Note: not talking about the usual "exempt" categories like medical, emergency, law enforcement, military, etc.
Many people, families, businesses, jobs, households, etc. are being impacted by various governments (City, County, State) doing a broad-brush one-size-fits-all by closing and shutting down all work activities (with the exception of those mentioned in "Note:" above). The Federal Government has their requirement but the other governments can make some modification depending if the Federal requirements are "recommendations" or "required".
QUESTION:
How can people work continue during a “lock down”? Need some help understanding why workers are not allowed to work except for those on the approved list.
For example: roofer, painter, plumber, backhoe operator, yard maintenance (cutting the lawn, hedge trimming), mechanics like those in a tire shop, doing lube & oil service, car repair, appliance repair (in a home), etc. If these workers can work at a virus-safe distance and in a safe manner, then is there any reason why can’t they be allowed to work?
If, for safety reasons, a second person is required as a co-worker (say, roofer, worker in a ditch, painter on a ladder, etc.) and the second person can be at a COVID-19 distance, and not transmit a virus via contact (tools, parts, door knobs, paper, etc), then why can’t this be allowed?
Really seeking some ideas on this because it doesn’t make sense to prohibit everyone from working, if doing so would not result in viral communication or transfer. In situations where one has to get parts, service orders from a customer, payment from a customer, these activities can be modified from the current/existing procedures to provide adequate distance and separation. For example, putting the service order on a countertop at a distance from the service manager. On the other hand, technology can provide wireless transmission of data where there is no need for paper. Payment via credit card where phone number or code doesn't have to be entered in the scanner device, etc. Those types of details and requirements can be worked out. This is the computer age, right?
Example #1: Someone who needs new tires can drive their car onto the rack, get out, close the door, then wait in a safe location to be determined. The tire mechanic can do his work without ever touching the car door or the steering wheel. Once finished, the customer can pay the bill and back the car off the rack. The whole time in the service bay there would be no transmission of virus. The service department office is a separate operation to be worked out like the tire bay.
Example #2: House painter: This is almost self-explanatory. A single person can paint a house by themself; however, depending on heights, safety requirements, and what have you, a second person may be required. However, a job like this would be easy to do without viral contamination.
Worker (or contractor?) Approval: How to have the worker maintain separation? Describe the work process and requirements for viral protection in a GUIDE Specification. Have the worker review the specification and adjust the Guide Specification it to fit the job. The [City][County][State] Safety Health inspector/person would review and reject/approve, or approve subject to conditions.
Inspections: The Approval Authority would have inspection authority to ensure the work is performed as required. That could potentially be contracted out to a safety inspector so as to not impact the Approval Authority office.
Our county is using the sledge hammer approach to kill a fly and impacting the economy by not allowing anyone to work (except the exempt or work-from-home ones) and this shut-down will last for many more weeks. But does it have to? Also, the County is not policing or controlling people's movements like those in China, Singapore, South Korea, or some other areas, so as a result the infections are continuing to rise and once peaked, will last longer.
Personally, I would feel much more comfortable if the local governments would do a better job of keeping people from unnecessarily running around AND, as the same time, allow those that can work without spreading the contagion, to do so. By not doing so will cost everybody big time. Like the oil advertisement says: "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later."
This won't be the last contagion so by coming up with an improved modus operandi we'll be more prepared for the next one.
What do you guys think???
Edit: I plan to sent a post to our County Commissioner so if there is something that can be added it would be appreciated.
Many people, families, businesses, jobs, households, etc. are being impacted by various governments (City, County, State) doing a broad-brush one-size-fits-all by closing and shutting down all work activities (with the exception of those mentioned in "Note:" above). The Federal Government has their requirement but the other governments can make some modification depending if the Federal requirements are "recommendations" or "required".
QUESTION:
How can people work continue during a “lock down”? Need some help understanding why workers are not allowed to work except for those on the approved list.
For example: roofer, painter, plumber, backhoe operator, yard maintenance (cutting the lawn, hedge trimming), mechanics like those in a tire shop, doing lube & oil service, car repair, appliance repair (in a home), etc. If these workers can work at a virus-safe distance and in a safe manner, then is there any reason why can’t they be allowed to work?
If, for safety reasons, a second person is required as a co-worker (say, roofer, worker in a ditch, painter on a ladder, etc.) and the second person can be at a COVID-19 distance, and not transmit a virus via contact (tools, parts, door knobs, paper, etc), then why can’t this be allowed?
Really seeking some ideas on this because it doesn’t make sense to prohibit everyone from working, if doing so would not result in viral communication or transfer. In situations where one has to get parts, service orders from a customer, payment from a customer, these activities can be modified from the current/existing procedures to provide adequate distance and separation. For example, putting the service order on a countertop at a distance from the service manager. On the other hand, technology can provide wireless transmission of data where there is no need for paper. Payment via credit card where phone number or code doesn't have to be entered in the scanner device, etc. Those types of details and requirements can be worked out. This is the computer age, right?
Example #1: Someone who needs new tires can drive their car onto the rack, get out, close the door, then wait in a safe location to be determined. The tire mechanic can do his work without ever touching the car door or the steering wheel. Once finished, the customer can pay the bill and back the car off the rack. The whole time in the service bay there would be no transmission of virus. The service department office is a separate operation to be worked out like the tire bay.
Example #2: House painter: This is almost self-explanatory. A single person can paint a house by themself; however, depending on heights, safety requirements, and what have you, a second person may be required. However, a job like this would be easy to do without viral contamination.
Worker (or contractor?) Approval: How to have the worker maintain separation? Describe the work process and requirements for viral protection in a GUIDE Specification. Have the worker review the specification and adjust the Guide Specification it to fit the job. The [City][County][State] Safety Health inspector/person would review and reject/approve, or approve subject to conditions.
Inspections: The Approval Authority would have inspection authority to ensure the work is performed as required. That could potentially be contracted out to a safety inspector so as to not impact the Approval Authority office.
Our county is using the sledge hammer approach to kill a fly and impacting the economy by not allowing anyone to work (except the exempt or work-from-home ones) and this shut-down will last for many more weeks. But does it have to? Also, the County is not policing or controlling people's movements like those in China, Singapore, South Korea, or some other areas, so as a result the infections are continuing to rise and once peaked, will last longer.
Personally, I would feel much more comfortable if the local governments would do a better job of keeping people from unnecessarily running around AND, as the same time, allow those that can work without spreading the contagion, to do so. By not doing so will cost everybody big time. Like the oil advertisement says: "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later."
This won't be the last contagion so by coming up with an improved modus operandi we'll be more prepared for the next one.
What do you guys think???
Edit: I plan to sent a post to our County Commissioner so if there is something that can be added it would be appreciated.
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