Print Page

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

Attention Green Industry Professionals: Work Safe!
We are all very pleased that the landscape industry was exempted in Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order No. 2020-59, one week ago. This decision was based on the industry following all of the safety protocols in order to keep yourself, your employees, clients and the general public safe. As you know, we are still under a stay-at-home order until May 15th due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. 
 
Since our industry is now under increased public scrutiny, it is imperative that we follow the CDC Guidelines and also check with your local county health department. In addition to the safety guidelines in Order No. 2020-59, we are including safety protocols/suggestions that many of our member companies are utilizing (see below).
The MGIA is honored to represent the landscape industry and our Board and Staff hope that all of you stay safe and healthy.  
With Clients:
  • Get verbal and/or written confirmation from your clients that they allow you to work on their property.
  • Communicate, as accurately as possible, when you plan to be on their property.
  • Inform clients of the safety protocols your company has put in place, including but not limited to proximity rules (6 feet).
  • Designate one on-site contact (potentially the foreman) for your clients. Ask them not to approach workers, other than this contact. Communicate by phone, text or email whenever possible.
  • Be prepared to cease working if a client raises any health or safety concerns.
With Staff:
  • Communicate and reinforce all safety protocols daily, via text and email. 
  • Train designated personnel (possibly foreman) to answer safety and health questions from the public and/or officials clearly and concisely. We recommend written safety rules to be carried with employees.
  • In instances where employees will be on one job site all day long, encourage meeting on-site, rather than at the shop.
  • In instances where employees must report to the shop, stagger crew start times to minimize proximity issues.
  • Businesses should operate with the least amount of employees necessary on any site. 
  • All employees should have their temperatures logged at the beginning and end of the workday.
  • If at all possible, limit crews to one person per truck.
  • In instances where it is imperative two employees must travel together, pair employees together indefinitely. Require workers to wear glasses and masks while traveling. Assign them one truck that is not to be shared. Make sure the vehicle is as well ventilated as possible. Each vehicle should be sanitized at days end. If one employee becomes ill, both should be treated as if they are contagious. Follow CDC self-quarantine rules. 
  • Enforce sanitation of all common areas including trucks, storage rooms, offices, restrooms, etc.
  • Wear proper PPE at all times. 
  • Minimize the use of shared equipment, making sure to properly and fully sanitize all equipment after each use. Always maintain proper social distancing (6 feet). In the event, employees must work close to one another, for heavy lifting, etc., wear a face mask and gloves. Once separated, immediately wash/sanitize hands. 

March 26, 2020 - Governor Whitmer has just announced that she has requested that President Trump declares Michigan a Federal Disaster. She also emphasized specifically that she has put in place a Shelter in Place Executive Order this past Monday that is the most aggressive in the country. It has been made very clear that only services that are deemed critical to human life are deemed critical businesses. Many businesses operating throughout the state in our industry and many others are now very strongly discouraged from operating. Her exact words were, those who do violate the law will be subject to losing their license.This is exactly the type of clarification we have been seeking all week from our Governor. 



March 25, 2020
At this time we still have not received word from the Governor's office clarifying the essential service exemption for the industry. 

However, it has been suggested that all providers carry a copy of the federal exemption with them and to limit crews to one per vehicle. Masks should also be provided to employees. 

Many contractors are basing their decision on the circumstances of what services they are providing. If they are approached they can cite the federal exemption but this may not prevent local enforcement. That will obviously be left to individual jurisdictions.

This is not a recommendation by the Association, however, measures that businesses can take as we wait for Governor Whitmer's clarification deeming our industry essential or non-essential. 

CISA Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce

https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CISA_Guidance_on_the_Essential_Critical_Infrastructure_Workforce_508C_0.pdf

Should you decide to work, it is stressed that you must follow the safety guidelines in Section 5 of Executive Order 2020-21. We acknowledge and recognize the sacrifices made by those companies that have decided to cease operations and advocate that all companies work with legal counsel before making a determination on their operations.

Here are some questions to ask yourselves when making the determination to work or not work:

  1. Is the work you are performing today essential to the health, safety, and security of the general public?
  2. Does this work for any reason put the health and safety of your employees, their families, or your clients at risk?
  3. Can the work you plan on performing today be done at a later date, or is it of a time-sensitive nature?

We present these questions for those of you who choose to continue to do business, these are the questions we have been told that you and your staff will need to be prepared to defend, not only to local enforcement but to your peers, your employees, and the general public. 

MGIA will continue to update you as information becomes available from the Governor’s Office. Again, this is not a recommendation by the Association, however, measures that businesses can take as we wait for Governor Whitmer's clarification deeming our industry essential or non-essential. 

Continue to follow the safety guidelines for COVID-19

CDC COVID-19 guidance for companies

Executive Order 2020-21 (COVID-19)

View NALP's entire list of State by State COVID-19 Guidance

Michigan

On March 24, 2020 an order issued by the Governor restricting the continued operation of all non-essential businesses in the state became effective.  The order will remain in effect until April 13, 2020.

Michigan has followed the guidance provided by the Department of Homeland Security, Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response in determining which industries are “essential” and can therefore remain in operation.

The provision that includes landscape services is:

“Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences”

In addition, NALP’s position can be read here which identifies the role the landscape industry is playing to protect other essential critical workers while also protecting public health and safety.

Click here to view the Order.  

 

March 25, 2020 - Oakland County Issues New Health Order for Essential Businesses to Screen Employees. All member businesses based in Oakland County are now subject to new rules. Oakland County has adopted Public Health Code, MCL 333.2453, see link below. 
OAKLAND COUNTY EMERGENCY ORDER (2020-5) FOR CONTROL OF PANDEMIC
Resource Link: Staff Screening Checklist for Businesses
March 24, 2020 - The MGIA is working along with our lobbyist to obtain clarity to Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order and establish our industry as an Essential Business. We will keep you informed. 
The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Offers State by State COVID-19 Guidance


March 23, 2020 - In these challenging times with the COVID-19 crisis continually evolving worldwide and statewide, it is affecting all areas of our personal and business lives. Understandably, the MGIA staff and Board have been working diligently in an effort to keep our members informed.  

Governor Whitmer has ordered a Shelter in Place for all non-essential businesses in Michigan. This order takes effect on March 24, 2020 at 12:01 am, and continues through April 13, 2020 at 11:59 pm.  
Karoub Associates has and is working diligently trying to get clarification from the Governors office on what areas of the green industry are considered ‘essential.’ At this time, it is thought that we fall under the following items:  
Please see page #5, Item #8 - Click here to download PDF of Executive Order 2020-21. Also view Page #6 under Food and Agriculture. Please see under Public Works the third bullet: Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences.  
Unfortunately, the statement does not clearly define what “essential operation of residences” means. Those who operate pest control and rodent control services along with tree trimming and removal could be easily understood as essential from the State’s intent as well as mowing services, however, for aesthetic improvements this is left to interpretation and the MGIA can not verify every type of green industry service being permitted based on Governor Whitmer’s order. We are working on getting clarification from the Governor's office.
 
Those who are performing professional landscaping services would be wise to add corrective drainage measures to their current projects demonstrating they are essential to the operation of residences. The State Capital is 100% consumed with protecting and supporting citizens who are currently at high risk that our legislative representatives and lobbyists are unable to influence any decision making at this time and are being told we could get clarification by week’s end. We will keep you posted. In the meantime, understand that your business running is critical to us and we are doing everything in our power to support you. Please feel free to post on our Facebook page what you are experiencing so we as a united group can grasp our new realities and then if need be we coalesce around pressuring for the solutions as we gain clarity behind any enforcements. The law is clearly stating that business owners must have work rules in place for covid-19. Please keep updated on these constantly changing rules.

USEFUL LINKS