for field utilization during tasks that DO NOT require FR PROTECTION. These re-usable units are to be assigned to a RDC Employee and their initials are to be written on the unit to avoid cross-utilization.
  • RDC is continuing to procure and manufacture FR-rated Face Masks which will continue to be distributed to RDC jobsites. These FR-rated Face Masks will be re-usable units that are to be assigned to a RDC Employee and their initials are to be written on the unit to avoid cross-utilization.
• All “High Risk” Administrative Employees: 70+ Years old or people with serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease are recommended to stay home
• All Riggs Distler Employees are required to complete the attached “Self-Assessment Questionnaire (dated 10/30/2020)”. If, on the basis of this self-assessment, it is not appropriate for you to enter the work environment, please contact your Manager.
• Ed Milukas, Corporate Compliance Director has the sole authority to decide the appropriate RDC response to any Employee that that is deemed as not appropriate to enter the work environment via RDC’s “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Self-Assessment dated 10/30/2020.”
• Any Riggs Distler Employee deemed unable to enter the work environment must obtain documented approval from their physician prior to returning to work.
• Continue to carry Riggs Distler’s “COVID-19 Pandemic, Authorization to Travel and Work” letter. Please keep a printed copy of this letter with you as you commute to work and commute to any RDC jobsite. RDC has received Customer and Governmental Industry/Work Exemption Letters that cover our work. These specific letters can be furnished to any Authority upon request.
• Riggs Distler Administrative Employees should already be working remotely as much as effectively possible. Please work with your Managers to develop a plan to accommodate as much of a remote work schedule as possible. Please continue to communicate to IT any technical issues related to working remotely. To date, RDC’s IT infrastructure has operated effectively under the additional load constraints.
• All Employees must continue to follow RDC’s Project Specific COVID-19 Guidelines. All Safety Coordinators and Managers have now completed the certified COVID-19 Training Module as of 5/8/2020. Additionally, Infrared Thermometer Training for anyone using these devices to pre-screen Employees has been completed as of 5/15/2020.
• Riggs Distler’s COVID-19 Taskforce is currently developing the Corporate Guidelines and Policies that will be necessary to protect our Employees until the date that a proven vaccine is distributed throughout our communities. These Office/Facility and Project Site Guidelines and Policies will be communicated in the coming weeks as we all will need to adjust to the new “Pandemic Normal.”

Riggs Distler is currently executing hundreds of projects in over a dozen states. Each project is unique and has its own field and back office requirements. Each RDC Business Unit Leader has the autonomy to make the unique decisions to best mitigate RDC Employee exposure to COVID-19 on their jobsites. Please speak with your Manager about any questions, concerns, or suggestions regarding the Health and Safety of RDC Employees. Riggs Distler will continue to provide hand sanitizers throughout the jobsites, workplace and in common areas. Cleaning sprays and wipes will also continue to be provided to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as telephones and keyboards. Riggs Distler will continue with the increased cleaning frequency of all facilities.

Please note that RDC Customer’s Reserve the Right to enforce their own unique COVID-19 Preventative Rules, Regulations, and Requirements. RDC will direct our Employees to observe these Customer requirements only if they meet or exceed Riggs Distler’s requirements.

It is critical that employees do not report to work while they are experiencing respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that employees remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100 degrees F or 37.8 degrees C) or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. Many times, with the best of intentions, employees report to work even though they feel ill. Employees who report to work ill will be sent home in accordance with these health guidelines. Keep in mind, our Administrative Health Plan has a Tele-Doc option to do virtual doctor visits. Horizon BCBSNJ is providing at no cost 24/7 access to licensed nurses who can help members who have symptoms that are consistent with the suspected coronavirus 2019 infection as well as to provide mental health counseling services as we all deal with the stressful impacts of this pandemic. You can call the designated phone number on the back of your member ID cards or one of the following numbers:

• Members: 1-800-626-2212
• SHBP/SEHBP Members: 1-800-991-5579

Additionally, we are pleased to announce the addition of a free, confidential Employee benefit that is available to you and your family. The Employee Assistance Program “EAP” is provided to you as part of our commitment to promoting employee health and well-being. It’s a comprehensive and confidential program in your benefit package that is fully paid by Riggs Distler. Your Employee Assistance Program is a confidential counseling, assessment, and referral program designed to help you manage personal and/or work-related concerns including:

Personal Finance, Emotional Well-being, Parenting, Pets, Physical Health & Wellness, Legal Issues, Loss and Grief, Stress, Elder Care & Child Care Locators, Workplace & Family Violence, Work-Life Balance, Wills and Other Legal Forms, and Training & Education

There are several convenient ways to access services:
By phone: call 1-800-252-4555 during standard business hours.

Emergencies or crises: If you need immediate assistance, our toll-free hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dial 1-800-252-4555. (both voice and TTD services.)
Online: Access a variety of resources and tools by logging on to our password-protected.

Riggs Distler will be continuously updating our internal Riggs Distler Intranet with COVID-19 updates. These updates will include RDC Coronavirus Preparedness Plan Final rev 10.30.20, Appendix A Employee Self Assessment rev. 10.30.20, RDC Flu-COVID 19 Posting rev.10.02.20, COVID-19 Facility Entry Requirements rev. 10.02.20Company Announcements, Tips for Working from Home, Contact Information, and other helpful materials.

Please contact your Manager/Supervisor with any questions or concerns. I appreciate your adherence to Riggs Distler’s Coronavirus COVID-19 Policies and procedures. Riggs Distler will continue to provide updates to our Employees as the situation develops.