Authors note: I’m not a lawyer. If you need legal advice, seek professional advice from a legal professional. This column should not be considered legal advice.
Recently, I’ve noticed a lot of talk about legal protections for companies in regard to COVID-19 workplace lawsuits. Up to this point, the lawsuits have mainly focused on the manufacturing and consumer services sectors. In my opinion, it’s just a matter of time until those lawsuits effect the built environment. If history proves to be true, then one of the factors that will affect settlements in these cases will be how much “reasonable effort” did the facility operator and/or owner take to protect the occupant. Design engineers and consultants find themselves in the perfect position to help customers evaluate and mitigate their risk. Here are three approaches you can take right now to assist your customers.