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Dear sisters and brothers, 

We hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe and well. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge that we continue to fight every day, both as a country and a community. As our country faces a surge in the number of new cases and hospitalizations, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that we stay informed and follow best practices with regard to public health to help slow the spread of the virus. 

We encourage all members and their families to exercise the following guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to protect their own health and the well-being of our community.  
  • Wear a mask, covering your nose and mouth, when in a public setting or around people who don’t live in your household. 
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, especially after you have visited a public place. 
  • Maintain a distance of six feet between yourselves and people who don’t live in your household. 
  • Monitor your health and be alert for symptoms. You can find more information about symptoms here. 
  • If you have or believe you may have symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in contact with a person who has tested positive for the virus, stay home and determine next steps.  
Experts are also emphasizing the increased importance of getting a flu shot this year, to both minimize illness that may be mistaken for COVID-19, and to reduce the burden on our health care systems and ensure medical resources are saved for patients with COVID-19. Additional information on the flu shot can be found here.  

In addition to the above guidelines, please continue to stay informed by visiting the CDC and OSHA websites: 

As you know, since the holidays, Massachusetts is witnessing an uptick in COVID-19 cases. To ensure our worksites remain safe and open, avert another shutdown, and protect the health of our brothers and sisters, we are counting on each of our members to lead by example and follow guidelines issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for all construction sites. This is essential both at the worksite AND off it.

The key takeaways from the State guidelines are as follows:

On-site COVID Officer: Each construction site must have a site-specific, COVID-19 Officer (who may also be the Health & Safety Officer). This person will submit a daily report to the project owner representative, certifying that the contractor and all subs are in compliance will all COVID-19 safety protocols.
Zero Tolerance Policy: There will be ZERO tolerance for sick workers reporting to work. Workers will be advised with the following guidance: “If you are ill, stay home. If you begin feeling ill while at work, go home. And if you notice a coworker who is exhibiting symptoms, you should encourage them to go home, and/or alert your supervisor, or the work site COVID-19 Officer.”
Safety Stand Down: All job sites statewide will require a safety stand down so the Contractor may distribute the appropriate materials to workers, and review, in detail with the full team, the expectations for safety and hygiene moving forward.

If you are on a worksite and concerned about proper adherence to protocols, do not hesitate to contact us at 617-436-4666 or speak directly with your on-site COVID officer to ensure timely action.

We also want to inform members that the state is preparing for the safe and equitable distribution of an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is expected to be delivered in three phases. For more information on the vaccine, distribution timeframe and order of priority, visit https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine-in-massachusetts.

To stay up to date on further COVID-19 developments, visit the City of Boston COVID-19 webpage: https://www.boston.gov/news/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-boston or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information.

Insulators Local 6 will also continue to provide you with relevant information and resources as new developments and guidelines take shape.  

At this time, we want to assure all members that your best interests are our top priority.  We are committed to protecting your health and safety, and continue to work hard to secure new opportunities for all our brothers and sisters. The pandemic has impacted our community in unprecedented ways. But, we continue to stand with you, now and always. Together, we can bounce back from this crisis, stronger than ever.   

Fraternally,

Jim Lister
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
Insulators Local 6