Page 15 - LRCC July 2020 Focus

A COVID-19
Dr. Farhan Bhatti
LEGAL PRIMER

COVID-19 represents a new
frontier for organizations that
must sort through a myriad
of legal issues. Patricia Scott,
attorney, Foster Swift Collins
and Smith, PC outlined three
significant areas of importance.

COMPLIANCE. Review relevant Scott
orders issued by Governor Whitmer and the
“As we enter a post- State of Michigan. Michigan Public Health
guidance provides useful information as do federal
COVID-19 economy, organizations such as OSHA and CDC. Those

we must be diligent organizations offer the latest in cleaning protocols
guidance per industry. Another lesser-known, but
in taking necessary equally important, source of information is the
county health department. The health departments
precautions to
are doing more of the enforcement, so paying
provide a safe and attention to what they are releasing and requiring is
important.
healthy workplace

for employees, and “One of our main business goals is to keep all of our
employees, customers and clients safe,” said Scott.
a place of business “We want to avoid liability, too. One of the best ways
for customers, the to do that is good faith compliance.”

community and visitors. HAVE A PREPAREDNESS PLAN. Each plan must have
several different components specific to industry
Business, government, type, including, among other things:
education, and
• A designated person to supervise the plan
community leaders • Training for employees on the use of PPE and
must continue to cleaning procedures
• Self-screening in place
work together to • Compliance with social distancing requirements
• Plan to respond and sanitize in the event of
find a balance that
a positive COVID person has been on-site,
incorporates safety and which includes notifying the health department
As businesses reopened, “The distribution end and the people who have been in contact with
employees and customers economic opportunity immediately started that person
experienced a new so our region can ramping up on disinfectant
environment. Everything and personal protection Scott also said that depending on the situation, if
has changed from the continue to prosper as equipment,” said Duckett. but mainly if an issue arises with an employee or
way we shop, dine out, we successfully reopen “We started selling products customer, the business owner needs to seek out legal
learn, and worship. We to first responders. That counsel. These things do not “get better with age,”
are adapting to a world and sustain economic was the best feeling in the so being proactive as much as possible is essential.
where stores limit the world because we were able
number of customers in the growth and resiliency.” to help and not just sit at STAYING INFORMED. Information is coming out
facility, where temperature home.” daily. Know your obligations and protect your rights.
scans are a daily requirement, physical distancing One area of concern is contractual risks. Know what
impacts how we communicate, and disinfectant The reward on the cleaning side of the business your obligations and rights are in existing contracts,
and hand sanitizers are everywhere. for Duckett Brothers was to help people feel and contracts you will enter going forward. Scott
comfortable about coming back to work. says we can anticipate several new provisions in
Duckett Brothers Distributing may be an future contracts in relation to COVID.
example of having the right business at the “We did our education on what products we need
right time. Duckett Brothers is a janitorial and to use,” said Duckett. “People had confidence “The worst thing that anyone can do right now is
industrial supply company serving municipalities, coming back to work that their buildings were trying to stick their head in the sand,” said Scott.
large insurance companies, manufacturers, and clean and virus free.” “You have to assess what your risks are and take
numerous suppliers to the automotive industry. action.”
The company also provides office cleaning services. Hair salons, spas, and gyms were among the hardest
Owner and operator, Tico Duckett said his first hit businesses during the pandemic because there
thought after the pandemic broke was how to help. was no alternative than merely closing their doors.

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