white-blood-cell-cell-blood-cell-blood-45239RESPONDING TO COVID-19 AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATIONS FOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS

In emergency situations such as the challenge of COVID-19  and natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes, design firms and those involved in the design and construction industry face many challenges. Among those challenges are keeping staff safe and meeting professional and contractual obligations.

 

 

 

 

COMMUNICATE

Communication  is always important but even more so during emergency situations.

With Your Staff

  • Keep staff informed regarding steps the firm is taking to best ensure their safety.
  • Remind staff that, to the extent that it is reasonably possible and safe, the goal is to continue to meet the firm’s professional and contractual obligations.
  • Inform staff regarding procedures and tools, including options for working remotely, that will allow them to carry out their responsibilities on behalf of the firm.
  • Schedule regular staff meetings and provide access and an opportunity for staff to express concerns, share challenges and share solutions. In an emergency, circumstances are constantly changing, and they may change quickly. It is important that all members of the firm are aware of these changes and how the firm is responding.

 

With Your Client

  • As soon as possible, contact your clients and inform them of your status, commitment and the reasonable steps the firm is taking to meet the firm’s professional and contractual obligations. It is important to communicate with your clients often, particularly if the situation changes.
  • Ask your clients how they want you to proceed. Some clients may want the firm to suspend services for a period of time. Others may want the firm to continue with the firm’s professional  and contractual obligations. If a client wishes to suspend services be sure to follow the procedures outlined in your contract.
  • You may reach a point when, despite reasonable efforts, it is impractical, impossible or unsafe to meet your professional and contractual obligations. For example, you may not be able to file for a permit because government offices are closed. Or perhaps, you may not be able to conduct a construction  site visit because travel restrictions are in place. The list of events that may prevent you from fulfilling your professional  and contractual obligations, despite reasonable efforts, is substantial.
  • If you find yourself unable to meet some or all of your professional and contractual obligations, it is vital that you contact your client immediately and explain the situation and the reasonable steps you have taken. Cite the official communications and regulations from government and health agencies that are impacting your ability to fulfill your professional and contractual obligations. Be sure to document that conversation with your client.
  • If your client still insists that you fulfill your professional and contractual obligations despite the impracticability, impossibility or safety of the situation, consult with your legal advisor as to how best to proceed. Formal termination of services may be required, refer to your contract for specific language.

 

With Your Consultants and Other Project Stakeholders

  • If you have retained consultants or if you are working closely with other project stakeholders, inform them of the steps the firm is taking to meet the firm’s professional and contractual obligations. This may include how to communicate with staff that may be working remotely, changes in core business hours or a change in key personnel to contact.
  • Depending on the scale of the emergency, there could be disruption to construction as well as suppliers and manufacturers. Knowledge and scope of disruption or, possibly, shut down can help you and your client make informed decisions.
  • Ask your consultants and other project stakeholders to share what they are doing to meet their professional and contractual obligations. Be sure to document those conversations as well.
  • Remember  that your consultants and other project stakeholders are facing the same challenges you are. Some may be better prepared and equipped than others to respond and adapt. The goal is to work together to find reasonable solutions  that will allow the team to safely meet its professional and contractual obligations.

 

YOUR CONTRACT

There is no “magic” or “boilerplate” contract provision  that will protect  your firm from all claims. Each situation is unique, and you should consult with your legal advisor about the appropriate contact language for your situation.

However, your contract  is very important  and a vital communication and risk management tool that can be used to justify your firm’s actions or to mitigate potential damages. In emergency situations, executed contracts provide guidance regarding expectations and how to proceed in certain situations. All contractual provisions are important, but during emergency  situations design firms should familiarize themselves with certain clauses for both executed and new or renegotiated contracts. Applicable clauses may include:

 

Executed Contracts

  • Force Majeure or “Acts of God” Provisions
  • These provisions outline what situations allow excusable delays. A delay in delivery or completion of professional services and construction is one of the major risks in an emergency. Force Majeure or Acts of God provisions are intended to address this risk. However, each clause and the courts’ interpretation of these

clauses is unique just as each emergency itself is unique. You should consult your legal advisor as to how these clauses may or may not apply to your situation.

  • It is risky to view these clauses as an excuse not to take reasonable steps to meet your professional and contractual obligations. Instead, think of these clauses as a potential defense for a future claim of delay damages due to professional negligence.
  • Termination or Suspension of Services
  • As stated above, your client may want to suspend or even terminate services. If so, it is important to follow the procedures outlined in your contract.

 

New or Renegotiated Contracts

In addition to the contract provisions discussed above, there are some provisions that may need special attention in new or renegotiated contracts. These are some of the contractual provisions  that may take on a higher level of urgency for your client, but even in non-emergency  situations, these clauses should be reviewed carefully by you and your legal advisor.

  • Warranties and Guarantees:
  • Avoid provisions that create a warranty or guarantee. Remember that phases such as “represent” and “assure” may be interpreted as a warranty or guarantee. In emergency situations you may be asked to warrant your services or to complete them within a certain time frame. Remember, as a design professional, you cannot warrant your professional services.
  • Certifications
  • In emergency situations, your client may expect and may contractually require you to provide certain certifications. Any certifications should be limited to your professional opinion, based on your direct knowledge or information supplied to you, and limited to the scope of services you provide.

 

  • Scope of Services
  • During emergency situations you may be asked to provide services that may fall outside  the scope  of your expertise and experience. You may want to be helpful in times of emergency but providing services beyond your experience and expertise may put your firm, your client and the public at risk.
  • Schedule
  • Avoid “time is of the essence” clauses.
  • Avoid project schedules that are “aggressive” or “unrealistic” and that do not allow for adjustment as the emergency evolves and changes.
  • Standard of Care
  • Even in emergency situations the standard of care is still what other similar professionals would have done under the same or similar situations at the time the services were provided. Avoid language that expands this standard. Remember  that your obligation to meet the standard of care exists even if it is not included in the contact.

 

STAY INFORMED

As stated earlier, during an emergency, events are constantly changing and may change quickly which may impact the

firm’s ability to meet its professional  and contractual obligations. It is vital to keep up with the latest information related to

COVID-19 from federal and state governments,  public health entities, as well as the professional  societies.

 

US Federal Government

Centers for Disease Control Coronavirus (CDC) World Health Organization (WHO)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA)

The American Institute of Architects (AIA)

American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

International Interior Design Association (IIDA)

REMAIN SAFE AND USE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU

Any emergency can be a stressful time personally and professionally. But there are resources  available to you. Along with your legal, insurance, business, government, health and other advisors, Travelers is committed to providing information to help you identify, understand, and manage the risk you may face.