Construction Industry Works Through COVID-19

April 7, 2020, 6 p.m. ·

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As social distancing causes shutdowns across the state, many industries have slowed to a halt. Others are considered essential, which includes construction.


Associated General Contractors, Nebraska Building Chapter represents vertical contractors for commercial construction in Nebraska. The national office of AG did a survey that showed 45% of contractors have not had projects halted or delayed by COVID-19. 53% have had a project delayed. 7% had a project cancelled.

Jean Petsch is executive director of the Nebraska Building Chapter. She said she hasn’t heard of cancellations in Nebraska, but knows some projects have been delayed.

Petsch said the industry is changing their workflows to keep construction workers safe.

“I think we’ve had to give some thought to how we sequence projects so that so we’re making sure people are socially distancing, and how our processes and operations are taking place in a new way,” Petsch said.

At least one Nebraska construction company is taking the temperatures of workers when they arrive at job sites. The company is also reminding workers to wash their hands and clean tools and ladders.