Safety is a top priority for the construction industry. It’s so critical to our projects that we dedicate an entire week to showing the importance of industry-wide commitment.
How are you staying safe during COVID-19?
We want to see photos! Send us pictures of your company safe at work, practicing social distancing and/or wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Click here to submit your images.
Remaining Flexible in Challenging Times
This week would have been Construction Safety Week, an annual event that strives to strengthen the construction industry’s safety culture. But given the current state of our state, the scheduled activities have been postponed. Click here to learn more about Construction Safety Week.
Even though Construction Safety Week activities have been postponed doesn’t mean that progress on the job site has to be postponed, too. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite this spring. Our Ohio construction firm leaders and skilled laborers have continued to honor the intent of Safety Week throughout the pandemic.
How has the industry continued to make progress across the state? With a focus on safety. Like any other project, we in the industry must keep ourselves safe so that all Ohioans can stay safe. This isn’t the sole responsibility of construction firm owners. Every team member can be a safety leader by following precautionary measures. Associated General Contractors of America, also known as AGC of America, has outlined some helpful onsite guidelines:
- Practice social distancing
- When possible, employees should work at least six feet apart.
- Wear new safety gear
- If social distancing cannot be followed, provide masks and other protective gear to protect skilled laborers.
- Halt group meetings
- Of course, you can still meet as a group through virtual communication.
- Ban sharing of tools
- If sharing is the only option, clean before each use.
- Stay at home if sick
- Even if symptoms such as cough, fever, or shortness of breath are not present, pre-screen everyone who enters a job site.
To make sure that employees are well-equipped to follow all coronavirus safety guidelines, construction firms have been completing safety stand-downs. These steps are critical so that the Ohio construction industry can continue to work to expand healthcare facilities, maintain critical infrastructure, and combat area housing shortages.
In addition to following the previously outlined on-the-job safety protocols, the AGC of America recommends construction firm leaders and their employees do the following for their own wellbeing:
- Avoid news overexposure.
- Take good care of their health with good habits.
- Unwind with enjoyable, relaxing activities.
- Talk with others and share how they are feeling.
Visit the AGC of America website to learn more.
If you are in the construction industry, thank you for all you’re doing. Construction firms throughout the state have risen to the occasion with the help of their on-the-job safety experience as a guide. We have proven our necessity and ability to work safely. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Administration agrees that our industry is set up well for times such as these, which is why they have encouraged our state and local officials to keep the construction industry in operation.
Stay tuned for more information on this year’s Safety Week updated dates. In the meantime, the construction industry will continue to protect the public and its workers with unparalleled safety measures.
