6A « July 20, 2020 « THE JOURNAL RECORD « journalrecord.
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GUEST COLUMN
Your dream home
is still within reach
The National Association of Real-
tors reported that many prospective
homebuyers are looking for properties
with home offices, yard space and
room to accommodate the whole fam-
ily. Seventy-seven percent of sellers
say they will do so following the end
of stay-at-home orders, which means
aspiring homeowners should prepare
now.
While a lot has changed over the
last few months, the desire to own a
home doesn’t just disappear. Mortgage
rates at all-time lows and home prices
are stable, which means those who
have been preparing their finances to
buy a home could
take advantage of
this opportunity.
Sixty-nine per-
cent of prospective
homeowners say
the biggest barrier
is saving enough
money for a down
payment and
LYNN closing costs, ac-
SMITH cording to Bank of
America’s home-
buyer insights.
Between low down payment mort-
gage options and grant programs,
qualified borrowers may be eligible
for up to $17,500 toward their dream
home in Oklahoma County. Here are
a few tips to help you determine your
readiness for homeownership:
• Educate yourself. Check with
your financial institution for re-
sources on financial readiness and the
home buying process. Being educated
on the topic means you’ll be armed
with the right questions to get the
house you want for a price you can
afford.
• Understand what you can afford.
Focus on an amount that comfortably
fits your budget. Take your income
before taxes and multiply that by
28%or use an online affordability
calculator.
• Add to your savings. Many down
payment assistance programs help
borrowers become homeowners by
combining down payment assistance
and closing cost help with a low-
down payment loan.
• Take advantage of discounts.
Some new homebuilders Check out
new home communities in your
desired neighborhoods and see if
incentives like offer discounts, free
upgrades or cover closing costs will
help you save.
• Make the most of screen time.
By entering information about your
income, assets and other basics online
or via bank mobile apps, you can
obtain an estimate of the mortgage
amount you’d qualify for.
Most current homeowners believe
that owning a home is worth the
challenges it took to achieve, and with
some patience, professional assistance
and research, sustainable homeown-
ership is within your reach.
Lynn Smith is the area lending man-
ager for Bank of America.
PERSPECTIVES
AROUND TOWN
We are all invited to learn ‘Better Conversations’
The Oklahoma City National
Memorial and Museum people have
come up with conversations. That’s
right, conversations.
In today’s challenging times, it’s
critical to listen,
learn and take
action.
Join the Memo-
rial & Museum
program Monday
and Tuesday for
a gathering to
converse with
JOAN individuals in
GILMORE Better Conversa-
tions – Looking
Back, Thinking
Forward.
What place would be better than
the museum to engage in challenging
topics with individuals with different
perspectives. Registration information
is available at MemorialMuseum.com/
conversations.
OKC Ballet Update
Racheal Nye, new school director,
has worked diligently to put safety
protocols in place, which include lim-
ited class sizes, wearing masks, health
GUEST COLUMN
Workplace safety plans must address COVID-19
The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration’s General
Duty Clause requires employers to
furnish to each worker “employment
and a place of employment, which are
free from recognized hazards that are
causing or are likely to cause death or
serious physical harm.”
In response to the coronavirus
pandemic, OSHA is using the
General Duty Clause to mandate
that employers have written plans
to limit COVID-19 exposure in
the workplace. To comply with this
OSHA mandate,
employers should
modify existing
workplace safety
plans to include
procedures
specific to
COVID-19, es-
pecially as set out
MADALENE A.B. by the Centers of
Disease Control.
WITTERHOLT Although
each workplace
is different, a good place for all
businesses to start is by addressing
the level of risk associated with each
worksite and the job tasks workers
perform at those sites. Employers
should look not only at the potential
sources of COVID-19 exposure but
also at where and how workers might
be exposed, including interactions
with the general public, customers
and coworkers. Some good scenarios
to consider include what to do if
workers are arriving at work sick
and if individuals have visited loca-
tions with widespread sustained
screening, social distancing, and no
visitors or parents in the building.
This is a good trial run for returning
to limited classes in the fall.
Jo Lynne Jones, John Kirkpatrick
executive director, says OKC Ballet
has received a $25,000 through the
Oklahoma Department of Com-
merce Business Relief Program and a
$10,000 grant from Oklahoma Cares
through the Oklahoma Arts Council.
Visions 2020
The Oklahoma Center for Non-
profits will honor six honorees at the
Visions 2020 dinner and program at
the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in downtown
Oklahoma City. The gala is scheduled
from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 1.
The 2020 honorees are Maria
Rosales-Lambert, Lori Blumenthal,
Lance Lang, Frank Merrick, Melvin
Moran and Michael Brose.
The 2020 Visions Awards are
sponsored in part by the Potts Family
Foundation.
Angels of Destiny
You’re invited to the 2020 Angels
of Destiny scheduled the week of
July 27-31. After much prayer and
COVID-19 transmission.
The workplace safety plan should
encourage all employers to imple-
ment good hygiene and infection
control practices. Employers can pro-
mote personal hygiene by providing
resources in the workplace that sim-
plify the process for employees. For
example, provide tissues, no-touch
trash cans, hand soap, alcohol-based
hand rubs (containing at least 60%
alcohol), gloves, disinfectants and
disposable towels for workers to clean
their work surfaces. Additionally,
post handwashing
signs in rest-
rooms, kitchen
areas and other
high-touch areas.
When possible,
discourage work-
ers from using
other workers’
MARY P. phones, desks,
offices or other
SNYDER work tools and
equipment. Sick
workers should be encouraged to
stay home. Discontinue nonessential
travel, especially to locations with
COVID-19 outbreaks.
Employers should explore whether
they can establish policies and
practices, telecommuting, flexible
worksites and/or flexible work hours.
Examples include alternating days,
extra shifts and staggered shifts, to
increase the physical distancing of
employees.
Institute use of face coverings in
areas where social distancing is not
always possible. Shut off access to
deliberation, Deaconess Pregnancy
and Adoption has made the difficult
decision to make this year’s Angels of
Destiny a virtual gala.
Although the 2020 gala will now
look different, the sponsors hope this
gala will be exciting. During the week
of July 27-31 the gala will include the
mission of the Angels of Destiny. Join
the online auction and mystery bag
purchase, donate and even fundraise
by hosting a “virtual table.”
More information is available at
www.deaconessadoption.org.
Save the date
The Oklahoma Arts Council has
rescheduled the 2020 Oklahoma Arts
Conference, moving the statewide
convention of artists, nonprofit ad-
ministrators, community developers,
educators and others to spring 2021.
The conference now is scheduled to
take place in Muskogee May 5-7.
Arts Council Executive Director
Amber Sharples cited discussions
with state public health officials,
the Oklahoma Arts Council board
and representatives of the Muskogee
community in rescheduling the
conference.
areas where individuals would come
into close proximity with others
where masks cannot be worn such
as break and lunch rooms. Minimize
contact among workers, clients and
customers by replacing face-to-face
meetings with virtual communica-
tions and implementing telework if
feasible.
It is also important to provide
workers with up-to-date education
and training on COVID-19 risk fac-
tors and protective behaviors. Train
workers who need to use protective
clothing and equipment on how to
put it on, use/wear it and take it off.
Remind workers to always wash
their hands after removing any PPE.
Be sure all training material is easy
to understand and available in the
appropriate locations. The CDC has
weekly YouTube telecasts, as well as
lots of helpful compliance hints.
Even the best laid plans can go
awry if not communicated properly.
Presenting these new policies and
expectations clearly with frequent
reminders can go a long way to
promoting a safer workplace. Ad-
ditionally, consider developing an
emergency communications plan
that includes a forum for answering
workers’ concerns and internet-
based communications, if feasible.
A policy that is not enforced or not
understood is not worth the paper it
is printed on.
Madalene A.B. Witterholt and Mary
P. Snyder are Crowe & Dunlevy attor-
neys and members of the firm’s Labor &
Employment Practice Group.