FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NAHB and North Coast Building Industry Association (NCBIA) Call for a Pause on Construction Sites to Educate Workers on Coronavirus Safety
Sheffield Village, Ohio , April 14 – The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and North Coast Building Industry Association (serving Lorain, Erie and Huron Counties) are urging members, and all residential construction companies, to halt work for at least 10 minutes on Thursday, April 16, to educate workers on what they should do to keep themselves safe from coronavirus and to help “flatten the curve” for everyone. NAHB has developed a blueprint for builders to conduct these COVID-19 safety stand downs.
The Department of Homeland Security recently designated construction of single-family and multifamily housing as an “Essential Infrastructure Business,” allowing construction to continue in places under stay-at-home orders. Although this designation is not binding on state and local governments, it does mean that there could be more workers on construction sites in the coming weeks.
“With more workers coming back to job sites, we need to make sure they have all the information they need to stay healthy and safe,” said NAHB Chairman Dean Mon, a home builder and developer from Shrewsbury, N.J. “It is critical that everyone on a construction site alter their normal behavior and strictly follow public health guidelines while at work.”
Our members across the area will be participating in the national safety stand down,” said Judie Docs NCBIA EXECUTIVE OFFICER. “It is imperative that we keep our workers safe as they continue to build homes in our communities.”
As part of the safety stand down, members are being asked to pause all work for at least 10 minutes to relay coronavirus safety precautions, such as maintaining a distance of no less than six feet with others at all times, cleaning and sanitizing frequently used tools, equipment, and frequently touched surfaces on a regular basis and ensuring the proper sanitation of common surfaces and equipment. The safety information can also be distributed digitally (through email and/or text).
NAHB and other construction industry partners have also developed a comprehensive Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Plan for Construction that outlines the steps every employer and employee should take to reduce the risk of exposure to and transmission of COVID-19. It describes how to prevent worker exposure to coronavirus, protective measures to be taken on the job site, personal protective equipment and work practice controls to be used, cleaning and disinfecting procedures and what to do if a worker becomes sick.
NAHB and industry partners have also created a quick-reference job site checklist for employers and employees and a job site safety poster—available in English and Spanish—that can be distributed throughout the workplace. These and other resources for members can be found here:
The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 140,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. NAHB is affiliated with 700 state and local home builder associations around the country. NAHB’s builder members will construct about 80 percent of the new housing units projected for this year.
The North Coast Building Industry Association is your local not-for-profit trade association representing member companies involved in all aspects of home building, remodeling, and other aspects of services available to help you. For a list of members visit www.ncbia.com or call 440-934-1090.