Governor Sisolak Asks Southwest Carpenters Union To Assemble Construction Industry Leaders Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

LAS VEGAS, March 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Steve Sisolak asked the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters (SWRCC) to assemble Nevada construction industry leaders to reinforce expectations for a standard of safety protocols and best practices throughout the construction industry in Nevada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frank Hawk, Vice President of SWRCC, will chair a working group of industry leaders to ensure standards are met and exceeded. Members include Yvette Lanau (WA Richardson), John Cannito (Penta), William Richardson (WA Richardson), William Stanley (Southern Nevada Building Trades), Mike Dean (MJ Construction), Guy Martin (Martin Harris Construction), Paul Didzinzki (McCarthy), Lou DeSalvio (Laborers Union), Mike Hawk (Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters), Sean Stewart (AGC), Eric Grenz (Mortenson), Craig Madole (Northern Nevada AGC), and Paul McKenzie (Building & Construction Trades Northern Nevada).

The group will meet weekly to update and monitor safety protocols at jobsites, develop best practices and action plans for contamination, collect data on jobsite workforce and safety personnel, and assemble construction teams. These teams will be dispersed should Nevada need to build new hospital field units and/or convert existing hotels/housing into hospital overflow units.

SWRCC's VP Frank Hawk added, "In every disaster that has befell our country, history has proved that having the construction industry standing at the ready to put the pieces back together has been essential to our society. In this case of the COVID-19 virus, we must be prepared to build emergency shelters, triage units or in worst case, newly constructed hospitals or convert existing units to medical facilities."

The working group was formed to put the state of Nevada in an even stronger position should the spread of COVID-19 worsen, and the need for expanded medical care arise.  Additionally, as construction was deemed "essential" in Governor Sisolak's Executive Order, the work that the working group will undertake will help to strengthen the already stringent safety protocols put in place to protect construction workers from contracting COVID-19.

The SWRCC represents over 55,000 union carpenters in six states. The Union is dedicated to raising the safety and standards for all skilled carpenters and advocating for the rights of workers, their families, and their communities. The SWRCC is proud to be affiliated with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

SOURCE Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters