New South Construction COVID-19 Updates

Thursday, May 7, 2020 4:26 p.m.

While the Governor has begun the ‘reopening’ of the State, that reopening is to be done under many of the precautions that we have previously implemented. Governor Kemp specifically noted that the ‘reopening’ would likely result in increased infection rates, so the continuation of our efforts is more important than ever.

We know everyone is growing tired of this new normal, but it is vital that we not let our guard down. Your safety is our number one priority. Importantly, the policies and efforts are working for us.

We are lucky and thankful that construction has continued and was deemed essential. The last thing that any of us wants is for a co-worker and his or her family or a site or portions of our business to be impacted because we have failed to follow activities that are necessary. Your following of the New South COVID policies is as much of your job as any of your daily activities.

Please be reminded of the following procedures that MUST be followed:

Practice social distancing of at least 6 feet.
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content is a secondary option.
Cover your nose and mouth with your arm or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Avoid close contact. Try to create space.
If possible, prioritize conversations or contact to the outdoors.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
If you are sick or have any COVID symptoms (see list below), do not report to work and contact Kelley Thomas. You will not be permitted to come back to work without clearance from Kelley Thomas. Please don’t endanger your co-workers.

Symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, chills, aches/muscle pain, flu-like symptoms, lack of taste or smell, GI symptoms, or sore throat
If you are aware of a co-worker with these symptoms, report that to Kelley Thomas immediately.

Avoid contact with any sick individuals

If you come into contact with a sick individual, do not report to work and contact Kelley Thomas. You will not be permitted to come back to work without clearance from Kelley Thomas.

Avoid contact with those that have come into contact with someone that has or may have COVID-19
Avoid all crowds (not just those of 10 or more)
Contact Kelley Thomas if you are aware of any tested subcontractor employee.
Wear face coverings while at work, except if you are isolated in your physical office or a vehicle (whether a personal vehicle or construction equipment) or at an appropriate distance from other individuals.
Please err on the side of caution in order to protect yourself, your family, your co-workers, and the families of your co-workers.

Additionally, if you are aware of a co-worker not following the preceding items, it is your duty to report that to your supervisor and HR.

We understand that these are not convenient, but we need to be in this together. The failure of one, could impact many. Using COMMON SENSE applied to these practices is all we are asking and will continue to ask so that it works for all.

Thank you

Friday, May 1, 2020 2:15 p.m.

To everyone in the New South Family;

Thanks to each of you for your continued hard work this week. We know that everyone is ready to get back to ‘normal.’ There has been a lot in the news from the Governor. Those updates do not necessitate a change in how we are currently operating, so next week will continue with the same approach. We are continuing to monitor and establish plans for a slow phased path forward.

With the summer holidays approaching, we want to address PTO. The PTO policy remains suspended until further notice. That being said, time off within parameters is permissible as approved in advance by your Business Unit Leader.

We know that these are frustrating and difficult times but safety to you, those around you and your families will always be first and foremost. We appreciate your dedication and understanding as we work to navigate through them together in the best way possible. The togetherness of this company is incredible and continues to allow New South to shine as the strong company that it is.

Thank you and enjoy your weekend!

Friday, April 17, 2020 3:05 p.m.

To everyone in the New South Family;

Thanks to each of you for your continued dedication this week, and please send along a special thanks to your families and loved ones. We know and appreciate their support of you as you continue working during these times.

We know that everyone is ready to get back to ‘normal.’ We will continue to follow the lead of our governmental officials and hope to soon have additional guidance from Governor Kemp on what we anticipate will be a slow phased approach. Looking forward to when all the other businesses can open.

Despite all the obstacles and importance of safety protocols, our projects are all moving along. Your hard work and dedication has allowed this wonderful family and company the ability to continue operating at a high level despite all of the “dominos” put in front of us, and your efforts at social distancing have had an impact. Thank you!

Moving forward to Monday, we are expecting to continue into next week in the same work fashion and protocol as we operated this week. Any changes will be issued as needed. Continue to stay in touch with your supervisor. We will continue to evaluate the situation and will email you with any updates of note.

Friday, April 10, 2020 12:46 p.m.

Thanks to each of you for all your hard work this week, both in performing your job duties and societal duties to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This situation continues to evolve and each of you have been instrumental in adapting and performing as well as can be expected. We know there are a ton of challenges, but these challenges have truly shone a bright light on the strength of this company and each of you! We are thankful that we are in the “essential business” consideration and how we have strived to continue operations putting safety and awareness first.

As you enter this Easter weekend, please help keep you and your family safe, by continuing to practice social distancing and hand washing. As a country, we have begun to see positive results and trends from our social distancing and altered way of life. We thank all of you and your families for continuing on you to do your part.

Your safety and health is our number one priority. There will be a time in the not to distant future, sooner we hope, when aspects can start to turn the corner back towards a norm. Looking towards Monday, we are expecting to continue into next week in the same work fashion and protocol as we operated this week. Any changes will be issued as needed. Continue to stay in touch with your supervisor. We will continue to evaluate the situation and will email you with any updates of note.

We hope that each of us can find a few moments of relaxation and peace this Easter weekend.

Please be safe and have a happy Easter weekend!

Thursday, April 9, 2020 11:37 a.m.

As the current situation continues to evolve, the CDC has now published its recommendation regarding the use of cloth face coverings. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html (additional resource https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html )

Given this recommendation, all New South personnel will be required to wear face coverings while at work, subject to the following exceptions:

if you are isolated in your physical office; or
if you are isolated in a vehicle, whether a personal vehicle or construction equipment.

Please note that these requirements in no way change or alter other social distancing requirements and best practices such as:

Limit as extensively as possible social interactions
Practice social distancing (6 feet or more)
Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly
Avoid all crowds (not just those of 10 or more)

New South has purchased cloth coverings for all employees and is in the process of distributing. You will be provided one face covering, please wash it regularly. If you have this covering or a preferred personal covering, please begin wearing it immediately. If you do not yet have it, please inform your supervisor. Project sites please let your EVP know if you have not yet received your allocation. Disbursement should be entirely complete by Monday, April 13. Starting April 13, there will be no exceptions.

We understand that this not the most comfortable or preferable approach and that there will be certain hardships as we take this step. No one wants to wear a face covering, it’s not comfortable or easy to work in. We hope that this is a short-lived requirement. The situation remains fluid, and we will continue evaluating our approach. We appreciate all of your efforts and working with us and your coworkers to provide a safe work environment for all of the New South family.

Thank you, and we hope you have a safe and happy Easter weekend.

Friday, April 3, 2020 1:41 p.m.

We thank all of your hard work this week. Oversite, information and directives are quite fluid and continue to change, and we appreciate all of your help and understanding as we navigate through this together. The Governor announced Wednesday 4/1 a Shelter in Place position starting Friday 4/3/2020 after 6:00 PM. On Thursday 4/2, we received the actual Executive Order and it is our view construction is an essential work and therefore will continue operations. https://gov.georgia.gov/document/2020-executive-order/04022001/download.

I want to add to all of our jobsites, that perception is very important. We have projects that are located in neighborhoods and high visible traffic corridors. It is very important that people see us as responsible and in compliance. Unfortunately, there are bad actors out there who would like to paint a different story. If we exercise good practices of social distancing, our essential business can continue.

Your safety and health is our number one priority. We are expecting to continue into next week in the same work fashion and protocol as we operated this week including the CDC guidelines as currently stated. Any changes will be issued as needed. Continue to stay in touch with your supervisor. We will continue to evaluate the situation and will email you with any updates of note.

Please be safe this weekend.

Friday, March 27, 2020 6:09 p.m.

Thinking of all of you, thank you for all your hard work this week, both in performing your job duties and societal duties to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We understand and appreciate that this industry is challenging enough without all these added pressures. Your dedication, professionalism, and perseverance has shown brightly this week – THANK YOU!

As you enter this weekend, please help keep your family and our safe. Your actions, including those this weekend, can have impacts to you and your coworkers. It is IMPERATIVE that you:

Limit as extensively as possible social interactions
Practice social distancing (6 feet or more)
Avoid contact with any sick individuals
- COVID-19 presents through a number of symptoms
- While we know the most common symptoms are cough, fever, and shortness of breath, a number of positive cases have started with other symptoms
Avoid contact with those that have come into contact with someone that has or may have COVID-19
If you have come into contract with someone not feeling well, please don’t report to work without first contacting and getting clearance from HR
Avoid all crowds (not just those of 10 or more)
Comply with any local government orders (including curfews, gathering restrictions, and shelter-in-place orders)
If you have any perception or inkling of a fever, please take your temperature prior to reporting to work to ensure that you don’t have a fever

All employees of New South and their families are counting on you to do your part.

Your safety and health is our number one priority. We are expecting to continue into next week in the same work fashion and protocol as we operated this week. Any changes will be issued as needed. Continue to stay in touch with your supervisor. We will continue to evaluate the situation and will email you with any updates of note.

Please be safe this weekend.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 2:40 p.m.

Yesterday, as you may know, both the Mayor and the Governor issued Executive Orders. There were verbal comments in press releases and written EOs. We have been in constant contact with government officials, members of the community, peers in the industry, trade contractors, and industry groups to ensure that we have a full view of what is taking place as things continue to evolve. Given these conversations and those with our clients our understanding is that Construction is Essential and open for business, we will continue operations in the same manner as that conducted over the past week and a half. We appreciate your continued commitment to the safety of yourself and those around you.

For our project teams:

Please evaluate all job functions and communicate. For those individuals with job functions that can be handled remotely, we ask that you help reduce social contact on the jobsites, office trailers and at the main office by establishing a site rotation. Establishing a plan to allow Supervision to operate freely and spread out on site with limited interaction in person is the goal. Phone, virtual and email communication is the new norm. This rotation should have the goal of ensuring that a project team individual that can conduct job duties remotely can do so for some portion of the week. For example, if you have a PM and APM that can each do a portion of their job remotely, the PM could come in Monday Wednesday and Friday and the APM Tuesday and Thursday, and reverse it the next week. We ask that the SPM for each project work with his/her project team to formulate a plan for the review and approval of the EVP over the project.

As a reminder please adhere to the following.

Practice social distancing of at least 6 feet.
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content is a secondary option.
Cover your nose and mouth with your arm or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Avoid close contact. Try to create space.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Strive to reduce gatherings of more than 10 individuals. We would like to see less than that whenever possible.
The CDC does not currently recommend facemasks as a viable prevention method for respiratory illness.

This is fluid situation and we are committed to taking all prudent and reasonable steps to keep you safe. Please continue to monitor your email for updates.

Friday, March 20, 2020 1:52 p.m.

As we finish up what has certainly been one of the more interesting and challenging weeks any of us have been through, we wanted to say thank you to all and everyone. Despite all of the issues swirling out there, New South has continued to operate and build. We are a strong, resilient, and caring company and family. We know that it’s certainly not business as usual and appreciate your flexibility, understanding, and commitment. We appreciate all that the New South family has done to create social distance and your commitment to good and frequent hand washing. This certainly follows under the premise that we have to take each day one at a time as situations change constantly.

Your safety and health is our number one priority. We are expecting to continue into next week in the same work fashion and protocol as we operated this week. Any changes will be issued as need. Continue to stay in touch with your supervisor. We will continue to evaluate the situation and will email you with any updates of note.

Please be safe this weekend.

Monday, March 16, 2020 12:30 p.m.

Our operations teams are vital to New South Construction. Our highest priority is the safety of all personnel – this includes our teams, our owners, and our subcontractors and suppliers. In order to promote and adhere to the new recommendations from governmental / health agencies such as the CDC, we are implementing several changes immediately.

The first change is minimizing physical contact and maintaining a social distance of 5’. We are encouraging all teams to limit all face-to-face meetings by using the technology that we have available such as Conference Calls, Conference Bridges, Skype, Facetime, and other tools. We have included our IT department contact information below for you to reach out to for any training that is needed to get this set up immediately on your site. Using these tools, we can keep communication open between all parties while minimizing or eliminating any physical contact.

As well, on each project, please coordinate any “in-person” meetings that are necessary – such as weekly subcontractor coordination / scheduling meetings – to limit the number of people at any time according to an available room size to allow the space between people. This may result in the relocation of the meeting to another larger space within your site, or dividing the meetings into two or more meetings. For projects that have mandatory orientations of new personnel, you may need to change the spacing / quantity of chairs to allow for this social distance of 5’ or more. Again, this may require using another space or simply limiting the quantity of people going through orientation at the same time.

Additionally, please proactively encourage frequent handwashing for all personnel at all times on your projects. The less you touch your face, the less chance you have of germs entering your body. Wipe down areas around you that you / others touch frequently.

If anyone on your site (including subcontractors and suppliers) is experiencing flu-like symptoms, they are to be removed from the project immediately, and contact Kelley Thomas and their respective supervisor. Further, if any individual on a project site tests positive for COVID-19, contact Kelley Thomas immediately. That individual will need to leave the project site, and will not be permitted back without medical clearance. Infected individuals will be asked to identify anyone that they had physical contact with in the previous 14 days. Please take all necessary measures to keep the identities of those infected confidential.

We will be discussing the specifics of each project with each team in the next day or two for further items, and we will be communicating more as this fluid situation evolves.

Please make the changes noted above for your project and we will discuss the particulars for each project on a project specific basis.

And [email protected] is the best starting point so we have a ticket system that Ross and Jerry share accessibility and responsibility on.

Ross Willis (404) 933-0600 | Jerry Stamey (706) 491-9691

Monday, March 16, 2020 10:48 a.m.

PTO Policy Update:

Given the current uncertainty around COVID-19, effective immediately the PTO policy is suspended indefinitely.

Sunday, March 15, 2020 5:44 p.m.

As we start up the work week, please see the following.

Following the lead of governmental health officials, and effective immediately:

For all New South employees:

If you come into physical contact with anyone that has tested positive or is presumptively positive for COVID-19, contact Kelley Thomas immediately. Any individual that has come into physical contract with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19 will be asked to prepare a list of those individuals that he or she has had physical contract with for a period to be defined. We will take all necessary measures to keep the identities of those infected confidential.

If an individual becomes sick with COVID-19 symptoms, contact Kelley Thomas immediately. You will be asked to self-quarantine until you receive medical clearance, and shall provide a list of all individuals with whom you had recent physical contact. Those individuals will be notified. We will take all necessary measures to keep the identities of those infected confidential.

If any individual on a project site tests positive for COVID-19, contact Kelley Thomas immediately. That individual will need to leave the project site, and will not be permitted back without medical clearance. Infected individuals will be asked to identify anyone that they had physical contact with in the previous 14 days.

Individuals coming into physical contact with an individual that has tested positive, shall self-quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

If anyone, an employee or individual onsite, exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, we reserve the right to send them home.

If you have reason to believe that anyone is violating any of these policies, you are obligated to notify Kelley Thomas of such.

This is fluid situation and we are committed to taking all prudent and reasonable steps to keep you safe. Please continue to monitor your email for updates.

Friday, March 13, 2020 3:24 p.m.

As we continue to learn more about COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus) and monitor developments closely, it is of utmost importance that we take proactive steps in our communication to protect the well-being of ourselves, our families, our teams, and our clients. We are focused on our preparedness efforts to maintain a safe work environment for everyone and to sustain our business operations.

We have established an internal task force that is actively monitoring the situation. We are committed to providing timely updates about our plans and the resources available to you. Your and your coworkers’ health and safety remain our highest priority.

General Health and Hygiene Guidelines:

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content is a secondary option.
Cover your nose and mouth with your arm or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Avoid close contact. Try to create space.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
The CDC does not currently recommend facemasks as a viable prevention method for respiratory illness.

Personal Travel:

We are mindful that employees may be traveling and have previously scheduled PTO. Please be aware that the CDC and the U.S. State Department are advising U.S. citizens to refrain from travel on cruise ships. If you choose to travel on a cruise ship, or to any location where the CDC has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice, you will not be allowed back to work for at least 14 days and will be considered as unpaid leave. We are implementing this policy in the interest of the health and safety of everyone.

Business Travel:

We are asking employees to limit all business-related travel to trips that are essential to our business. Please communicate with your manager in evaluating travel plans. No conference attendance will be permitted.

Meetings and Large Gatherings:

As with travel, please use your best judgement in evaluating the need for large group gatherings or participation in such gatherings. Attendance at meetings with more than 50 people is no longer permitted (provided that a projected-wide talk will be conducted Tuesday).

Sick employees should stay home:

Employees who are sick should not report to work and should avoid contact with others. Protect yourself and your coworkers; if you have any concerns about COVID-19, see a doctor for evaluation immediately. Employees may return to work once they have fully recovered and with medical clearance.
If you know of someone onsite who may have come in contact with an infected person, or you know of someone who is infected, please contact Kelley Thomas immediately.
Dr. On Demand & Live Health Online (telemedicine) are available in order to avoid crowded waiting rooms and urgent care facilities. Participants can download either app and follow the prompts or visit www.doctorondemand.com or www.livehealthonline.com. New South will reimburse you through the end of June if you happen to use this service. The “office visit” costs $59 or less.