The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new virus that causes respiratory illness in people and can spread from person-to-person. This virus was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.
We are encouraging all employees to work from home through at least the end of March rather than coming into the office. We are leveraging the use of Microsoft Teams and other online resources to meet with each other and our clients.
We have discouraged any unnecessary air travel or long distance travel by bus or train. We are currently allowing BBJ employees to travel to our client facilities by car, assuming they are reasonably accessible from one of our office locations. We are also continuing to work with our extensive network of partners to further expand our capabilities to assist clients in need.
Most importantly, we have empowered each BBJ employee with full stop-work authority for project situations in which they observe unsafe behaviors on the part of other BBJ personnel, facility personnel, and subcontractors. Our employees have all been briefed on the procedures to implement the stop-work action and how to keep themselves safe.
We have recommended that no BBJ representative undertake any in-person meetings with clients or regulators until further notice. We are hosting online meetings through Microsoft Teams, telephone calls, or other means.
We are continuing to serve our clients using desk-based resources, including privately-sourced environmental databases and publicly available resources, telephone and video interviews, and developing risk scenarios using these sources.
Our focus is in ensuring our clients are able to continue evaluating potential transactions, their current investments, and potential divestitures with regard to environmental risks and opportunities so they can keep moving forward with critical real estate investments.
We are also using these techniques with our industrial clients to help ensure they do not miss critical regulatory deadlines, and that they are in the best position to resume normal environmental, health & safety (EHS) operations once this crisis subsides.
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We are working diligently to keep our employees and our valued clients updated as the situation continues to change. Our intranet keeps our employees updated with new information as we become aware of it, and we are in constant communication with each other. We will continue to update this page as new information arises.
For additional information on the crisis, you may find these websites helpful:
One Site Does Not Fit All: Designing a COVID Response Plan to Fit Your Needs
One Site Does Not Fit All: Designing a COVID Response Plan to Fit Your Needs
Property Management During COVID-19 Pandemic: Best Practices from an Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Perspective
COVID-19 Best Practices for Manufacturing Facilities
Real Estate Investing: Environmental Due Diligence from Your Home Office
COVID-19 Risk Tolerance and your PLL Insurance Policy
EPA’s Enforcement Discretion Policy for COVID-19: Everything You Need to Know
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Respiratory Protection in the Age of COVID-19
Health and Safety Perspective: Managing Through a Pandemic, and Preparing for the Next One
We’re on the Road to Reopening … from an EHS Perspective
140 South Dearborn Street, Suite 1520, Chicago, IL 60603
800-875-1756