Many construction industry organizations, including the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association (NLBMDA), are encouraging members to participate in a COVID-19 Job Safety Stand Down this week. As part of the stand down, companies are encouraged to halt work for at least 10 minutes to communicate coronavirus (COVID-19) safety precautions.
A similar COVID-19 stand down was held in April 2020 and industry associations felt it important to facilitate a second round of pandemic safety training in the wake of the national surge of cases of the virus. Participants in the stand downs are asked to communicate the importance of wearing face coverings, maintaining a distance of six feet between workers, cleaning and sanitizing frequently used tools, equipment, and surfaces, and providing adequate hand washing stations.
The NAHB shared “steps” for companies planning to hold their own safety stand down. The association said companies should prepare by compiling information needed for the stand down. Companies are encouraged to cover the basics by stressing the importance of preventing the virus spread and emphasizing basic infection prevention measures. During the stand down, the NAHB encourages participants to present information to workers concisely.
Additionally, the NAHB and other construction industry partners developed a Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Plan for Construction. The plan outlines steps employers and employees should take to reduce the risk of exposure and transmission of the virus. It describes protective measures that can be taken on the job site, work practices that can be used, cleaning procedures, and the steps to take if a worker contracts COVID-19.
