COVID-19 Presents a New Normal for the Construction Industry.
Many states have declared construction as an essential industry.This is both a blessing as it keeps many of us employed in uncertain times, but it also is a challenge, as we figure out ways to #worksafely while #soicaldistancing. As an occupation that already pays close attention to safety, wearing proper PPE should not come to anyone as a shock! However, disposable gloves don't give you any protection if you are working in an environment where cuts are a potential hazard! And if you are a welder, wearing a paper-based face mask could cause unnecessary burns. You should address any health/safety concerns with your supervisor and/or safety manager before going to work. In fact, this should become part of the daily Tool Box Talks for those jobsites still working.
In general, be aware of your surroundings, practice social distancing even on the jobsite as much as you can safely, and work with your Safety Professionals to determine what your needs are for the tasks you are performing and for the jobsite overall. Equally as important to your physical health in this challenging times, is you mental health. Don't be afraid to reach out to your family, friends, employer, clergy or others if you 'Just can't shake the blues" or feel overwhelmed. AS ALWAYS, if you have thoughts of taking your own life, dial the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 anytime of day or night.
If you, your supervisor, or safety administrator need more information on protecting workers from COVID-19, here are a few trust-worthy resources that will keep you up to date, for everything from healthy parenting, to measures to implement for self-protection. Links are below:
For the most current information on programs and training offered through NAWIC's OSHA Alliance, please visit the NAWIC website!
July Safety Tips! (Oh by the way, did you know July is National Ice Cream Month!)
Raven has developed two different calendars that you can download and customize for your company, field crew, chapter or your family to use!
Field Daily Safety Message is a daily reminder that you can easily add to our use as a Tool Box Topic. Each day of the month has a topic to get the Safety conversation started, and plenty of space on the page to note conditions or to have every attending member sign in acknowledgment.
Office Daily Safety Message is a great daily reminder that you can easily share through your office break room bulletin board or take each daily tip and send out through email.
Both of these documents can be downloaded by clicking on the bolded blue document titles! And just because one says Office and one says Field, doesn't mean they aren't useful tools for EVERYONE!
They are in Word, so you can edit them for your own specific needs - add your company logo, or chapter name and logo!
MWR Safety Committee: When we are notified of a safety devise that has a recall, we will share the information here. Click the Product Recall button to see if any of you P.P.E. might have been recently recalled!
Safety When Walking Alone:
There will always be a time in our life where taking a risk is the only option, walking alone with no sense of protection shouldn’t be one of those times.
A recent Facebook poll shows that 9 out of 20 people do not feel safe walking alone at night. According to News Gallup, on average 3 out of 10 people fear walking alone, even within a mile of their home. Would these statistics lower if those 3 out of 10 people knew of better ways to protect themselves?
• Buddy System: If possible, always walk with a friend. If you aren’t alone, you're less likely to become a victim.
• Daylight Hours: If you have things to do while you're alone, try to accomplish them during the day. Like they say, “nothing good happens after midnight.”
• Parking Lot Lights: If you are alone at night, park close to a light pole. It provides a better lit area and typically there are cameras attached to the poles.
• Tell Somebody: Whoever it may be, where ever you may be going, and whatever you may be doing. Tell somebody. Tell then when, where, and who. This is a key piece of information. Make sure someone knows where you are. It’s the year 2019, you can literally share your exact location at all times with a specific person on your phone. There is even a free app, it’s called Glympse.
• Carry Your Keys: Don’t just have your keys in your purse or pocket. So many of us nowadays tend to forget this, thanks to those newer “fancy key fobs”. Those “fancy key fobs,” are indeed fancy. Just like some keys or clickers, key fobs have the bright red “Panic Button.” Have you ever wondered about the other uses for that amazing little button, other than just to remind you of where you parked? Yes, we all “panic” when we forget where we park. We panic for multiple reasons, feeling of being followed, being approached by someone suspicious, or even a concerning noise.
USE THE PANIC BUTTON for various reasons, use it anytime you feel panicked. DRAW ATTENTION TO YOURSELF AND YOUR SURROUNDINGS and anyone who is up to no good should be scared off. The car alarm will not shut off until you shut it off or the battery dies. Don't let the longer days and nights of summer catch you off guard.