Getting Back to Work: Preparing Buildings for Re-Entry Amid COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic spread quickly across the United States in February and March forcing cities to impose stay-at-home and shelter in place orders. Building operations had to adjust as non-essential personnel worked from home. We are now preparing for a phased re-occupancy of office buildings over the coming months. BOMA International assembled a task group from across North America to help owners and managers prepare for what is coming. The co-chairs of that task group will provide an overview of the comprehensive guidance document BOMA produced covering the health and safety of building personnel, tenants, visitors and contractors and healthy and safe building operations, systems, and management practices. They'll share the task group's best thinking and suggested best practices for social distancing and use of personal protective equipment (PPEs), safe use and occupancy of elevators, security, HVAC, janitorial, plumbing and water, tenant communications, building personnel, risk management and insurance, legal issues and more.

Learning Objectives:

1. Create a building re-entry plan for your properties that protects the health and safety of building personnel, tenants, visitors, and vendors and contractors.

2. Develop steps and strategies for implementing and communicating your plan to tenants, vendors, suppliers, and building personnel to ensure a safe and smooth transition back to the workplace.

3. Identify resources for information and updates on COVID-19 response, including federal, state, and local government and regulatory bodies, as well as public health agencies. 

4. Describe BOMA International's recommended best practices for building re-entry, based on the experience and best thinking of industry practitioners from across North America.