Media Contact:
Nona Raybern, PR & Media Manager
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
p 425.457.7067
m 425.208.6308

COVID-19 Safety Toolkit Released for Construction Restart

Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties develops a safety packet with templates for builders to resume work during COVID-19 crisis

BELLEVUE, Wash—April 24, 2020—Today, Governor Jay Inslee announced a plan to immediately restart some residential construction that can be done safely. The plan is based on recommendations unanimously agreed to by a workgroup formed by the Governor, consisting of construction industry and labor leaders. Based on the Governor’s announcement and this framework, MBAKS has created a safety toolkit designed to create and maintain a safe working environment upon return to construction projects.

“We have an obligation to help our workforce and our community stay safe as residential construction restarts,” said MBAKS Executive Director Kat Sims. “We are providing this toolkit simply because the safety of everyone who returns to work in this climate carries the highest importance.”

The Phase 1 toolkit includes safety plans for job sites—including policies regarding control measures related to safe distancing, hygiene, sanitation, etc.—and plans for jobsite cleaning and disinfecting, OSHA recordkeeping, and other safety information.

The toolkit also includes English- and Spanish-language signage and posters to be posted at job sites, and identifies specific duties given to onsite supervisors or managers who will oversee the compliance of safety protocols. Guidance on weekly meetings for procedures and expectations is included in the toolkit, along with daily checklists and safety data sheets.

MBAKS has created this toolkit alongside our existing COVID-19-dedicated website, which provides resources on where businesses can find safety equipment—PPE, handwashing stations, etc.—and resources pertaining to jurisdictions and utilities.

More information on this release: mbakscovid19.org/phase-1-toolkit

Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) is the nation’s oldest and largest local homebuilders association. Like our founders, our members continue to take a leading role in all facets of homebuilding and support the planning for a growing region. From new technology to advances in sustainability and from collaborative public policy efforts to investing in our communities, our commitment to a thriving, inclusive, and well-planned region never wavers. We are the professional homebuilders, architects, remodelers, tradespeople (carpenters, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians), planners and engineers, suppliers, manufacturers, and sales and marketing professionals in your community who believe everyone deserves access to a healthy and productive place to call home.

Contact:
Stephanie Giralmo, Public Relations & Media Manager
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
p 425.457.7067

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MBAKS Gives Local Charity a Fresh Coat of Paint

KENT, WA—Since 2003, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) has painted hundreds of thousands of square feet for various service organizations through our Painting a Better Tomorrow (PBT) community stewardship program. PBT is a one-day event that brings MBAKS members and community volunteers together to paint a local service organization’s facility.

“Frequently, the first maintenance item to be removed off an operational budget is painting, so many of our recipients have gone years without this much-needed improvement,” stated MBAKS Interim Executive Director Jerry Hall. “The Painting a Better Tomorrow program allows us to give back to the community by helping create a welcoming space for the communities that they serve.”

This year MBAKS selected King County non-profit Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care as their 2022 partner. Valley Cities provides case management, vocational training, housing support, peer support, crisis support and a wide variety of other support services to meet the unique needs of each. Valley Cities serves more than 20,000 people each year through intensive behavioral health care, counseling, and support services.

"It's important to make our clients feel like our space is welcoming, soothing, and calming so they feel safe enough to access care,” said Kent Clinic Manager, Jessica Forshee. “That's exactly why we looked for programs and grants to create spaces of belonging."

Programs like these would not be possible without the help from our sponsors. Thank you to our signature sponsor ERNWest for their support throughout the years.

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) is the nation’s oldest and largest local homebuilders’ association. Like our founders, our members continue to take a leading role in all facets of homebuilding and support the planning for a growing region. From new technology to advances in sustainability, from collaborative public policy efforts to investing in our communities, our commitment to a thriving, inclusive and well-planned region never wavers. We are the professional homebuilders, architects, remodelers, tradespeople (carpenters, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians), planners and engineers, suppliers, manufacturers, and sales and marketing professionals in your community who believe everyone deserves access to a healthy and productive place to call home.

About Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care

Established by community members of South King County in 1965, Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care has provided behavioral health care services to people of all ages for over 50 years. Through the ongoing support of the community, Valley Cities delivers compassionate care to over 20,000 individuals at 10 outpatient clinics, 2 inpatient detox centers, and 1 Cohen Military Family clinic. Valley Cities offers licensed mental health counseling and substance use disorder treatment; homeless outreach services and housing programs; and specialized services that deliver counseling and family support to veterans and their families. Throughout their long history, Valley Cities has remained focused on helping families and individuals by delivering a continuum of services designed to maximize client potential and success. Their work is founded on their unwavering belief in the resiliency and strength of the human spirit. That, with help, people can and do overcome the barriers and obstacles that confront them.

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By Jennifer Hill, Dataworks Consulting

It’s that time of year again.

October is budget season. Advertising, hiring costs, and accounting services may be high on your list, but have you factored system updates into your 2019 budget? It may not yet be on your radar, but Microsoft has announced that the Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 systems’ end-of-life will be January 14, 2020.

Did You Know?

System replacement can be a huge expense and undertaking, especially in small-to-midsized businesses or if technology isn’t typically on your radar. It is such an undertaking, in fact, that it is tempting to ignore the problem altogether. However, that’s not a temptation you want to indulge! When Microsoft deems a product “end-of-life,” that means they no longer release security patches and updates. As such, every end-of-life operating system you have becomes a security risk. Hackers and malicious software creators know this.

Additionally, if you are not actively patching all your systems regularly now, you are leaving backdoors open to your network and data. The release of security patches by software manufacturers is essentially an announcement of vulnerability. Even if your data is in the cloud, it can be accessed through your local systems if they are breached.

Given the challenges of year-end and a new year, Dataworks recommends that all Server 2008 and Windows 7 systems be replaced well before the end of 2019.

Four Ways to Prepare for Windows 7 and Server 2008 End-of-Life:

• Identify what systems need to be upgraded. Older hardware and equipment may be unable to support operating system upgrades, and so we recommend system replacement rather than merely updating the operating system.
• Develop a timeline and budget for system replacements now. If preparing for Windows 7 and 2008 end-of-life is not there already, it’s time to get them in your 2019 budget. The sooner you can begin to plan for this transition, the more strategic you can be in budgeting.
• If any old systems are business-critical and your business must run old systems, work with your IT provider to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place, namely segmentation. However, running outdated software and OS is never recommended.
• Train employees on the new operating systems. Training should accompany rollouts and your IT provider should offer training with new systems. With a couple tips and tricks, Windows 10 is easy to navigate. Just be sure to account for the learning curve.

Budgets and end-of-year checklists are a headache. Taxes and paperwork are just the tip of the iceberg. As a small-to-midsized business, you have to think about end-of-year bonuses and commissions, getting employees up to speed about their FSA funds, and rounding out 401(k) contributions. The bottom line is that you do not want to be worrying about system replacements on top of year-end tasks. Start now on your system replacement plans.

As you add the final touches to your business’ 2019 budget, make sure to account for the replacement of any end of life systems, as well as other technology platforms that need improvement. Do you need a new software to enhance productivity? Do you need faster internet? Consider outsourcing your IT to ensure these upgrades are done correctly and timely.

If you and your business are looking for assistance preparing for Windows 7 and Server 2008 end-of-life or improving any of your technology platforms, give us a call at 425.687.6185.

MBAKS member Dataworks Consulting is a managed service provider for small-to-midsized businesses in the Seattle metro area. We are passionate about enabling you to do what you do best by removing the hassle and uncertainty that often comes with technology. You are not in the business of solving technology problems—we are.