Safety advice on how to reduce risk in the construction sector from the current pandemic is now being made available. This comes jointly from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and its partners in the Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC). These bodies have developed a suite of guidance materials to assist contractors in safely performing essential construction activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The materials, which are available in English and Spanish, include a "toolbox" training talk, a checklist for safe work practices and a template to help build a prevention, preparedness and response plan they can customise to their individual companies and organisations.
"The development of transportation infrastructure has been and continues to be essential to America's economy," said Bradley Sant, ARTBA's senior vice president for safety and education. "During this unprecedented health crisis, this information will help construction contractors to keep working on key projects while also helping them educate their employees about safe project sites and practices.”
The multi-lingual materials are available on ARTBA's website, along with many other materials to assist and inform industry members about working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing is seen as an important rule, with the 2m (6’) rule being a key tool.
The Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) is made up of 25 trade associations, representing all sectors of the construction industry, including commercial building, heavy industrial production, home building, road repair, specialty trade contractors and material suppliers. Virtually every construction trade, task, and activity is represented by the member associations of the CISC. Workplace safety and health is a priority for all members of the coalition, and each is committed to helping create safer construction jobsites for workers.
