Baker-Polito Administration Extends Non-Essential Business Closures to May 18th, Announces Reopening Advisory Board. CLICK HERE for press release.

Boston Back to Work Safety Requirements & Guidelines
On Friday, April 17th, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced safety requirements and guidelines for returning to work. Following a comment period, attached are the finalized documents. There are few substantive changes, the exception being that the Affidavit now contains language allowing contractors to immediately cure any violations that are discovered rather than lose their permit or experience a stop-work order.

As previously noted, Mayor Walsh plans to announce a return to work date with two weeks prior to jobs opening so work sites can begin prepping. A date has yet to be determined at this time and the moratorium on construction remains in place with the exception of essential work.

General Requirements for COVID-19 Safety Plan (a guide when drafting your Safety Plan)
Outline of Boston's Safety Requirements (with Examples)
FINAL COVID-19 Safety Plan - Compliance Affidavit
FINAL COVID-19 Emergency Utility Compliance Affidavit
FINAL COVID-19 Construction Site Best Practices Worksheet

All construction job sites must submit a COVID-19 Safety Plan and a COVID-19 Safety Affidavit before resuming work.

Allowed Construction Work in the City of Boston:
The City will still allow work that is essential to the safety and well-being of our residents at this time - particularly work related to this public health crisis. That essential work includes:

  • emergency utility, road or building work, such as gas leaks, water leaks and sinkholes
  • new utility connections to occupied buildings
  • mandated building or utility work
  • work at public health facilities, healthcare facilities, shelters, including temporary shelters and other facilities that support vulnerable populations
  • emergency work necessary to render occupied residential buildings safe and healthy
  • work immediately necessary related to life safety systems
  • work which ensures the reliability of the transportation network
  • small residential construction projects in dwellings of 3 units or less (for example, kitchen or bathroom remodeling), and
  • other work necessary to render occupied residential buildings fully habitable.

In addition to the list of essential construction projects, the City will, on a case-by-case basis, review requests for exemptions to the temporary construction moratorium. These may be granted by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services (ISDCommissioner@boston.gov) for building-related work or the Commissioner of Public Works for street-related work. These will be granted if they support increased public health and safety and precautions are taken to mitigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 among workers.

If you have any questions, please contact us at the Chapter office at 617-969-2521 or on our mobile numbers. Thank you.

Glenn W. Kingsbury, Executive Manager, Mobile 617-721-7339
Kristen Gowin, Assistant Manager, Mobile 339-364-1516
National Electrical Contractors Association - Greater Boston Chapter
106 River Street, West Newton, MA 02465
617-969-2521 - info@bostonneca.org