On August 5, 2020, the Audit & Inspections Unit for the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections sent a letter to contractors outlining guidelines to avoid fines. This letter includes the use of face shields on the job site. Please be mindful that permit inspectors will refer non-compliant job sites to the Audit & Inspections Unit for inspection and citations.
GBCA offers guidance on the use of face shields in Section 4 of our Response Protocols. This guidance is co-signed by GBCA, the Building Trades Council and the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. The protocol’s recommendation on facial coverings states:
CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
- Coverings are used as a barrier against droplets, not as a filter for the air.
- Face shields may be deemed appropriate based on the task. A JSA should be conducted. If an individual obtains a medical exemption to cloth facial coverings, they should work with their Pandemic Safety Officer and contractor to deem what is appropriate.
