COVID-19 Precautions updated at Boak & Sons, Inc. as Pandemic Continues


Masks required sign on the front door of Boak & Sons, Inc.

“I’m extremely grateful for how well my employees have adapted to these changes, and that everyone is approaching this situation with patience and understanding.” Sam Boak, president & founder, Boak & Sons, Inc.

The new Omicron variant of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to further challenges for many businesses and individuals across the country. As more and more COVID cases are reported, many are going back to strict safety policies that first arose in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. For Sam Boak, president and founder of Boak & Sons, Inc., safety is the construction company’s number one rule. In order to ensure the safety of his employees, Boak continuously updates the COVID-19 precautions being implemented at the office and in the field.

Boak & Sons, Inc. is an exterior contracting company based in Youngstown, Ohio which specializes in roofing, insulation, siding, gutters and sheet metal. The company has over 135 employees between the office staff and field employees. Back in March of 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the Stay-at-Home Order, which only allowed essential businesses to continue operations. While Boak & Sons was listed as one of those essential businesses because of the construction work they do, Sam Boak put the safety of his employees and their families before his business and closed his doors, only answering calls for emergency repairs to ensure his loyal customers were still being taken care of.

Once the order was lifted, Boak & Sons returned to a busy schedule, but with strict precautions to continue mitigating the spread of COVID-19. It’s been over a year since the company came fully back to work, and those precautions along with new risk mitigations are being enforced in the field and office.

After contracting COVID-19 himself and nearly not surviving it, Sam Boak has shared with his concerns about the safety of his employees with all of them. He encourages his employees to get vaccinated, and asks that everyone, no matter their vaccination status, wear masks while not sitting in their own secluded office spaces. He also reminds everyone on a daily basis to keep their distance from others, use the phone intercom system or email to communicate with other office staff members, and to limit meetings and visits in the building and meet virtually when possible.

“I understand the gravity of asking my employees to get the vaccine,” said Boak. “Regardless of their decision to get vaccinated or not, my top priority is the safety of my employees, their families, and our customers and partners. This is a challenge for everyone because we’re all forced to change how we live our lives and interact with each other. I’m extremely grateful for how well my employees have adapted to these changes, and that everyone is approaching this situation with patience and understanding.”

In an effort to share the company’s methods of ensuring their health and safety, Sam Boak has frequently reminded employees to put safety first by implementing the following practices:


  • Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer when soap and water is unavailable
  • Limit face-to-face meetings with coworkers, customers, and partners
  • Avoid overcrowding in congregated areas such as group lunches in the break room, coffee stations, etc.
  • Wear a mask
  • Maintain social distancing
  • Notify your supervisor and leave the office immediately if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
  • Get tested if you’re experiencing symptoms

COVID-19 Precautions are revisited and reevaluated every 2-3 weeks at Boak & Sons and new memos are sent out to all employees to ensure everyone is up-to-date. All precautions are taken from the latest CDC recommendations.

To learn more about Sam Boak and Boak & Sons, Inc., visit http://www.boakandsons.com. For a complete list of COVID-19 precautions, visit the CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/.

About Boak & Sons:

Boak & Sons, Inc. was founded by Sam Boak in 1974 as an insulation contractor. With the high energy costs of the 70’s, Boak & Sons expanded early on into the roofing business. They offered economical roof installations through cutting edge technology and equipment, allowing customers to recoup even more in energy savings. Today, Boak & Sons is a residential and commercial contractor for roofing, insulation, sheet metal, siding, and gutters. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, the company serves customers in surrounding areas from Cleveland, Akron, and Canton to Cranberry and Pittsburgh. For more information on Boak & Sons, visit their website at: https://www.boakandsons.com/

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