A Steel Resolve for Safety: COVID-19’s Not Through, and Neither are We

If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past year, it’s not to underestimate the resilience of the construction industry. That’s not to say we haven’t faced our challenges, nor is the fight over, but by banding together, making investments in training and implementing heightened safety protocols, our brothers and sisters in the commercial building and construction trades and their contractors have been able to keep building, safely.

It was a year ago this month that we reported out on the construction industry’s resilience and readiness to take on this new challenge. Looking at the governor’s stay at home order, we were fortunate to be deemed essential to the community and the economy. This is a role that everyone in the industry took very seriously, but were also prepared for based on generations of prioritizing safety and providing the training, resources and protocols to back it up.

Specifically, the leadership in our local industry utilized existing jointly invested training resources to make sure all crews had proper awareness training and preparedness plans. As safety protocols around the pandemic changed, our contractor partners at AGC of Greater Milwaukee, Allied Construction Employers Association, NECA Milwaukee and PMSMCA ensured their contractors had the latest advice, best practices and resources. Our partners in the trades prioritized member safety by adapting existing training programs to meet the heightened need; courses like the two-day COVID-19/ICRA Awareness Training Class, offered by the Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council, that has since become the standard throughout the industry.

But, as this pandemic continues to hang around, so does our resolve to make sure every crew member goes home safely at the end of the day. That’s why Building Advantage is proud to spotlight new and ongoing initiatives designed to mitigate these risks.

Training and Hardhat Stickers

Building Advantage is excited to launch the universal COVID-19 Training Hardhat Sticker. This Hardhat Sticker recognizes a commitment to safety and symbolizes the respect and professionalism that every union tradesperson has to their craft, their crew and their contractor.

**Every project owner should require a COVID-19 Training sticker on every hardhat on every jobsite**

The Building Advantage COVID-19 Training Hardhat Stickers will be provided through qualified training program partners (e.g. Union Training Centers, Building Trades Council, Contractors, Contractor Associations, etc.). Contractors and members who have completed a qualified training program are encouraged to contact their training provider to request a sticker or contact Building Advantage for additional information.

Fatigue and Mental Health Awareness

We all recognize that ‘COVID Fatigue’ is resulting in mental, emotional and physical fatigue. Couple that with the fact that one in five construction workers already report struggling with mental health issues, it’s vitally important to recognize the warning signs, not only to maintain wellness, but also to avoid a problem becoming a crisis.

That’s why, in May, Building Advantage launched a Mental Health Awareness & Support in the Construction Industry campaign. We are working with our industry partners to make sure that every crew member knows what to look for, how to access resources and most of all to have the courage to ask for help.

Access our Mental Health Awareness Resources or contact us directly for more information.

Vaccination Awareness

In the early days of the rollout, it was apparent that trust and personal empowerment were crucial elements for every individual choosing to receive a vaccine. Building Advantage and its industry partners took the proactive step of building a Vaccination Awareness Campaign, designed to provide the construction industry with the information and tools necessary to form their own personal safety plans. This three-part plan is simple but effective:

Know the Facts│Make a personal Safety Plan│Stay Vigilant

Learn more about our Vaccination Awareness Campaign or contact us directly for more information.

COVID-19 may have taken all of us by surprise, but thanks to a historical emphasis on safety and the joint investments to back it up, the commercial building and construction trades and contractors were not caught unprepared. Certainly, there were changes to how some things are done, but now we’re that much more resilient and ready for whatever comes next.