Ask the Expert: Orchestrating an Effective Coronavirus Response | VIDEO!
In this expert video discussion, restoration industry leaders explore how to orchestrate an effective coronavirus response. Key topics include protecting restoration teams through proper PPE and safety protocols, safeguarding customers with structured infection control procedures, and preparing businesses for long-term operational disruptions. The conversation emphasizes OSHA and CDC-aligned safety standards, clear communication practices, and the importance of proactive business continuity planning. Even beyond COVID-19, infectious disease preparedness remains a critical component of professional restoration services. This video provides practical guidance for restoration companies seeking to strengthen safety culture, reduce liability, and confidently respond to public health emergencies.
The COVID-19 pandemic permanently changed how restoration companies approach safety, biohazard response, and operational preparedness. In this expert discussion, industry leaders share actionable guidance on building an effective coronavirus response plan that protects technicians, customers, and business continuity.
In this video interview, R&R Editor-in-Chief Michelle Blevins speaks with Lisa Lavender, COO of Berks Fire Water Restorations and the Restoration Technical Institute, about best practices for navigating pandemic-related restoration challenges.
1. Protecting Your Restoration Team
Workplace safety is the foundation of any infectious disease response plan. Restoration professionals often operate in high-risk environments, making proper protocols essential.
Key safety measures include:
Proper use of PPE (personal protective equipment)
Respiratory protection programs
OSHA-aligned safety standards
Clear decontamination procedures
Employee health screening policies
Ongoing safety training and certification
Creating a strong safety culture reduces liability, improves team confidence, and ensures compliance with CDC and OSHA guidance for virus mitigation.
2. Protecting Customers During Coronavirus Response
Customer trust is critical during public health emergencies. Restoration companies must implement infection control protocols that demonstrate professionalism, empathy, and expertise.
Best practices include:
Clear communication before arriving on-site
Establishing containment zones
Utilizing EPA-approved disinfectants
Following CDC cleaning and sanitization guidelines
Documenting sanitation procedures for transparency
Professional disinfection services, environmental cleaning protocols, and structured response plans reassure property owners during uncertain times.
3. Preparing for Ongoing Outbreaks and Business Continuity
Pandemic response is not a one-time event. Restoration businesses must prepare for prolonged disruptions, supply chain challenges, and evolving health regulations.
Strategic preparation includes:
Updating emergency response plans
Securing PPE inventory
Training cross-functional backup teams
Reviewing insurance coverage and liability protection
Implementing digital documentation and remote communication tools
Companies that proactively develop business continuity plans position themselves as trusted leaders in crisis response.
Why Pandemic Preparedness Still Matters
Although the height of COVID-19 has passed, infectious disease response planning remains essential for restoration companies. Clients expect trained professionals who understand biohazard cleanup, contamination control, and health safety standards.
This expert discussion provides practical insights to help restoration leaders strengthen their infection prevention strategy, enhance team safety, and deliver confident service during public health challenges.
Watch the full video to learn how to orchestrate an effective coronavirus response and future-proof your restoration business.
Three levers. Pull all three and the whole company moves.
Lever360 is three products built around the same restoration job. Software runs the operation. Learning Lever trains the team. RTI certifies the trade. Use one. Use all three — they compound.
Software is one lever
You're running the company here. The other two make it compound.
Software runs the operation — every job, crew, dollar and conversation lives here. Add Learning Lever and RTI and the same techs ramp faster, bill higher, and stay longer. One lever moves the company. Three move it harder.
Learning Lever is one lever
You're training the team here. The other two make the training stick.
Learning Lever onboards faster and keeps the whole team sharp. Software is where that training shows up in the work. RTI is where it becomes a credential customers trust. Pull one — pull all three and the math compounds.
RTI is one lever
You're certifying the trade here. The other two carry the credential to the field.
RTI certifies the trade — IICRC WRT, ASD, AMRT, FSRT and beyond. Software runs the company those certified techs work for. Learning Lever ramps everyone in between. One lever moves things. Three move the whole crew.
