March 21, 2020 8:30 a.m.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has identified the wood products industry as “essential critical infrastructure workforce”, in the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Roseburg Forest Products President and CEO Grady Mulberry said “this designation underscores the critical role that our more than 3,500 team members play in producing high-quality wood products to aid in the construction of affordable housing, emergency shelters, and healthcare facilities across North America”. He said the industry will continue to support the supply chain of materials critical to response and recovery efforts.
The Roseburg release said federal guidance list workers in the wood products industry along with healthcare providers, law enforcement and public safety, and utility and transportation workers. It said the workers are part of the “overall federal effort to ensure the security and resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure” during the pandemic response.
On Thursday the State of California issued an order directing all individuals to stay at home except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors. Consequently, the Roseburg Forest Products Weed, California veneer facility will continue to operate. The release said other states and jurisdictions may develop their own lists of essential industries and workers who would be excluded from broad “shelter in place” or similar quarantine orders.