COVID-19 FAQ
While the COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) situation continues to evolve in the United States, SageWater is committed to continuing essential business operations while working diligently to comply with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) best practices, as well as Federal, State and Local guidance and executive orders regarding safety and social distancing. We are grateful that our particular construction trades (plumbing, carpentry and painting) are some of the lowest-risk categories for exposure to the virus. That said, we continue to monitor the situation closely and adjust our response as necessary to best address these unique circumstances.
The following FAQ is offered to help property managers, Boards of Directors, and residents know the actions we are taking to mitigate the risks and enhance protection of their community while continuing to work hard to repair the failing piping systems.
What protective equipment is SageWater using at the jobsite to help prevent the spread of the virus?
All employees in the field, including Project Managers, are required to wear a protective mask and nitrile/latex gloves at all times while on the job site. While unlikely considering our other precautions, this will help mitigate the potential affect of an employee being asymptomatic and coughing, sneezing or otherwise contaminating their surrounding environment unintentionally and helps minimize the potential passing of the virus to other employees or residents.
Is SageWater checking employees for sickness?
Upon arrival every morning, all employees will be required to undergo a non-invasive health screening prior to entering a SageWater office or job site. Per the advice of our medical consultant, this screening consists of a visual evaluation by a manager, and a temperature reading using a contact-free infrared thermometer or a Crystaline ST Indicator (an adhesive strip medical-grade thermometer). Any employees who appear sick, or whose temperature reads higher than 100.4 degrees F, will not be permitted to work and will be referred for medical care before being cleared to return.
How is SageWater complying with Federal, State and Local guidelines for social distancing and other requirements/recommendations?
SageWater is currently following CDC guidance as well as State and Local recommendations and executive orders regarding social distancing for employers performing essential work. To comply with current Federal guidance, we will not have more than 10 people in one place at one time on the jobsite. On our larger jobs with more than 10 employees, the breaks, arrivals, and departures of our crews will be staggered and/or spread out across the property such that we don’t have more than 10 people in one place at a time. Off the jobsite, air travel and other public transportation has been limited to extraordinary circumstances only; if travel is absolutely essential, we have asked that employees make the journey by car whenever possible and reasonable. Office and administrative personnel have been strongly encouraged to work remotely if possible.
What is SageWater doing about their subcontractors?
Fortunately, we use very few subcontractors, and typically when we do, it’s for hazardous materials abatement (like asbestos), meaning they are already well equipped with the personal protective equipment required to safely perform their job functions. That being said, we are asking all our subcontractors to follow the same protocols as our employees, including masks and gloves as well as submitting to a health screen and temperature check every morning before entering the job site.
How is SageWater managing its employees after-hours to minimize the chances of getting infected during non-work hours?
All employees are strongly encouraged to follow CDC recommendations for strict social distancing and self-isolation, minimizing exposure by limiting movements to the home and the job site, staying out of bars, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, etc., and going out only in limited circumstances as advised by the CDC.
How is SageWater handling sick residents who have been infected or quarantined?
If anyone in your community is sick, under quarantine, or thinks they may have been in contact with infected persons, please inform us as soon as possible. We are skipping those units and will reschedule the work for a later date.
What if the SageWater team doesn’t know a resident is sick until you get to their unit?
If we enter a unit and suspect that the occupants may be sick, or we otherwise have concerns about working in the unit, we reserve the right to reschedule the work in that unit. If this unusual circumstance applies, a Project Manager will get in touch with the unit owner and property manager as soon as possible with more information.
Has SageWater experienced any supply-chain concerns?
We are fortunate to have excellent and long-standing relationships with all our suppliers. Because we work nationally, we are able to source materials from across the country as needed. To date, we have not experienced any supply chain issues, and are in the process of stocking up on regularly used materials to ensure we have plenty of product to continue working.
What about local government shutdowns? Have there been any delays with inspections?
We work very closely with the local inspectors, and as needed, are providing them with personal protective equipment (masks and gloves) if they arrive at the job site and do not have their own. Thus far, we have been able to continue our work and the inspectors have been keeping up. If that changes, we will certainly notify any affected customers and discuss our options.